cld war04 b reaction ii web

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