What was the Marshall Plan?

The Marshall Plan was a United States initiative passed in 1948 to aid Western Europe in economic recovery after World War II. It was named after Secretary of State George Marshall and provided economic assistance to countries in need, helping to rebuild and modernize industries, transport systems and infrastructure. The plan was designed to stabilize democratic governments and prevent the spread of communism, and was successful in lifting Europe out of poverty and supporting the formation of the European Union.