The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the significance of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan.
Key learning points
- Truman was concerned that high levels of poverty would allow communism to spread more easily in post-war Europe.
- The Truman Doctrine committed the USA to a policy of containment.
- The aim of the Marshall Plan was to stop the spread of communism by providing economic support to Western Europe.
- In response to the Marshall Plan, Stalin established Cominform and Comecon.
- The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan (and the Soviet response they provoked) widened the divide between East and West.
Keywords
Truman Doctrine - Truman's idea that it was the USA's responsibility to prevent the spread of communism around the world
Containment - using American influence and military resources to prevent the spread of communism into non-communist countries
Isolationism - an approach to international relations that is based on not getting involved in the affairs of other countries
Marshall Plan - an American programme of economic aid that aimed to stop the spread of communism by supporting countries to recover from the Second World War
Common misconception
The USA always considered it had a responsibility to protect Europe from threats.
Before the Second World War, the USA had a policy of isolationism which meant not getting involved in the affairs of other countries.
Teacher tip
Encourage students to keep adding to a glossary of names and acronyms (such as Comecon and Cominform) as they go through this unit, and try to use them accurately in their work.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What was Stalin determined to create in Eastern Europe to protect the USSR against future attack?
Q2.Which keyword describes a government in which two or more political parties work together to run a country?
Q3.Which of the following countries were occupied by the Red Army by the time of the Potsdam Conference in July 1945?
Q4.Put the following methods of Soviet takeover of Eastern European governments in order, starting with the earliest.
Q5.Why did Stalin have to use rigged elections in Poland to ensure a communist government?
Q6.What view did Winston Churchill present in his 'Iron Curtain' speech in 1946?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Complete the sentence: Truman was concerned that high levels of poverty would allow to spread more easily in post-war Europe.
Q2.Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
US policy to prevent the spread of communism.
US policy of not getting involved in the affairs of other countries.
US programme of aid that aimed to stop the spread of communism.
Truman's idea that it was the US' responsibility to prevent communism.
Q3.Complete the sentence: In response to the Marshall Plan, Stalin established in 1947 and in 1949.
Q4.Why was Britain unable to financially support post-war recovery in Western Europe like Truman hoped?
Q5.How much aid did Truman announce the US was sending to Greece and Turkey in March 1947?
Q6.What was the official name of the Marshall Plan?
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Period study: Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941–91 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.