26. Cold War Politics in the Truman Years, 1945

Quiz for Making Historical Arguments: Why Did the United States Launch the European Recovery Program?

Choose the best answer to each question. Click the “submit” button for each question to turn in your work.

1. How did U.S. secretary of state George Marshall describe the aims of the European Recovery Program?

Marshall described the plan as a way to spread democracy.

Marshall said the plan was intended to benefit only America’s World War II allies.

Marshall argued that the plan targeted general humanitarian issues rather than specific countries or doctrines.

Marshall argued that the plan would make the United States the world’s foremost superpower.

2. What were conditions like in Europe in 1947 as the United States considered the European Recovery Program?

European industrial cities were beginning to recover from the war.

Europe was devastated both by war and by a harsh winter.

Germany was still in ruins, but France and Great Britain had strong economies.

European farmers had their first good crops since the war ended.

3. According to the authors, what was the role of communism in shaping American policy in Europe after the war?

The United States tried to incorporate some ideas of communism into its planning.

The United States did not see communism as a major threat and largely ignored it.

The United States hoped to work closely with Communist leaders in various European countries.

The United States believed it needed to combat the threat and spread of communism.

4. How did American policymakers think the ERP would affect the American economy?

They believed a strong European economy would promote a strong American economy.

They thought the ERP would hurt the American economy in the short run, given the large expenditure.

They hoped the ERP would allow the American economy to rely more on European imports.

They believed the weak European economy had been a boon for the American economy.

5. How did the Truman administration appeal to the American public to gain support for such a massive expenditure?

They used a massive publicity campaign to drum up support for the program.

They promised tax breaks if Americans supported the program.

Truman went on a nationwide speaking tour to promote the program.

They held many town hall meetings across the country to educate Americans on the program.