Marshall Plan

When was the Marshall Plan?

June 1947

How much money did the Marshall Plan provide?

Marshall Plan provided $13.5 billion

How many countries received aid?

16 countries

USA Aims (Economic)

A condition of receiving the aid was that some of it had to be spent on goods from the USA.

USA’s Aims (Economic 2)

Recipients were also required to share economic information with the USA

USA’s Aims (Humanitarian)

Since Europe’s economy was destroyed post-WW2, the USA provided aid to help the people of Europe

USA’s Aims (Political)

The USA was profoundly concerned about political & economic stability in Europe (particularly in France & Italy. The French Communist Party had 1.7 million members in 1947

Soviet Reaction

The Soviets saw the Marshall Plan as a clear example of American economic imperialism.
They believed that this US influence might start to undermine their sphere of influence

What were the consequences of the Marshall Plan?

The USSR walked out of the Paris Peace Conference (July 1947)

What was Cominform?

USSR’s strengthening of their control of the Eastern blocs

When was Cominform created?

September 1947