The Cold War was a state of economic, military, political and social instability throughout the world between the approximated years of 1947 and 1991. This widespread insecurity was the undeviating result of clashing ideologies and enormous power rivalry between the two superpowers of the world; the US and the Soviet Union. Both powers naturally strived for ideological and strategic influence throughout the world, yet their conflicting beliefs surrounding communism, politics and economic triumph within Europe resulted in numerous consequences – advantages and disadvantages for each nation and its supporting regions. The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan proved to be an advantage to the US its allied nations such as Greece, Turkey and France.
…show more content…
Although the economy of the US was at an all-time high, there was an immense lack of nations with enough monetary stability to produce the market orientated Europe required to successfully expand the US market and influence. Consequently, the US sought to repair the European economy and regain international order so as to develop and establish significant power amongst capitalist states. The Soviet Union had a similar goal of instituting power and influence in Europe and the World, as well as restricting German supremacy from intensifying again after the Second World War. In attempt to achieve this, the USSR (Communist government of Russia) intended to encourage the development of procommunist governments within nations under its influence and to create a ‘communist buffer’ between Russia and Germany to prevent German invasion. The Soviet Union’s aim of expanding communism though Europe was seen as a clear threat to the US, who saw the rising of communism as the USSR’s method of gaining complete control and pushing America from Europe. This appropriately placed mistrust between the two major powers led to the development of the Truman Doctrine by US president Harry Truman in 1947, and later the Marshall Plan by the US Secretary of State George Marshall. Both documents detailed combating economic instability within Europe in attempt to gain support for the capitalist system and direct struggling nations away from
Although the economy of the US was at an all-time high, there was an immense lack of nations with enough monetary stability to produce the market orientated Europe required to successfully expand the US market and influence. Consequently, the US sought to repair the European economy and regain international order so as to develop and establish significant power amongst capitalist states. The Soviet Union had a similar goal of instituting power and influence in Europe and the World, as well as restricting German supremacy from intensifying again after the Second World War. In attempt to achieve this, the USSR (Communist government of Russia) intended to encourage the development of procommunist governments within nations under its influence and to create a ‘communist buffer’ between Russia and Germany to prevent German invasion. The Soviet Union’s aim of expanding communism though Europe was seen as a clear threat to the US, who saw the rising of communism as the USSR’s method of gaining complete control and pushing America from Europe. This appropriately placed mistrust between the two major powers led to the development of the Truman Doctrine by US president Harry Truman in 1947, and later the Marshall Plan by the US Secretary of State George Marshall. Both documents detailed combating economic instability within Europe in attempt to gain support for the capitalist system and direct struggling nations away from