The truman doctrine and marshall plan

Causes

Soviet expansion

USA was angry and worried about the spread of communism and soviet power in Eastern Europe

Kennan’s long telegram

Written by us ambassador in Moscow, George

Said that Stalin wanted to expand and destroy capitalism

USA could contain communism if they resisted aggressively

Greek civil war

Greeks were fighting against communists, Britain could no longer afford to help them

Europe was weak after world war 2

USA wanted to help rebuild to prevent them turning to communism, USA could spread its own influence instead as it was the only country strong and wealthy enough to help

Events

Truman doctrine 1947

Made a speech announcing his policy

Containment

400m to Greece and turkey

USA would get more involved by sending money and military aid

Marked end to isolationism where the USA stayed out of Europe’s affairs

Marshall plan 1948-1952

USA would give 12b of aid to west Europe on top of 13m already given

Truman doctrine in action, create markets for us businesses

Help rebuild Europe

Consequences

Increased tensions-

Truman’s language was hostile described communion as evil

Stalin created cominform (1947) To direct and control the governments of satellite states in Moscow

Europe now divided politically and ideologically

Increases tensions-

Stalin called this ‘dollar imperialism’ Accused USA of spreading its influence

Refused satellite states to accept it

Stalin created comecon (1949) Organisation to allow moscow to control economies of Western Europe for ussrs benefit

90% of bulgarias trade was with Comecon by 1951

Europe now divided economically

Name six satellite states

Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, GDR (east Germany)