The Library of Congress presents a brief history of Nobel Prize winner George Marshall for his development and implementation of the Marshall Plan to help rebuild Europe's devastated countries following World War II. Listen to part of...

Explains President Truman's plan to contain communism, which signaled the end of American isolationism. Also discusses America's pledge of financial aid to rebuild Europe with the Marshall Plan.

This Fordham University site contains the speech delivered by General George Marshall at Harvard University on June 5, 1947.

Kids learn about the history of the recovery from World War II and the Marshall Plan. Much of Europe was devastated and how the US helped.

Read about President Truman's two-pronged foreign policy for Europe. Find out about his containment policy and the Truman Doctrine, which was manifested in the Marshall Plan.

Find President Truman's State of the Union message on January 5, 1949, after his stunning victory over Thomas Dewey in November 1948, where he outlines his plans for a "Fair Deal" for Americans. In addition, there are links to other...

It is imperative that students understand what happened in Europe after WWII, so they may gain a deep knowledge of our contemporary world, including its key economic, social, and political developments. This in-depth unit covers topics...

Our Documents is home to one hundred milestone documents that influenced that course of American history and American democracy. Includes full-page scans of each document, transcriptions, background information on their significance, and...

Digital History discusses the Containment Policy of the 1950s. Includes information on the Marshall Plan, the fate of Germany, the Berlin blockade, and NATO.

Describes how the Soviets under Stalin managed to infiltrate Eastern European countries and establish Communist governments, dividing the continent into East and West with a symbolic Iron Curtain separating the two. America scrambled to...

Read about the US's early attempts to contain communism through economic and military aid.

Brief lesson on the life and career of George C. Marshall with link to audio of Marhsall's address.

This site from The History Place provides a good selection of historical and relatively modern speeches from many English-speaking countries. Each speech is set up in its historic context. Many are available with audio links.

A discussion of historical events that led to the Cold War from the perspective of the U.S. Army. Particular emphasis is placed on military leadership and policy.

This site from the Library of Congress offers readers a different perspective of the Marshall Plan. Look at the Marshall Plan through communist eyes. A great way to balance out history. Offers communist criticism of the plan. Includes a...

The events leading up to the Cold War are profiled. Text plus a graphic flow chart format make the topic visually appealing and of interest to both students and educators.

A lesson plan from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US" that draws on students' understanding of the word "trait" to comment on President Truman's ability to make difficult decisions. Also includes...

BBC correspondent Arnold A Offner discusses the role Harry S. Truman played in development of the Cold War. American history from a British point of view.

The History Channel provides a biographical look at the Russian dictator Joseph Stalin, beginning with his early career, rise to power, time as a Soviet leader, and the partial dismantling of his police state in the years after his death.

A biography written about George C. Marshall, 3rd Secretary of Defense under the Truman Administration.

This site from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars presents new information and perspectives on the origins of the Cold War, including new findings, views and activities.

This site highlights the five foreign policy crises that needed the attention of Harry S. Truman at the end of World War II. Read about the US actions on these crises and determine how these actions affected foreign policy over the next...

This resource provides information about money in North America from Wampum to electronic transfer.

Describes what happened to Germany at the end of World War II and the start of the Cold War, how it was divided into East and West Germany with the construction of the Berlin Wall. Western countries worked to rehabilitate their half of...