Final answer:
During 1946-1947, the United States feared the spread of communism in Europe, which led to the Marshall Plan and military support to protect and promote capitalist democracies against Soviet influence.
Step-by-step explanation:
From 1946 to 1947, the United States harbored serious fears regarding the spread of communism within Europe. Economic instability following World War II had left European nations vulnerable, with high unemployment, rampant inflation, and food shortages.
There was a real concern that communist sympathizers would exploit these hardships to win popular support. The United States, wanting to prevent this, embarked on a strategy of containment, exemplified by the Marshall Plan, to offer economic aid and bolster capitalist economies.
The Iron Curtain speech by Winston Churchill in 1946 emphasized the division in Europe between capitalist democracies and Soviet-influenced communist states, framing the political conflict as one between freedom and totalitarianism. Subsequently, the U.S. made significant efforts including the planned reunification of Germany to strengthen democratic states against Soviet expansion. The U.S. was also prepared to maintain a military presence in Europe as a peacekeeping endeavor to support these economic and political strategies.