The Marshall Plan
In 1947, the American-made Marshall Plan (officially the European Recovery Program) was established and later put into action for four years, beginning in April 1948. Named after the Secretary of State, George Marshall, the goal of the United States was to support and repair European society and economy after World War ll. The American objective for the plan was also to prevent the Soviet spread of Communism. However, by doing this they also increased the intensity between their country and the U.S.S.R. As for the initial reaction, some Eastern European countries wanted to accept the offer, however, upon meeting with and talking to Joseph Stalin, premier of the Soviet Union, the countries’ leaders were criticized for wanting U.S. aid. In the end, they too rejected the plan. The Marshall Plan and the Eastern Bloc’s refusal to accept it displayed the power the Soviets had over other people and countries, something seen time and time again in history. This, along with the tension the denial of the plan created, made 1947 and the following years increasingly warmer.