Development of the Cold War (Part 1)
Truman Doctrine (March 1947)
Based on the idea of containment
They did not want communism to spread any further
USA sent financial help to the Greek Government to fight off the communist rebels
Financial and military support was sent to the Turkish government to assure that USA would defend them from communism
The Greek Government was able to fight off the rebels and Greece would be run as a capitalist country
In the long term, USA became more committed to the idea of containment
USA believed that the Soviet Union was trying to take over Europe
USSR believed that the USA was trying to take over Europe and presented this with cartoons and propaganda
Marshall Plan (June 1947)
Gave financial help to European countries which had suffered damage during WW2
USA gave cash, machinery, food and technological assistance to countries which needed help
By 1953, USA had provided $17 billion in Marshall Aid
Believed that only poorer countries would turn to communism so by helping them to become richer would prevent them from turning into communists
USA demanded that any country which took Marshall Aid would trade freely with USA
Marshall Aid was good because the economies of Europe began to recover. Fewer people voted for communist parties in Britain, France, Italy and West Germany
Europe was now more divided and Stalin did not allow the communist Eastern Europe countries to accept any Marshall Aid money
USA believed that the Soviet Union was being selfish by not accepting Marshall Aid or allowing eastern Europe to accept American money
USSR believed that the USA was trying to tempt Eastern Europe into accepting capitalism
Accused the United States of trying to turn Western Europe into a colony. This was called the 'dollar imperialism'
Comecon (1949)
Aimed to provide money and economic help to communist countries which were struggling financially
Set up in 1949 by the USSR
Direct response to the Marshall Plan
Gave help mainly in Eastern Europe such as Czechoslovakia and East Germany
Economic organisation
Mainly about developing the economy of the communist bloc
Involved Stalin controlling what happened in other communist countries
Some members received economic assistance from the USSR
Members were meant to trade only with other communist countries and this meant that they did not accept Marshall aid and were not to open trade with USA
Members were expected to specialise in the production of certain goods
Cominform (1947)
Aimed to organise different communist governments and communist parties across the world
Set up in 1947 by the USSR
Direct response to the Truman Doctrine
Successor of an older organisation called Comintern
Was a political organisation
Cominform was all about uniformity and cooperation
Involved Stalin controlling what happened in other communist countries
Members of Cominform were meant to follow Soviet Aims
Members were expected to use similar domestic polices such as collectivisation