APUSH+Marshall+Plan

[|The Marshall Plan] was a piece of [|important policy] developed by State Department leader George Marshall in 1947. Officially named the European Recovery Program, but popularly known as the Marshall Plan, the content was intended to pave the way for economic, infrastructural, and personal recovery in the war-torn regions of Europe after World War Two. The Marshall Plan eventually encompassed sixteen nations, including Germany, the former enemy. Each country received technical and administrative assistance unique to their state. In the end, $13 billion was invested in the participating European nations, providing much needed provisions such as food, fuel, and machinery, and later more advanced systems, such as investments in business and industrial opportunities.

The Marshall Plan was very effective at warding off the dangerous possibility of economic recessions or depressions encouraged by the recent conflict. The Marshall Plan encouraged trade between countries and helped develop the current European Union. European economic capital grew at a speedy rate, raising the standard of living for many and also bringing in much needed assurance that Europe's best times were ahead.