Explain what the marshall plan was during the cold war

The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Program, was a U.S. program providing aid to Western Europe following the devastation of World War II. ... In addition to economic redevelopment, one of the stated goals of the Marshall Plan was to halt the spread communism on the European continent.

The Cold War was mostly fought with words and threats rather than violent acts. The two nations at war were the United States and the Soviet Union. Although the two superpowers had worked as allies to defeat Germany during World War II, tensions grew between them after the war, resulting in a standoff over competing visions for the post-war world. After the war, it became clear that Stalin was interested in expanding Russia’s power into Eastern Europe, while the U.S. feared that Russia was planning to take over the world and spread the political idea of Communism.

Truman’s response to the Soviet Union’s sphere of influence and current conditions of war-torn Europe would become known as the Truman Doctrine. This doctrine proposed to give aid to countries that were suffering from the aftermath of World War II and threatened by Soviet oppression. The U.S. was especially concerned about Greece and Turkey.

Due to the slow progress of Europe’s economic development following WWII, Truman devised another plan to offer aid called the Marshall Plan. The plan was named after Secretary of State George Marshall due to Truman’s respect for his military achievements. Truman hoped that by enacting the Marshall Plan two main goals would be accomplished. These goals were:

It would lead to the recovery of production abroad, which was essential both to a vigorous democracy and to a peace founded on democracy and freedom, and which, in the eyes of the United States, the Soviet Union had thus far prevented.

It would support world trade, from which U.S. businessmen, farmers, and workers could benefit.

Explanation:

Hope this helps

the answer is b, encourage free trade