Summary USA’s Involvement in Europe

USA’s involvement in Europe


Marshall Aid
(June 1947)

Background:

 Clayton returned from a fact-finding tour of Western Europe (May
1947).
 He concluded that a failure to revive economies would damage the USA
economically.
 He predicted loss of markets for American goods and the consequent
unemployment it would lead to.
 His analysis exaggerated the economic importance of Europe to the USA.

What did he want the focus of US aid to be?

 The focus of US aid should be on the restoration of Europe’s economic
strength, rather than on combating communism.

What was Marshall Aid?
 Marshall Aid was a recovery programme after the devastations of
World War Two.
 America was offering $13.5 billion to help rebuild Western European
countries.
 The USA also offered this to the USSR.

Why did Stalin reject the offer of Marshall Aid?
 Stalin didn’t want America spreading their influence.

How did Stalin respond to Marshall Aid?
 Created Cominform in 1947 (developed by Zhdanov) which aimed to
coordinate communist parties in Europe.
 Comecon was set up in 1949, aiming to coordinate economies of
communist parties (Stalin was making sure that they didn’t become
weak).