Marshall Plan Essay

Europe after the capitulation of Nazi Germany and the subsequent Allied victory in World War II was in ruins from years of fighting and bombing. Cities and infrastructure lay flattened and shortages of vital consumer products of food and fuel persisted across Europe. The economic situation of Europe was also in tatters; many countries suffered from severe inflation, debt, trade deficits, and depleted gold supplies. The United States having remained virtually untouched by the destruction had emerged

foreign assistance. Secretary of State in the U.S. at the time, George Marshall, proposed the "Marshall Plan”, originally called “the European Recovery Program”, in June of 1947, during his speech at Harvard University. Marshall’s argument was to provide 13 billion U.S. dollars, about 5% of the American gross domestic product during that period, to European nations to bail them out of their continental crisis post-World War II. The plan was in operation for four years, rebuilding war terrorized countries

The source, spoken on the 5th June 1947, is an extract from an address given by the then Secretary of State, George Marshall, outlining his and America’s plan to provide substantial economic aid to the European states, to help facilitate the rebuilding process in the continent. To understand both the need and importance of Marshall’s address in 1947, the economic and political environment in early post war Europe the must be put into context. The Second World War left the majority of European states

advancing their ideals, capitalism and communism, into Europe? For the United States, this would be attained through the implementation of the Marshall Plan in April of 1948. (Lapsansky-Werner, 2011, 402). 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

Cold War Plan was the Containment Plan. Some people believe that it was actually the Marshall plan or the deterrence plan. These plans are considered effective for the lives they saved, the safety they bring and the money for the government. Thus, the safest, most effective cold war plan was the Containment Plan. Generally the cold war lasted from 1949-1991. Successful plan should be judged by the effectiveness in the 52 years of the cold war. To evaluate the effectiveness of the plan, one must

reform and abolished all of the ACC economic controls (Cowan, 1985). Monthly production skyrocketed to highs not seen even after Marshall plan aid started to arrive(Cowan, 1985). Doug Bandow, senior fellow at the Cato institute, echoes Cowan's study by pointing out that the European economy that performed the worst, Great Britain, actually received the most Marshall Plan aid (Bandow, 1997). Madrick also points to LBJ's Great Society, and FDR's new deal as big government successes (McKenna & Feingold

With different goals, the contrasting powers prove through the Marshall Plan, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and SALT that communism really can’t coexist with capitalism. In World War 2, two groups of powers--the Axis and Allies--relentlessly fought against each other for dominance, resulting in many countries left in ruins with limited supplies and support, until George Catlett Marshall, an American soldier and U.S. Army chief, proposed a plan to rebuild Europe’s economy. He stated that, “‘Our policy is

However, these rebellions continued. In 1947, the United Kingdom could no longer afford to provide military and financial support to Greece. The United States was almost certain the Soviet Union had been funding these communist rebellions in Greece. Marshall had believed the United States was the only country able to provide economic aid to Greece seeing as how World War II had damaged the economies of other nations. President Truman would later meet with congressional leaders to explore what ought to

US was showing signs of authority and this exchange between USSR and US was obvious. Americans came there to save Greece and Turkey from Soviets. A war was slowly developing. But Europe’s economic struggles didn’t go unnoticed by the US and George Marshall decided to take

George C. Marshall was one of the best generals we had ever had! Here are some facts that aren’t just about his war victories or even acts. He was born December 31, 1880 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He was a Civil Engineering major. He graduated 15th of 34 in the Class of 01. That is 1901 not 2001 if so he would be super old. George married Elizabeth Coles. George was an honor graduate of the Infantry Cavalry School in 1907. He graduated first in his class from Army Staff College in 1908