The USA's involvement in Europe

What was the USA’s initial approach to Europe?

reconstruction of a democratic region, whose members would be committed to mutual cooperation on a wider international scale

In July 1945, what did Assistant Secretary of State, Dean G. Acheson warn?

situation in Europe mirrored a wider international problem, which represented a threat to the stability of international democracy based on capitalism

How did Under-Secretary of State, William L. Clayton reinforce Acheson’s warning in May 1947?

concluded that Europe was steadily deteriorating as millions of people faced the prospect of starvation

• without a substantial increased in aid from the USA, Europe would experience social, economic and political disintegration on a regional scale

What happened in January 1947 in Germany?

British and US zones in Germany merged to create Bizonia

What did the US announce in June 1947?

Marshall Plan

What happened in February 1948 in Germany?

new currency introduced into the Western zones of Germany - Deutsche Mark

What happened in June 1948 in London?

London Conference recommends a West German Constituent Assembly

By the end of the Second World War what was the USA considered to be?

superpower

• global power status - state may intervene effectively anywhere in the world

What does Strategic Planning mean?

planning that is designed to establish some degree of military, political or economic control by pursuing actions and policies which will result in one or more of these outcomes

By 1947, what was the US strategic planning in Europe focused on?

not only ensuring economic recovery in the wake of the Second World War but also promoting unity within Europe

• would lead to a stable and independent bloc of pro-American states

• Western Europe could be moulded into this

Where did the USA’s route into Europe come through?

‘special relationship’ with Britain

Why did Britain want to preserve its special relationship with the US?

needed to preserve its own international status - could only be achieved with USA's support through its contribution to Britain’s security

• did not want to be dependent on US - mutual support

Why did the USA need Britain?

role and influence in Europe

• had to form relationships with Western powers - Britain was most receptive to these advances

• other Western European states were faced with left-wring socialist political groups who appeared less reliable than the British Labour Movement

• consensus policies in place within Britain - state that the USA could do business with

What was Britain’s and the USA’s ‘special relationship’?

Winston Churchill emphasised a common identity and a shared need for security between the USA and Britain

• lasting assumption that these states would always have this common bond

• basis of their political, economic and strategic relationship

notion was a myth - frequently shown not to exist in the reality as the foundation for Anglo-American relations

When was the Marshall Plan launched?

June 1947

Why was the Marshall Plan launched?

May 1947, Under-Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Clayton - concluded that a failure to revive the economics of European states would damage the USA economically

• urgency in ensuring that these outcomes did not happen

• restoration of Europe’s economic strength not focused on combating communism

During the next 5 years, what did the Marshall Plan provide?

$13.5 billion to 16 countries in Europe

• not only in the form of money but also goods as well

What was a condition of receiving aid from the Marshall Plan?

• some of it had to be spent on importing goods from the USA

• required to share economic information with the USA

What would a stable European bloc reinforce?

Truman’s idea of containment

Why was the USA profoundly concerned about the political and economic stability of France?

French Communist Party had 1.7 million members in 1947

• continuing economic crisis could lead to growing support for the movement and the Soviet Union having an opening for influence in Western Europe

What did the Soviets see the Marshall Plan as?

American economic imperialism

• US influence might start to spread into Eastern Europe - undermined their sphere of influence and their security

In July 1947 what did the Soviet Union walk out of?

Paris Peace Conference

By September 1947, what had the Soviet Union established?

Cominform

What happened to the Eastern European states that had expressed an interest in the Marshall Aid?

ordered by Stalin to reverse their decisions

What did the Marshall Plan accelerated?

division of Europe - furtherly undermined the possibility of international relations being based on some degree of cooperation and consensus between the two superpowers

What did the creation of Bizonia in January 1947 reinforce?

indication that the USA was interested in creating a clearly defined West German state to become a leading force in the unification of an economically stable and united Western European bloc

What were the consequences of the introduction of a new currency in Western zones of Germany and Berlin in February 1948?

when it was formally activated in June - Soviet Union imposed a blockade on Berlin

How did the Marshall Plan mark a significant shift in US policy towards Germany and Berlin?

suggested that the USA recognised that a strong German economy was fundamental to the development of European economic recovery

• importance of Germany

What is a protectorate?

a region or state that falls under the influence of another state, whose aim it is to ensure the safety of the state or region

In November 1947 what did Andrei Zhdanov refer to the USA’s intentions with Germany as?

USA’s intention to construct a ‘Western Bloc’ with Germany at its centre ‘as an American protectorate’

Why was the development of a West Germany seen more effective than a wider reunified Germany?

more manageable - ensure US influence in Europe as a whole more easily