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Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan

  • Doctrine - government policy involving foreign/military affairs
  • Containment - keeping something harmful under control
  • Domino Theory - that one policitical event will spread to other countries

What happened in Greece and Turkey in 1945-1947?

Greece

What did the Communist and Monarchists want in Greece?

  • When the Nazis were driven out in 1944, two rival groups wanted to rule the country
    • Communists wanted Greece to be a Soviet republic
    • Monarchists wanted the return of the King of Greece

What did Britain do in 1945 and why?

  • Churchill sent British troops to Greece in 1945 to help restore order and supervise free elections
  • Britain supported the Monarchists and the King was returned to power

What broke out in 1946?

  • In 1946, a civil war broke out between the two sides, Communist and Monarchists

Why did the British have to leave Greece in 1947?

  • The British did not have the resources to control the situation
  • Withdrew from Greece on Feburary 24th 1947

Turkey

Why was Turkey important to Stalin?

  • Access to the Mediterranean Sea for Soviet ships through Black Sea straits

Why was Truman concerned if Turkey became an ally of the USSR?

  • Stalin might use Turkey as a stepping stone to spread Communism influence to the Middle East
  • The Middle East was important to the USA because of the oil reserves

Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan

Truman Doctrine

  • Announced on March 1947, passed by Congress in May 1947
  • Under this doctrine, the USA was prepared to do everything in its power to assist nations threatened by Communism
  • The aim was stopping Communism from spreading - containment

Greece and Turkey Aid Bill

  • Financial aid given
  • $400 million to help improve their economy and establish their government

Marshall Plan

  • Setup as the economy infastructure of Europe was destroyed in WW2
  • General George Marshall found that Europe would turn Communist if European economy could be jump-started
  • Marshall announced his plan to Harvard students on 5th June 1947
  • He challenged European countries to get together and produce a plan for regeneration
    • The US would fund, countries refusing cooperation would be refused funding
  • By the 12th July there was a meeting in Paris with European nations which asked $22 billion in aid
  • Truman asked Congress for $17 billion and Congress authorised $13 billion
  • Marshall aid took form of:
    • Fuel
    • Raw materials
    • Goods
    • Loans
    • Food
    • US Machinery to help factorie to be back to n ormal
    • Advisers to help rebuild transport systems
  • Marshall aid had a huge effect, in years 1948-1952 was a time of economic growth
    • Also stopped the spread of Communism as predicted by George Marshall

Comecon and Cominform

Comiform

  • Set up in 1947
  • Communist Information Bereau
  • Aimed to coordinate various Communist goverments in Eastern Europe
  • Ran meetings and sent instructions to Communist govenments about what the USSR wanted to do

Comecon

  • Set up in 1949
  • Council for Mutual Economic Assistance
  • Aimed to coordinate the trade and industries of Eastern European countries
  • Set up an international bank for Communist and socialist countries in 1964
  • Favoured the USSR far more than any of its other members