I am about to present my International Studies Test. Can someone lead me to information related to the signature of the Plan Marshall here in the USA?

I will really appreciate your input.

According to "A People and a Nation," (textbook 7th ed.)The Marshall plan was enacted after WWII to help "achieve US goals in western Europe which was still reeling economically and unstable politically and lacked to dollars to buy vital American-made goods." It was a form of containment by spreading American culture (goods, ethics, ideals, etc... ). It was announced by Sec. of State George C. Marshall in 1947 and ended in 1951 after spending 12.4 billion dollars. Such a massive recovery program was established because of the debt that caused the Great Depression after WWI which in turn lead to the rise of the Nazi's and fascist regimes.

Some consider it an American success because it helped in containment. However, some consider it unsuccessful because arguable, Europe could have revived without it. It also "caused inflation, failed to solve a balance-of-payments (WWI), and only took tentative steps toward economic integration, and further divided Europe between East and West."

One needs to remember that all of Europe was on it's knees after WWII. Financially, even Britain was basically bankrupt. Even with the Marshal plan it took Europe years to recuperate.

Eastern Europe, under Russian (Soviet Union) control stayed, in the doldrums for a much longer time, in part because of the controlled economy imposed by the Russians, or the local Communist Party, and in part because much capital equipment was moved into Russia right after WWII ended.