The post war marshall plan
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Findings
The Marshall Plan, for those who don't know, was the American initiative to aid Europe in which the U.S. gave economic support to rebuild. The plan was in operation for four years beginning in April 1948. The goals of the United States were to rebuild war-devastated regions, remove trade barriers, modernize industry, and make Europe prosperous again. The phrase "equivalent of the Marshall Plan" is often used to describe a proposed large-scale rescue program (Website 1). It was our way of preventing another war, for we thought that the reason Germany had started WW2 was because of how they were punished when they should have been helped and so they resented the people for that. The reconstruction plan, developed at a meeting of the participating European states, was established on June 5, 1947. It offered the same aid to the Soviet Union and its allies, but they did not accept it, as to do so would be to allow a degree of US control over the Communist economies. President Harry Truman signed the Marshall Plan on April 3, 1948, granting $5 billion in aid to 16 European nations (Website 1). By helping out the European countries with their economic problems and getting them going again there was peace between most of the countries. Still today most are peaceful with each other. The United Nations also launched a series of humanitarian and relief efforts almost wholly funded by the United States. These efforts had important effects, but they lacked any central organization and planning, and failed to meet many of Europe's more fundamental needs (Website 1). While the United Nations had kept trying to keep things moving, there is only so much that we could pay for. We helped as much as we can and continue to help out.
The Second World War left Europe devastated. Millions of people had been killed or wounded, while many major cities lay in ruins. Agricultural production had declined, resulting in near-famine for millions of Europeans. Industrial and transportation infrastructures had been disrupted, leading to countless problems. In Eastern Europe, the dark shadow of Soviet occupation loomed. Even as the world celebrated Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 1945, Europe lay in shambles (Website 2). This is an example of how bad it was once the war had ended and why it was in the best interest of the world to help each other rebuild after years of destruction. It took a few outside help from others, like the U.S. and a few others. It had help many countries, sixteen to be exact. When it was all said and done, nearly $13 billion dollars in assistance was given away under the Marshall Plan. Assistance took the form of food shipments, fuel, machinery, and other staples. Distribution of aid was coordinated through the Economic Cooperation Administration, a U.S. government agency created specifically for the Marshall Plan (Website 2). While everyone was rebuilding the Soviets saw this as their chance to strike and take power. They wanted others to be in the Soviet Communist control. Just as the occupation of Germany was divided between the Soviets and the Western Allies, so too was the capital city of Berlin. The Soviets controlled the eastern half of Berlin, while the Americans, British, and French each controlled sectors of West Berlin. Now the city of Berlin lay inside the Soviet half of Germany, so basically Allied-controlled sectors of the city were completely isolated, kind of like an island within a sea of Soviet-controlled territory (Website 2). It was their chance, it took a bit for the Western powers to get the necessary aircraft needed to stop the take over. The Soviets had gotten some power but not all that they wanted. They captured part of Berlin and had it cut off in half.
In a June 5, 1947, speech to the graduating class at Harvard University, Secretary of State George C. Marshall issued a call for a comprehensive program to rebuild Europe. Fanned by the fear of Communist expansion and the rapid deterioration of European economies in the winter of 1946–1947, Congress passed the Economic Cooperation Act in March 1948 and approved funding that would eventually rise to over $12 billion for the rebuilding of Western Europe (Website 3). The Marshall Plan had been a big help to preventing another war, to this day the peace has been held with most countries. The Marshall Plan generated a resurgence of European industrialization and brought extensive investment into the region. It was also a stimulant to the U.S. economy by establishing markets for American goods (Website 3). With the help of the U.S. the economies of many countries got back in order and thrived. Using our goods to help them rebuild and get going. Economic historians have debated the precise impact of the Marshall Plan on Western Europe, but these differing opinions do not detract from the fact that the Marshall Plan has been recognized as a great humanitarian effort (Website 3). While it's not necessarily clear on the impact the Marshall Plan had, we have an idea. The idea is a good recourse to have if anything happens again.
The Second World War left Europe devastated. Millions of people had been killed or wounded, while many major cities lay in ruins. Agricultural production had declined, resulting in near-famine for millions of Europeans. Industrial and transportation infrastructures had been disrupted, leading to countless problems. In Eastern Europe, the dark shadow of Soviet occupation loomed. Even as the world celebrated Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 1945, Europe lay in shambles (Website 2). This is an example of how bad it was once the war had ended and why it was in the best interest of the world to help each other rebuild after years of destruction. It took a few outside help from others, like the U.S. and a few others. It had help many countries, sixteen to be exact. When it was all said and done, nearly $13 billion dollars in assistance was given away under the Marshall Plan. Assistance took the form of food shipments, fuel, machinery, and other staples. Distribution of aid was coordinated through the Economic Cooperation Administration, a U.S. government agency created specifically for the Marshall Plan (Website 2). While everyone was rebuilding the Soviets saw this as their chance to strike and take power. They wanted others to be in the Soviet Communist control. Just as the occupation of Germany was divided between the Soviets and the Western Allies, so too was the capital city of Berlin. The Soviets controlled the eastern half of Berlin, while the Americans, British, and French each controlled sectors of West Berlin. Now the city of Berlin lay inside the Soviet half of Germany, so basically Allied-controlled sectors of the city were completely isolated, kind of like an island within a sea of Soviet-controlled territory (Website 2). It was their chance, it took a bit for the Western powers to get the necessary aircraft needed to stop the take over. The Soviets had gotten some power but not all that they wanted. They captured part of Berlin and had it cut off in half.
In a June 5, 1947, speech to the graduating class at Harvard University, Secretary of State George C. Marshall issued a call for a comprehensive program to rebuild Europe. Fanned by the fear of Communist expansion and the rapid deterioration of European economies in the winter of 1946–1947, Congress passed the Economic Cooperation Act in March 1948 and approved funding that would eventually rise to over $12 billion for the rebuilding of Western Europe (Website 3). The Marshall Plan had been a big help to preventing another war, to this day the peace has been held with most countries. The Marshall Plan generated a resurgence of European industrialization and brought extensive investment into the region. It was also a stimulant to the U.S. economy by establishing markets for American goods (Website 3). With the help of the U.S. the economies of many countries got back in order and thrived. Using our goods to help them rebuild and get going. Economic historians have debated the precise impact of the Marshall Plan on Western Europe, but these differing opinions do not detract from the fact that the Marshall Plan has been recognized as a great humanitarian effort (Website 3). While it's not necessarily clear on the impact the Marshall Plan had, we have an idea. The idea is a good recourse to have if anything happens again.