Milestone of a new Europe or tool of U.S. Imperialism? The impact of the Marshall plan on post-1945 Europe

Essay from the year 2013 in the subject History Europe - Other Countries - Europe in the Cold War, grade: 1.0, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, course: transatlantic relations, language: English, abstract: One of the pillars of U.S. engagement on European soil was the four-year European Recovery Program, commonly known as the Marshall plan. The plan proved to be a booster for Europe's economy, promoting its integration and by doing so keeping away a possible spread of communism over western Europe. But the question arises: What are the real motives behind America's commitment to Europe in the immediate post-war years? Was the E.R.P. a way of securing its interests in the old continent or just a mere sign of sympathy for war-torn Europe?