Truman Doctrine and Marshall plan ```+ Cominform and Comecon

What was the Policy of Containment 1942?

• US resources to actively prevent the spread of communism

• Believed USSR was spreading communism

• Wanted to pressure them to stop

• Events in Greece meant that USA had an excuse to step in (Greece was struggling after WW2 and vulnerable to soviet influence)

Events of the Truman Doctrine

Before:

• Greece was threatened with communist takeover

• USA was committed to containment and got involved in European affairs

• USA hoped wealthy European countries would provide aid, however UK was nearly bankrupt like many others

• ‘Long’ Telegram confirmed that USSR wanted to spread communism

Event:

• March 1947 - Truman delivered speech to US congress and announced that US would provide aid to Greece and Turkey

• Also used the speech to as an opportunity to state the differences between democracy and communism

After:

• USA decided on Marshall plan and USSR set up cominfom

• Rivalry increased

• Greece defeated communists

Events of the Marshall Plan

Before:

• Lots of countries suffered in WW1

• Marshall invited countries to discuss aid

• USA gave $12.7 billion to European nations between 1948 and 1952

Event:

• set out by George Marshall was a practical outcome of Truman Doctrine providing aid to war affected countries

After:

• Stalin accused US of using plan to boost US economy and increase US influence in Europe

• By 1951, $17 billion was raised

• Europe become firmly divided between east and west

Cominform

• Made by USSR in 1947 → In response to Truman Doctrine

• 9 members, satellite state

• allowed stalin to control governments

• encouraged to trade

Comecon

• Made by USSR in 1949 → In response to Marshall Plan

• Let USSR give satellite states financial support

• ^ Was actually used to control their economies and gave USSR access to all their resources