Title: The Marshall Plan
Headings: The Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan
A Post-WWII Economic-Aid Program
Europe: Immediate Post-War Period
Appointment of George Marshall
The Creation of the Marshall Plan
Participating Nations
Legacy of the Marshall Plan

Content: One of the first challenges Marshall faced in office was a series of discussions with the Soviet Union regarding the economic restoration of Germany. Marshall could not reach a consensus with the Soviets regarding the best approach and negotiations stalled after six weeks. As a result of these failed efforts, Marshall elected to proceed with a wider European reconstruction plan. The Creation of the Marshall Plan
Marshall called upon two State Department officials, George Kennan and William Clayton, to assist with the construction of the plan. Kennan was known for his idea of containment, a central component of the Truman Doctrine. Clayton was a businessman and government official who focused on European economic issues; he helped lend specific economic insight into the plan’s development. The Marshall Plan was crafted to provide specific economic aid to European countries to revitalize their economies by focusing on the creation of modern post-war industries and the expansion of their international trade opportunities. Additionally, countries used the funds to purchase manufacturing and revitalization supplies from American companies; therefore fueling the American post-war economy in the process.