Peer Group Task Questions

Questions for Discussion and to include in your group presentations

1. Fifty years ago, then Secretary of State George C. Marshall proposed a plan of economic trade and aid (the Marshall Plan) to help a Europe devastated by World War II. How did the plan work and what was involved?
   
2. Secretary of State Marshall believed that countries whose people do not go hungry and who trade with each other are less likely to go to war. Do you think this is true today? How does economic aid help bring about this result?
   
3. After he proposed the Marshall Plan in 1947, many people in the U.S. thought the $13 billion over four years proposed was too much money. Our lawmakers in Congress were eventually convinced to provide the funds. What convinced them to do this?
   
4. We have been providing economic aid to foreign countries long after the Marshall Plan. Discover another foreign aid program since the Marshall Plan and do you think our aid to that country has been a success or failure? Why?
   
5. It took leadership by the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress to carry out the Marshall Plan. Why did these people go to such great lengths to make the Marshall Plan a reality? What does this tell about problems in the world affecting our country today?

The above was adapted from: Guide for teachers at http://www.usaid.gov/multimedia/video/marshall/

For your individual country, include the following information:

1. What happened to this country during WWII? Include information regarding casualties, costs, damage to land, government, was it invaded, invaded another nation?
   
2. What were the economic problems facing this nation after the war?
   
3. What infrastructure problems did the Marshall Plan address, and evaluate the successes and failures.
   
4. Describe the U.S. supported third sector philanthropy programs within the country
   
5. Who were those individuals within that nation that stepped forward and provided the leadership and stewardship necessary for recovery.