Date post: | 12-Nov-2014 |
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The Reaction of the WestThe Reaction of the West
Europe’s Troubles• Truman believed Communism thrived in
economic hardship & poverty– General George Marshall sent to evaluate
European economies– Reported that they were ruined!– Countries owed US $11.5 billion– Extreme shortages of goods, bread rationed– (E) rationed coal, turned off power each day– ‘[Europe is] a rubble heap, a breeding
ground of hate.’• Winston Churchill
Billy Joel’s Nocturne from the early album Cold Spring Harbor
Marshall Aid
• Marshall’s Plan– Europe needs $17 billion– ‘Our policy is directed against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos.’
• General George Marshall
– Dec 1947: Congress refused to grant $$$ until …
General George Marshall’s speech of June 5th 1947, outlining what would become the ‘Marshall Plan’
Homelessness
Heating Shortages
Refugees
Destroyed Infrastructur
e
Rebuilding Costs
Bread Lines
National Debts
Which of the seven problems above do you think would be the most urgent for Marshall aid to tackle? Explain your choice.
Czechoslovakia• 1945-48: Czech coalition gov’t,
though including Communists, tried to be independent of Stalin
• March 1948: Anti-soviet leaders purged– Pro-US Minister, Jan Masaryk, found
dead below open window– Hmmmm …– Communists said he jumped …
• Congress accepted Marshall Plan– $17 billion available over 4 years
Now you know what a kung-fu movie sounds like when it is dubbed into German and remixed
Explain how events in both Greece and Czechoslovakia affected American policy in Europe
Varied Views of Marshall Plan• Generous act
– Largest aid package in US history– Obvious need & suffering in Europe
• Motivated by US self-interest– Wanted new markets for US goods– Wanted to avoid 2nd Great Depression
• Stalin hated Marshall Plan– Refused to participate– Forbade Eastern European countries from
signing up (Poland tried at first)– S believed anti-Communist aims behind
plan was to weaken his hold on E Europe– S saw plan as trying to make as many
countries as possible dependent upon US
Billy Joel’s Shades of Grey from the album River of Dreams
Do these political cartoons support or criticize Marshall Aid? Explain your answer.
Do you think the sources give a fair impression of Marshall Aid? Explain your answer.
Focus Task: How did the USA react to Soviet expansion?
• You are a high-ranking member of the Soviet Foreign Bureau and an advisor to Stalin. Write a briefing paper on the USA’s plans for Europe. Your report should cover:– President Truman’s plans for Europe– The methods being used by Truman to
resist the spread of Communism– Whether you think the USSR should be
worried
Fin