The Marshall Plan combined hardship with economic aid and support.
One of the biggest mistakes made after World War I was the development of the Treaty of Versailles. This forced Germany to take all the blame for World War I and included economic punishments that would ruin the German economy. This left Germany in ruins and was one of the most significant factors that allowed Adolph Hitler to gain power.
The Marshall Plan, on the other hand, offered economic aid (aka money) to countries that were negatively effected by the war. This included countries who the United States did not necessarily agree with or were allies with. This form of plan was much more effective, as it allowed countries to rebuild after World War II instead of putting them into more debt.
