Identifier	Thesis 1675
Author	Bizzozero, David E.
Title	The significance of Coal in the success of the Marshall Plan and European economic recovery.
Publisher	Central Connecticut State University
Date of Publication	2003
Resource Type	Master's Thesis
Abstract	When World War II ended, the economic infrastructure of the United States remained intact, allowing her to emerge from the war as the world's leading economic power. It was there that the devastated countries of Europe looked to obtain the supplies and funds needed to begin the rebuilding process. Since the close of the war in 1945, the United States had provided the countries of Europe with substantial financial aid, yet two years later little progress had been made on the path to recovery. By 1947, Europe appeared on the verge of economic collapse; and the United States stepped in with the Marshall Plan, introducing a new approach. The Marshall Plan was unlike previous assistance programs in that it treated the problems confronting Europe as a whole, initiating the idea that the economic health of any country in Europe was closely tied to her neighbors and requiring participating countries to cooperate with one another. Additionally, when viewed as an economic document, it becomes apparent that the Marshall Plan singled out the coal industry as the basis for European recovery. Coal was unique for it was both a contributing factor to the problems experienced after the war, as well as an important component in the solution of those problems, including the critical problems in the transportation and agriculture industries. It was believed that the best way to bring about the recovery of Europe was to restore her industrial production, the underlying cause of Europe's economic problems, and coal was an integral part of any industrial system in 1947 as the principal fuel source. Besides being an integral part of industrial production, it was also the one commodity that Europe had in abundance. By focusing on coal, the Marshall Plan indirectly focused on Great Britain and Germany, the two countries with ample coal reserves and the two countries Europe needed to lead the way to European post-war recovery. The significance of coal's role in the Marshall Plan was so great that if restoration of this industry could not be achieved, any aid Europe received would have merely delayed an inevitable economic
Subject	Marshall Plan Coal trade -- Europe
Department	Department of History
Advisor	Mezvinsky, Norton
Type	Text
Digital Format	application/pdf
Language	eng
OCLC number	713733960
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The significance of Coal in the success of the Marshall Plan and European economic recovery.

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