The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan Cambridge IGCSE History revision
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In plain words
In 1947 the USA made a decision that shaped the next forty years. It would not go home, as it had after the First World War. It would stay, and use its money and its strength to stop communism wherever it appeared.
8 things to know
- By 1947 the USA feared that communism would spread across the whole of Europe. Western Europe was poor and hungry, and its communist parties were strong.
- In Greece, communists were fighting a civil war against the government. Britain announced that it could no longer afford to help.
- In March 1947 President Truman announced what became the Truman Doctrine: the USA would support any free people resisting communist takeover. Money and weapons were sent to Greece and Turkey.
- The policy behind it was containment: communism was to be kept within its existing borders and stopped from spreading.
- Truman believed that communism grew out of poverty. In June 1947 the US Secretary of State, George Marshall, offered money to rebuild the economies of Europe.
- This was the Marshall Plan. About $13 billion was given to sixteen countries of western Europe. It helped them to recover, and it gave the USA markets for its goods.
- Stalin forbade the countries of eastern Europe to accept. He called the plan "dollar imperialism", an attempt to buy control of Europe.
- The result was a Europe divided into two camps, one led by the USA and one by the USSR.
Worked example
Explain how the Marshall Plan helped to contain communism. This is a 6-mark question.
- Truman believed that poverty and hunger made communism attractive.
- Marshall Aid rebuilt industry, farming and trade in western Europe, so living standards rose.
- People who were better off were less likely to vote communist, and the countries that took the money were tied to the USA.
Tips and tricks
- The Truman Doctrine was the promise. The Marshall Plan was the money. The two worked together as containment.
- Marshall Aid was generous and self-interested at once. The USA needed prosperous customers and stable allies. Say both.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
What was containment?
It was the basis of American policy for decades.
Which two countries first received help under the Truman Doctrine?
Britain could no longer afford to support them.
What did Stalin call the Marshall Plan?
He believed that the USA was buying influence.
Why did Truman think aid would stop communism?
Prosperity was meant to remove its appeal.
Which statement best describes how the two sides saw the Marshall Plan?Stretch
The same act looked different from each side.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
3 questions, 14 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan
Cambridge IGCSE History 0470 · 14 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
What was the Truman Doctrine?[4]
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It was announced by President Truman in March 1947. He said that the USA would support free peoples resisting communist takeover. It began with aid to Greece and Turkey. It marked the start of the policy of containment.
What was the Marshall Plan?[4]
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It was a programme of American aid announced in 1947 by George Marshall. About $13 billion was given to the countries of western Europe. Its aim was to rebuild their economies. Stalin refused to let eastern European countries take part.
Why did Stalin refuse Marshall Aid?[6]
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He saw it as "dollar imperialism": a way for the USA to gain control of European countries by making them depend on American money. He feared that it would weaken Soviet control of eastern Europe if those countries traded with the West. He also did not want a strong, rebuilt Germany on his border.
Answers: The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan
- 1. It was announced by President Truman in March 1947. He said that the USA would support free peoples resisting communist takeover. It began with aid to Greece and Turkey. It marked the start of the policy of containment.
- 2. It was a programme of American aid announced in 1947 by George Marshall. About $13 billion was given to the countries of western Europe. Its aim was to rebuild their economies. Stalin refused to let eastern European countries take part.
- 3. He saw it as "dollar imperialism": a way for the USA to gain control of European countries by making them depend on American money. He feared that it would weaken Soviet control of eastern Europe if those countries traded with the West. He also did not want a strong, rebuilt Germany on his border.