Why did some Americans feel that the US should help Europe after world war 2?

Answer 1

The U.S. helped to rebuild Europe in several ways after WWII. We enacted the Marshall Plan (named after the man in charge of all allied armies in WWII, George C. Marshall) We spent billions to rebuild the roads and buildings that had been destroyed during the war.

Answer 2

There were a number of reasons for this. Europe bore the brunt of WW II and was largely in ruins, while America came through the war intact (American soldiers died overseas, but the fighting did not reach America itself). America was the only great industrial power that was still in a position to help anybody, following WW II. In addition, Europe had been a tremendously important cultural, economic, and political power (or collection of powers) prior to the war and would obviously become important again, once it recovered (which did happen). It is in the interest of America to have politically stable and economically prosperous countries to trade with and to help make the world as a whole a safer and better place. America did not want to have to go to war in Europe again, after two very difficult wars, WW I and WW II, so it was better to try to help Europe to recover. Indeed, a major cause of WW II was the failure to help Germany recover after WW I. The US did not want to make that mistake again.

Answer 3

After WW II came the Cold War. All the European nations that the US helped to rebuild became important allies in the US struggle against international communism. Even today, after the Cold War has ended, those countries are now allies in the struggle against international terrorism.

Answer 4

The United States wanted to prevent European leaders from turning to the Soviet Union for help