The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan
History: Cambridge International GCSE The Twentieth Century (Option B), topic 4.3.2
The Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine describes a speech given by the US President, Harry Truman. In the speech, he committed to intervening to help to spread capitalism and limit the spread of communism. This was a policy called ‘containment’.
The 'domino effect'
- In 1947, Truman gave his speech urging communism to be contained. At this time, communist parties (supported by the USSR) were already in control of Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.
- President Truman was scared that other countries in Eastern Europe and the Middle East would fall to Communism.
- Truman was scared of something called a ‘domino effect’. As more nations got communist governments, they would then support communist revolutions in nearby countries funding populist uprisings.
Winston Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech
- Winston Churchill, no longer Prime Minister of the UK, gave a significant speech in March 1946 in Fulton, USA.
- He argued that ‘an iron curtain has descended across the continent of Europe’. This iron curtain speech described the USSR's behaviour in Eastern Europe.
- By this, Churchill meant that Europe was now divided — a communist east under Soviet influence and a capitalist west supported by the USA.
The Truman Doctrine
- The exact contents of the Truman Doctrine said:
- "I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way."
- He committed to giving political, military and financial aid to countries to stop the spread of communism.
The Marshall Plan (Marshall Aid)
The Marshall Plan (also known as Marshall Aid) formalised the economic assistance that Truman described in the Truman Doctrine of 1947.
The Marshall Plan of 1947
- The Marshall Plan provided economic assistance to back up the Truman Doctrine. It was named after George Marshall, the US Secretary of State at the time.
- The money was spent to encourage trade with the United States, and a Technical Assistance Program was designed to implement improvements aimed at increasing productivity.
- Josef Stalin stopped any communist nations supported by the Soviet Union from accepting Marshall Aid.
'Containment'
- Through the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan, the USA sought to contain communism through military and economic assistance to primarily Western European countries. This was part of a policy known as ‘containment’.
- The Truman Doctrine and the 1947 Marshall Plan increased tensions between the Soviets and the US.
Soviet perspective on the Marshall Plan
- The Soviet Union saw both the 1947 Truman Doctrine and the 1947 Marshall Plan as a threat to Eastern Europe.
- The Soviet Politburo (leadership board of the communist party in Russia) viewed the Marshall Plan as an example of America's 'economic imperialism'.
Test yourself on The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan
When was the Truman Doctrine?
In 1947, which countries had already fallen to communism?
When was the Marshall Plan introduced?
Which of the following are correct about the views on The Marshall Plan?
How much money was provided by the USA in the Marshall Plan to help rebuild Europe?