The Marshall Plan<span> (Or </span>European Recovery Program(ERP)<span>) was an American initiative to aid </span>Western Europe<span>, in which the </span>United States<span> gave over $13 billion</span><span> in economic support to help rebuild Western European economies after the end of </span>World War II<span>. The plan was in operation for four years beginning on April 1948. The goals of the United States were to rebuild war-devastated regions, remove </span>trade barriers<span>, modernize </span>industry<span>, make Europe prosperous once more, and prevent the spread of </span>communism.<span>The Marshall Plan encouraged an increase in </span>productivity<span>, </span>labour union<span> membership, as well as the adoption of modern business procedure.</span>
It was an American incentive to aid the Western part of Europe. It was instituted to help West Europe rebuild their economies after World War II. The plan was operating for a total of 4 years, starting on April 8th 1948
