In 1948, President Harry Truman signed the Economic Assistance Act into law, which initiated a plan, known as the Marshall Plan, to help the nations of Europe recover and rebuild after the end of World War II.  Through the Marshall Plan the United States gave over $13 billion to various European nations, the United Kingdom receiving the greatest portion at approximately 26% of the total.  The money provided to European nations overall was a small percentage of the national income, however certain guidelines and policies which came along with the money greatly influenced and shaped the economies of modern Europe.  See this brochure of Information for the American Business Man on the Marshall Plan in the library's collection to understand the economic and trade focus of the law. 

Economic assistance from the Marshall Plan was also offered to the U.S.S.R., who refused to accept assistance from the United States and even blocked assitance to all of the Eastern Block nations.  The U.S.S.R. developed their own economic assistance plan to aid Eastern Block nations, illustrating the power struggle between the United States and the U.S.S.R. which developed into the Cold War.

Want to find out more?  Stop by the Government Information, Maps, and Microform Services department on the 2nd floor in the Wells Library.  And find more in the library catalog, including a federal government review of the Marshall Plan: Origins and Implementation.

Posted by Amanda Homce, Government Information, Maps, and Microform Services spring 2018 Intern