The Marshall Plan Essay

The American policy of Marshall Aid sparked both huge appraisal and significant opposition, and to this day it is debated whether it was purely a policy of self-interest and an imposition of America’s political and economic views on a weak and vulnerable Europe, or alternatively one of the greatest acts of altruism and generosity in modern history. It was enormously successful, ‘It was the most unambiguously and triumphantly successful of all America’s post-war policies’ , and helped to create a foundation on which Europe could become an economic power. While there were benefits to America which may have been interpreted as attempts to increase American power and inflamed opposition to the Marshall Plan, the administering of economic aid

The late 1700s and early 1800s was a critical time period in American history in which our newly independent nation was beginning to lay down the groundwork for how the country would run. During this time, America was in its infancy and its crucial first steps would dictate how the nation would either walk, run, or retreat. John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the Unites States, was a highly important and influential political figure whose decisions forever molded the future of the American judicial system. Like many other great political figures, much of John Marshall’s influence can be attributed to timing; he emerged just as the United States Constitution came into existence.

It was for the best that the Marshall arrangement was put enthusiastically, Europe is gradually becoming more idependant.It is urgent for Europe to open trade, bussiness and other organizations - for Europe herself as well as for us, America [and others] too. With the guide cash, Europe is modifying as well as fortifying peace between her countries.And , God forbide, if America needs to go to war, we will have Western Europe as support and allies.- America will have their loyalties.

Famine and unemployment, coupled with the near destruction of the continent’s infrastructure left Europe on the brink of economic collapse and starvation. America began supplying financial aid to Europe immediately after the end of the war, George C. Marshall developed the first piece of foreign policy that would serve to not only assist in the rebuilding of Europe, but also counter the growing communist influence on the continent. “Marshall was convinced the key to restoration of political stability lay in the revitalization of national economies. Further he saw political stability in Western Europe as a key to blunting the advances of communism in that region.” http://marshallfoundation.org/marshall/the-marshall-plan/history-marshall-plan/

Both the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan were a turning point during this time in history. Most importantly, the Marshall Plan assisted those in need of financial support in Europe. It was a turnoff for the beginning of the Cold War when Truman had offered its support to Turkey and Greece. At that time point, it was certain that Truman was promising to maintain democracy above the communism ideology. He was moving directly against the Soviet Union.

If the American people were at risk of a failed economy, surely American allies would come to the rescue and help, moreover if the U.S. goes into other Nations, they gain allies along with providing the other country aid and support. Although the United States has had a respectable amount of experience in reconstructing countries ever since after WWII ended, the United States has not really invested “similarly adequate

After world war 2, Europe was in destruction and corruption, therefore, giving a meaning to The Marshall Plan speech because, it dealt with a major situation going on back at that time. Another example why this speech is an effective speech is, that he has all the elements a speech needs. Pathos, Ethos and Logos. He gives emotion and information needed for the audience, grabbing their attention and making them want to listen to what he had to say.

The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Program, was a program in which the US gave over 13 billion dollars to individual European countries to fuel the recovery of Europe between 1948 and 191. The plan was named after George C. Marshall who first introduced the idea in 1947. Americans perceive this as being an altruistic approach to helping the world regain their footing after WW2, however the Soviets did not share this notion. The Soviet Union viewed this plan as a way to infiltrate with foreign countries internal Affairs and refused to participate. They also prevented Poland and Czechoslovakia from being included in the program even know they needed it greatly. The undertaking of this plan contributed

Source G is an extract from ‘The Unfortunate Legacy of the Marshall Plan’ written by Walter Coffey from 1941-1945. The source is describing how many critics argued that the Marshall Plan was drawn up simply to ensure that European markets stayed open for U.S. Exports. If Europe was left to its own efforts then it wouldn’t remain open to American business in the same way as the past and this would negatively impact on American trade and business. The Marshall Plan was the predecessor to many American foreign aid programs for the future. The programs consist of government-to-government contributions with no guarantees they will actually go toward helping those most in need. Therefore, source G is critical of Marshall Plan.

But to understand the Marshall Plan, one must first examine the Truman Doctrine, which experts and historians have regarded as the basis for the Marshall Plan. Since 1944, the British government had been providing economic as well as military aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent a left-wing insurgency by communists. Aid such as this was also provided to prevent the Soviet Union from expanding its “Iron Curtain” into Greece and Turkey. Unfortunately for Britain, the ravages of World War II prevented them to continue to support Greece and Turkey (Herring, 2008, 614). So when Britain informed the U.S. State Department that it could no longer offer aid to Greece and Turkey, the United States did not hesitate to act. That is because there was fear

More than half of the aided money went to West Germany, France, and Great Britain. A capitalist's economy was rising in Western Europe and Industrial production rose 200%.

Another benefit of the Marshall plan was that it spread liberal democracy and hindered the encroachment of other political philosophies. By retaining influence in Germany the US and other western nations ensured that Germany was not annexed into the eastern bloc. Not only did this strengthen democratic influence, this may have prevented another war. It is plausible that if communist Russia had continued expanding its iron curtain that the cold war could have exploded into a third world war. Avoiding WWIII would have definitely been in the interests of the USA, justifying the Marshall plan.

     Throughout World War II, America and other large nations have been giving large amounts of money to help rebuild small countries, and get them on their “feet”. The Marshall Plan today is now focused on building a global economy within many different and under developed countries. However the United States has been focusing on the Asian countries more so than the ones in their own backward. When I refer to our “backyard” I am speaking of Latin America. They too are an under privileged continent in need of our help. But instead of us helping we just issue these countries dictators, like we have done in Iraq. “Instead, it has in the past chosen to prop up military dictators who kept the poor in

This is also magnified by the prosperous economic activity of European Union. After the WWII, Europe was in ruins and it was only with the help of Marshall Plan that it managed to stand on its feet. But reasons which are downplayed on a broader spectrum are the lifting of trade restriction of different countries of Europe; citizens of the Members of the European Union can travel from one country to other for Jobs, thus increase in labor in that country. Germany after the war had abundant amount of skill labor but it lacked finances to properly incorporate labor. That was when French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman put forward the proposal of production of Iron and Steel Production between Germany and France. This was the basis of free trade or reduction in trade barriers which in the words of Carmen Diaz Mora was success because

It is my pleasure to speak to you today on the unfortunately precarious state of affairs between the United States and Europe. As you all know, hegemonic power has shifted between European nations for centuries, while the United States did not emerge as such an influential entity until after World War II. Since these post-war reconstructive years, the United States has continued to grow in social, economic, political, and diplomatic strength, thus cementing its role as a major international power. Although Europe came out of the war battered and bruised, it rose up out of the ashes, and surpassed its former glory to start yet another chapter in its historical saga.