What was the marshall plan?
Europe was still struggling from years of conflict during World War II. Millions of people had been killed or wounded. Industrial centers in England, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Belgium and other places were ruins. Much of Europe was close to famine as farming had been stopped by war. Transportation was in ruins. The only major power in the world that was not significantly damaged was the United States.
As the nations of Europe faced famine and economic crisis after World War II, the United States proposed to rebuild the continent to help with political stability and a healthy world economy. On June 5, 1947, in an address at Harvard University, Secretary of State George C. Marshall first called for American assistance in restoring the economy of Europe. Western Europe responded wit a yes, and the Truman administration proposed legislation. The resulting Economic Cooperation Act of 1948 restored European farming and industrial productivity. General Marshall (pictured ) earned a Nobel Peace Prize because of this.