Rebuilding Europe after WWII

What two superpowers emerged after WWII?

Soviet Union and United States

What was the Soviet Union’s form of government?

Authorian Communist

What was the United States’ form of government?

Democratic Capitalist

Why were Europeans tempted by Communism after WWII?

Communism promised equal employment opportunity and food for all, which was needed after the many destructions of WWII.

Why did the US not intervene in Eastern Europe’s post-war problems?

Most of Eastern Europe was already under control of the Soviet Union

Marshall Plan

American economic plan to sought to reform post-war European countries as a counter to communism

True or False: With the Marshall Plan, European industry still failed to surpass pre-war production

False

Who was considered the “poster-child” of the Marshal Plan’s postwar recovery?

West Germany

West Germany

Side of Germany that supported the United States

East Germany

Side of Germany that supported Soviet Union

Consumerism

The idea that the economy is based on consumption of goods

Effects of consumerism

Wages rose and the middle class expanded