Role of the Marshall Plan in Europe’s Economic Development
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This essay discusses the role of the Marshall Plan in Europe’s economic development after World War II and its impact on the stability and growth of European countries.
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Running Head: HISTORY ESSAY0 Role of the Marshall Plan in Europe’s Economic Development Student Name
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HISTORY ESSAY1 Role of the Marshall Plan in Europe’s Economic Development After World War II, Europeans countries suffered a huge loss, including the leading industrial countries such as Belgium, Italy, Great Britain, France, and Germany. Due to these losses, there were some of the regions, which had the extreme scarcity of food. This brings the crucial crisis in Europe and to improve the conditions, implementation of the Marshall’s Plan became necessary. In 1948, the United States helps Europe in the financial crisis, under the program named ‘Marshall Plan’. The other name of the Marshall Plan was ‘European Recovery Program’. The Series of reforms and strategies, which can help in rebuilding the economic structure of European Countries, specified in the ‘Marshall Plan’(Marshall Plan, 1948, 2009). This crisis happened after World War II. This plan established in the controversial period, when European countries suffering from very bad economic conditions. To remove destructions and poverty in European countries, the United States made the ‘Marshall Plan’ to recover the economic stability in Europe. Under this act, the U.S. gave Europe more than $12 billion to cure Europeans countries. This aid helped the European nation in economic development. Officially, the plan established on April 3rd, 1948 and in 1951, U.S. funding ended(Elder, 2015). This discussion explains the role of the Marshall Plan in Europe’s economic development. In January 1947, Harry S. Truman, who was the President of the U.S., appoints George C. Marshall, as the Secretary of State. He was a military officer who headed the army of World War II at that time. In Addition, Marshall earned the position in the administration of the American public. President appoints him as a secretary of state to bring stability in economic conditions of European Countries(George Catlett Marshall, 2019). GeorgeC. Marshall knew that economic stability would only happen, when the condition of the European people stabilized. Soon after the appointment of Marshall, critical conditions took
HISTORY ESSAY2 place in Greece. Marshall realized that only U.S. was economically able to help Greece. In World War II, the U.S. was the only place not suffered with the crisis. Hence, the American decides to help them, to rebuild their economic conditions. The major losses where Europe needed help were the areas related to agriculture, roads, factories and transportations. In addition, the U.S. had a fear that the scarcity of food, poverty, and unemployment would boost the formation of the Communist party in Europe and Marshall does not want that Communism spread in Europeans countries. Therefore, in the White House, President Truman called off a meeting with congressional leaders, Secretary of State Marshall and some of the important authorities. At that meeting, they all had debated on Greece conditions and then they decided to support Marshall Plan. After this, Marshall faced many political obstacles against the European Recovery Program. Some of the European authorities strongly opposed this idea, as they do not want their country dominated by Americans. However, at the end, Marshall conquered beliefs of European people and convinced them for the execution of Economic Recovery Program. The roots for Marshall Plan initiated in the year, 1946(Gimbel, 1978). The State Department, Russian specialist, George F. Kennan analysed theSoviet intentionsand wrote a telegram about it. This telegram published as an article, by a magazine named as Foreign Affairs. This article had a greater impact as it was widely discussed. According to Kennan, the Soviets were unsecured because of the surrounded capitalist countries. In order to secure the Soviets, they needed their power expanded.Marshall, the Secretary of State had appointed Kennan for heading a plan. This plan accomplished to assess the condition of European nations, that whether they need the expansion or not. Kennan reported Marshall about the declining condition of the European people. Many of the people were homeless, unemployed and not able to bear their necessities(Knapp, 1979). Because of inflation, the people who had ajob were also suffering from these problems. All the water resources,
HISTORY ESSAY3 power plants, roads, bridges and factories destroyed after the war. Farmers and industrialists both the communities had a huge loss. To get rid of these problems, Kennan proposed the U.S. to help the European countries by rebuilding their society’s economic conditions (Ellwood, 1992).He suggested this idea, as it would help in re-establishing the market in Europe, which untimely helps the United States. As when the Europe economic conditions improve, they would able to buy the American products and services. These recommendations helped Marshall, in convincing the President Truman to help the European society financially. On June 5th, 1947, Marshall suggested the innovative proposal in a speech at Harvard University(Hogan, 1989). He called for the joint efforts by the European countries for fixing up the economic conditions and thiswould only happen when Europe supports the United States for the Marshall Plan implementation. Under this plan, the U.S. would provide the necessary funds to the Europeans countries. In addition, the plan clearly stated that is was not against any country, but was against the starvation, chaos, desperation and poverty(Kapstein, 2015).Unfortunately, the Soviet Union refused to participate, as Americans suggested this plan. In addition, if they join their hands with the U.S., they had to exchange their economic information. The Soviet thought that the Marshall Plan charged to dominate the economy of Europe. In July 1947, the Western European Counties met together to associate with the America for economy recovery plan(Patterson, 2007).Soon Americans got disappointed when they found Europeans countries not unified as each country had its own list. In addition, French was disagreed with it because they do not want Germany to be the part of the war again. Marshall knew that if soviet does not support him, Truman would not accept the plan because it could cause Soviet-Americans conflicts. This meant that the plan only be executed, if the Soviet Union participates in it without any objection. By observing the poor participation of the Western Europeans countries, the Marshall urged them that if they follow
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HISTORY ESSAY4 the plan in a unified manner, soon, they would be able to achieve an autonomous economy, better living standard and trade barrier would also remove with the establishment of this plan. Marshall expected all this would happen in four years. He forced German to participate in this plan fully as it was necessary for the fulfilment of the plan. The pressure of Marshall made the European compromised and then they submitted this plan to the United States in September 1947. European states that they need $17 billion to carry out the Marshall Plan. After the recommendation, in November 1947, President Truman called a meeting in which they discussed the leaders to take immediate actions in favour of Marshall Plan. This Plan had a specified funding request of $17 billion for four years(Policy Recommendations: A Marshall Plan Moment, 2014). To justify the funding part of Marshall Plan, Truman administration called for a debate between the experts which argued for funding the Marshall Plan or not. They reviewed that Marshall Plan enactment helps the European countries by preventing them from economic depression. Finally, in 1948, President decided to implement the Marshall Plan as soon as possible. In addition, the Economic Cooperation Act of 1948 passed, which approved the funds for the Marshall Plan at a slightly lower level from requesting one. $13 Billion amount of fund approved by the United States in the favour of the European economic development for the period of four years(Leffler, 1988). Underthe Economic Cooperation Act, the Marshall Plan executed, to ensure the independent economy, freedom in institutions and individual liberty by re-establishing the proper economic system of Europe. In these four years, Western Europe had evaluated several economic plans, reforms and strategies under Marshall Plan. The Implementations of the Marshall Plan focus were to remove the scarcity of food, rebuild the transportation system and increment in the production of agriculture and industrial products. In addition, this plan regulates the economic resources, which would help in transforming the market structure of European countries(Marshall Plan, 2009).
HISTORY ESSAY5 After the implementation of the Marshall Plan, at some part it worked as a technical assistance for the European society. The technical peers and advisors appointed by the United States under the economic corporations act. These experts belong to the American banks, farmer’s organization, businesses and labour union. All these groups helped in increasing and improving the productions. American helped Europeans countries in monetary terms by proving them funds, which helped them in buying their necessities such as food, oil and materials, which are required for the reconstruction of transportation, roads, houses and factories(Painter, 2009). Under the Marshall Plan, aids were provided to 16 nations of Europe and to avoid the conflicts among these nations,the U.S. had a constant pressure to divide them on these aids among the European countries so that, they could use them collectively. Some Europeans had a doubt about American intentions, but after some time these doubts were vanished. During the year, between 1948 -51,North America and European countries also formed an organization named as North America Atlantic Organization (NATO). This was an intergovernmental military alliance signed between the two countries(Parrish, 2016). The Marshall Plan duration ended in the year 1951. As a result, Western Europe had huge benefits in the industrial productions. The production rose after the completion of the Marshall Plan. Not only production rose, there were increments in the trade sector also. This successful completion of Marshall Plan helped the European people in rebuilding their standard of living. In addition, the communist party lost their control everywhere. Overall, Marshall Plan had a great success, which involved the increment in Western European countries GNP. In addition, Chemical steel and engineering industries had a greater improvisation under this plan. President Truman appreciated the efforts of Marshall. He said that, Marshall Plan would be one of the America’s greatest contributors toward the world peace. George C. Marshall also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953 for this tremendous
HISTORY ESSAY6 contribution the world peace(Matthew, 2010). This plan helped in cutting the cycle of wars that had harmed the Nationsfor centuries as two of the major continents, working together under the same plan to achieve the same goal. Before the implementation of the Marshall Plan, a survey says that 47 % of French citizen were not in the favour of this plan. They thought that this plan made mainly for the benefit of Americans. Only 18% of the French people thought that the U.S. had good intentions of helping them in the crisis. However, in 1953, these percentages had a tremendous change. Up to 57 % of the French citizens were now in the favour of Marshall Plan. Only 14% of people in France gave the negative opinions about this plan(OZER, 2014). Every plan has its own positive and negative impact and in this scenario, situations had both effects. On one side, the negative aspects concluded that the Economic Problem of Europeans not fully cured by the Marshall Plan, till 1951 as the survey says that some of the food still imported for the nation but this plan had constructed basis structure for their further growth in the market. In addition, there were some areas, which had less progress and the trade barriers not fully removed. On the other hand, the positive aspects concluded that the economic structure rebuilt its stability in the international market, which helps the European countries to accelerate the process of growth in different sectors. European countries were getting open trade opportunities after the completion of this plan. Therefore, Marshall Plan not only helped in economic stability, it also provides political stability in Europe by encouraging integration. In addition, the Marshall Plan influenced the European Economic development in a positive manner, but this plan does not work up to the expectations, as some of the areas were not able to develop up to the mark
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HISTORY ESSAY7 under this plan. At the same time, it established a great economic and political stability. Marshall Plan marks its name in world history, as itwas the largest economic recovery effort.
HISTORY ESSAY8 Bibliography Marshall Plan. (2009, december 9). Retrieved from History: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/marshall-plan-1 Marshall Plan, 1948.(2009, December 16). Retrieved from Office of the Historian : https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/marshall-plan Policy Recommendations: A Marshall Plan Moment. (2014).American Forign Policy Intrest, 88-89. George Catlett Marshall. (2019). Retrieved from GCMF: https://www.marshallfoundation.org/marshall/ Elder, R. E. (2015). The Marshall Plan.The Social Studies, 158-160. Ellwood, D. W. (1992). Rebuilding Europe: Western Europe, America, and Postwar Reconstruction.History: Reviews of New Books, 74-75. Gimbel, J. (1978). The Origins of the Marshall Plan.The Journal of American History, 234- 235. Hogan, M. J. (1989). The Marshall Plan: America, Britain, and the Reconstruction of Western Europe, 1947–1952. .The American Historical Review, 554-555. Kapstein, E. B. (2015). The Marshall Plan and Industrial Policy.Challenge, 55-59. Knapp, W. (1979). Review: The Origins of the Marshall Plan.SAGE Journal, 123-126. Leffler, M. P. (1988). The United States and the Strategic Dimensions of the Marshall Plan. Diplomatic Hstory, 277-306.
HISTORY ESSAY9 Matthew, J. P. (2010). The West's Secret Marshall Plan for the Mind.International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence, 409-427. OZER, M. H. (2014). The Effects of the Marshall Plan Aids to the Development of the Agricultural Sector in Turkey, the 1948-1953 Period.International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 427-439. Painter, D. S. (2009). The Marshall Plan and oil.The Cold War History, 159-175. Parrish, S. (2016). The Marshall Plan and American Foreign Policy.Problem of Post Communism, 18-24. Patterson, L. A. (2007). A ‘Marshall plan’ for the former Soviet Union: Ideological, economic and political considerations.Arms Control, 181-197.