The Marshall Plan was enacted by the US in 1947 to help rebuild Europe after WWII and prevent communism from gaining a stronghold. Aid was given to countries including Britain, France, and Germany, with a total spending of $13 billion. The plan was successful in stimulating economic recovery and was the first step towards forming a union of European countries. The program ended in 1951 due to the Korean conflict and disapproval from Republicans. While it helped restore some economies, it could not prevent the takeover of communism in some countries.
The Marshall Plan, also called the European Recovery Plan, was enacted by the United States in 1947 as a way to help rebuild Europe after World War II. The mastermind behind the plan was George Marshall, who was the US Secretary of State at the time, although William Clayton and George Kennan are credited with writing most of the program. While it was intended to help badly damaged Europe recover, it was also intended to prevent communism from acquiring a stronghold in war-torn countries.
West Germany, which was split from East Germany after the war, received some aid under the Marshall Plan. Britain and France received the most aid, over $200 million US dollars (USD) each. Other countries that received reconstruction funds were Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. For the most part, these countries represented the Allied relations formed during World War II, although others, such as Italy, were part of the Axis forces during the war. Japan received no aid, and although aid was offered to the Soviet Union, it was refused.
In total, the US government spent $13 billion under the program from 1948 to 1951. Some of the money spent was considered part of Germany’s debt, since much of the destruction resulted from the German invasion and of the bombing of some countries. The United States has been fortunate to have very little damage since entering the war late and the contiguous 48 states have been largely untouched by the war.
The Marshall Plan was mostly successful. It has stimulated a significant economic recovery in aid recipient countries and is also considered the first step towards forming a union of European countries. This goal was seen as important to the United States in preventing future multinational European wars.
The program ended abruptly in 1951 when the United States became involved in the Korean conflict. Republicans had also gained control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in 1950, and many of them disapproved of the plan. With fewer funds to devote to European recovery, the plan was officially dissolved. There were efforts to extend it, but Republicans quickly nixed them.
While the Marshall Plan succeeded in helping restore some economies, it could not stem the takeover of communism in some countries. The Cold War escalated, as expressed in the Korean conflict in the 1950s.
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