Final answer:
The Marshall Plan and the Berlin Airlift were two policies, implemented by the U.S. and the Soviet Union respectively, that contributed to the fall of the Soviet Union and European communism. The Marshall Plan provided economic aid to Western European countries, promoting stability and countering the allure of communism.
Step-by-step explanation:
One U.S. policy that contributed to the fall of the Soviet Union and European communism in the early 1990s was the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Program, was an initiative by the United States to provide economic aid to Western European countries after World War II. The plan aimed to rebuild war-torn Europe, strengthen the economies of these countries, and promote democratic values. By providing financial support and helping to stabilize the economies of these nations, the Marshall Plan helped counter the attractiveness of communism and contributed to the eventual collapse of Soviet influence in Europe.
In contrast, one Soviet policy that contributed to the fall of the Soviet Union and European communism was the Berlin Airlift. After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones of occupation, with the Soviet Union controlling East Germany. In an attempt to force the Western powers out of Berlin, the Soviets imposed a blockade on the city in 1948. In response, the United States and its allies organized the Berlin Airlift to supply essential goods to the people of West Berlin. This policy demonstrated the commitment of the United States to protect the freedom and rights of the citizens of West Berlin. The Berlin Airlift highlighted the failure of Soviet policies and increased the support for Western ideologies, eventually contributing to the erosion of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe and the fall of European communism.