Title: Marshall Plan Definition
Headings: Marshall Plan
Marshall Plan
What Was the Marshall Plan?
Key Takeaways
Understanding the Marshall Plan
History of the Marshall Plan
Examples of the Marshall Plan
Marshall Plan FAQs
How Did the Marshall Plan Generate Economic Growth?
Was the Marshall Plan Successful?
How Did the Marshall Plan Impact the World Bank?
What Was the Molotov Plan?
What Did the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan Have in Common?
Article Sources

Content: 3 ﻿
The Marshall Plan was more than an economic one. The Secretary of State thought that the cooperation of all European nations would lead to greater unity. The foundation of the plan led to the creation of The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as a defensive alliance against any future aggressors. NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 European and North American countries. The treaty was signed on April 4, 1949. Marshall earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953 for his efforts, but the lasting effects of the plan went well into the future. The reliance on American aid opened up trading avenues between Europe and the United States. The call for unity among European nations formed the basic idea behind the European Union. Without American intervention, Europe’s vast network of railroads, highways, and airports would not exist in contemporary society. As President Harry Truman said, the United States was the “first great nation to feed and support the conquered.”