Final answer:
The Marshall Plan's infusion of economic aid to Italy, France, and other Western European countries after World War II effectively halted the growth of large and powerful Communist parties, as prosperity returned to these nations and undermined the appeal of communism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Marshall Plan's economic success played a crucial role in curbing the expansion of Communist parties, particularly in countries struggling post-World War II like Italy and France. By providing over $12 billion in economic aid, the United States sought both economic recovery and the containment of communism.
This aid was critical in the rebuilding of infrastructure, revitalizing industries, and preventing starvation across Western Europe. One of the most significant outcomes was the loss of support for Communist parties as Western Europe began to prosper again in the early 1950s. Countries such as Germany, which was split into sectors, experienced reinvigorated economies, thanks in part to this American initiative.
The Marshall Plan was also a response to the political climate influenced by the actions of the Soviet Union. It was a proactive countermeasure against the spread of communism to keep it confined to the Eastern Bloc countries. The Soviet's creation of COMECON and their alliance with China proved the significance of American efforts under the Truman Doctrine and fortified the idea of economic recovery as a means of political stability.