Download File - SaxonHistory

Truman Doctrine/Marshall Plan
The United States, rightly or wrongly, was convinced that the Soviet Union was a threat to world
peace. In response, the American government formed The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan.
President Harry Truman created the Truman Doctrine when he promised that the United States would
protect Turkey and Greece from the Soviet Union. Truman was staunchly opposed to communism. He called
for America to offer its support to any countries resisting communism.
Eastern Europe was attempting to recover from the ravages of World War II. The Soviets offered their
communist plan to the regions in an attempt to solidify their power and influence. Truman wanted to ensure
other countries would not fall under the Iron Curtain, the name for the boundary separating the Soviet Union
and it’s allies and the west and anti-communist countries. With the looming Soviet threat, American leaders
believed a third world war was possible. America realized it would need as many allies as possible to defeat a
superpower such as the Soviet Union. The United States feared if Greece and Turkey were to succumb to
communism, Soviet influence would sweep the ravaged continent.
The Truman Doctrine was the first in a series of containment documents. The next was the Marshall
Plan, which aided in rebuilding Western Europe’s economy. A goal of the Marshall Plan was to prevent
Western Europe, which was suffering devastation after World War II, from adopting communism. The plan
was announced on July 12, 1947, during a meeting of European countries. In addition to helping Western
Europe, the Marshall Plan also assisted Japan. Japan’s economy was decimated after World War II. The
Marshall Plan was presented to the Soviet Union. Russians had suffered more war casualties than any other
European country. Nevertheless, the Russians refused the aid. One of Josef Stalin’s top emissaries,
Vyacheslav Molotov, claimed the United States was attempting to impose “dollar imperialism” on the Soviet
Union. He also did not welcome an American sphere of influence in Europe and Asia.
The Marshall Plan was designed to provide immense economic recovery money to Western Europe
over a four-year period. An estimated $13 billion was given to the countries to make reforms, economy
stabilization and rebuilding infrastructures. The Marshall Plan was one of the first steps toward European
integration. Trade barriers between countries were eliminated and Western Europe greatly benefited. Almost
every country participating saw great gains in its economy during the twenty-year period after the war.
In your group, create 3 Thinking Maps on the back of this paper:
1. A double bubble map comparing the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan
2. A circle map describing and detailing the two Containment Plans from Russia’s perspective
3. A circle map describing and detailing the two Containment Plans from the US’s perspective