How did America inspire Europe to become a democracy after WW2?

Question

this is a school project. our teacher told us that we inspired eurrope to become a democratic nation after the end of WW2. how did we do this? Can anybody give me some clues? im guessing because of our economic and military influence, because we're so rich and theyre so poor, so because of the status level they obviously followed us and did exactly what we did to become successful. but that's just a guess, and it kind of makes sense.
whats your suggestion?

Additional Details

cuz i know england still has kings and queens. and so do other european nations.

murcia, i think your wrong. my teacher never said anything like that. and if ur right, why did england, france, germany and other european countries have midevil laws up to early 1900s? europeans aren't capable of doing anything, unless it is aided by american dollars.

British empire? largest? You do realize that America's economy is 35% of the world economy, right? Where are you guys? Probably as small as Somalia. Shut the hell up and answer my question. I hate foreign arrogance.

This is exactly why I hate foreigners. They steal American credit, trash our nation and do it using on their American computer while munching on a Whopper and drinking Coke. Goddamn idiots.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

After World War II, the United States feared that if Western Europe did not rebuild, that the people there would live in abject poverty and eventually come to embrace Communism. To counter that, the U.S. enacted the Marshall Plan. Under the plan, the U.S. lent lots of money to non-Communist Europe to help them rebuild. Through this, western Europeans embraced capitalism and the influence of communists subsided.

This is pretty much the most important thing that America did to "inspire" western Europe to stay capitalist and democratic. Eastern Europe continued to be influenced and controlled by the Soviets until the early 1990's, so the U.S. could not help them.

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Pl…

Answer 2

This is stupid beyond description. FAIL.

EDIT - Correction: EPIC FAIL.

Answer 3

America didn`t inspire democracy in Europe, democracy is named after the Greek philosopher "Democritus" some 2,500 years ago. Europe has had democracy for hundreds of years.....

Sorry your teacher is wrong and should go back to school, has he/she ever heard of the British Empire. the largest in the world all built without one American dollar...

Modern computer were invented by a chap called "Babbage" who was English as was the internet incvented by an Englishman. Most computers are built in the far east, china`s economy is the largest in the world and about 60% of us debt (which runs into trillions) is owned by china. Your knowledge of american history is very warped...

Answer 4

The same way they inspired Russia to become a democracy after WWII - not at all. You got the cart before the horse.

Edit: Saw your edits. Honey, you ain't rich - you're in debt up to your eyebrows and on the brink of terminal bankruptcy.

Japan holds $27 trillion in national savings. I won't even get into the country with the highest national savings - which is China. I'm in Japan for 12 years, and far freer than I ever was in the US - which has the thickest law books in history and imprisons more people than any country in the history of the world.

Think I'll have a beer on the train today, and bring an extra (in plain view in my hand) for inside the movie theatre. I always enjoy my full health coverage at $125 per month within the best national health care system in the world.

Don't stop at hating foreigners - you can hate me, your brethren, just as quickly.

Have a nice day!

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=…

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story…

Answer 5

Because you waited till Europe was on its knees before joining the war and made sure that we owed you so much money that we became your 'lap dogs' for the next 50 years and as for following your economic lead - thats why the world is in the mess it is today through GREED !

EDIT - The very fact that you had a blithering idiot (Bush) at the helm of your country proves that YOU lead the world in foreign arrogance and more importantly foreign ignorance.

Answer 6

They were already fairly democratic west of Germany. The Nazis despised the concept of democracy, however, which is why they didn't have much respect for western Europe. They leaned more toward eastern cultures which were generally fascistic. Fascism, by the way, did not carry the weight in pre-WW2 days that it does now. You could say America inspired democracy in Germany by flattening it to the ground and occupying it for the next 50 years, the first 5 spent squashing partisan resistance groups. Spain was on its way to becomming a communist state actually, which earned them even less respect from the Nazis.

Answer 7

democracy was born in Europe the greeks invented it i believe.
also Europe in not a nation it is the Dream of corrupt politicians.
and is far from been a democracy as most of the people have had no say in its creation or its direction and are still been denied a say.

Answer 8

Read Naomi Klein's book Shock Doctrine. The USA uses the shock delivered by wars (WWII), invasion, famine, disasters to introduce "democracy" or rather imperialist capitalism into countries.

For your own sakes, you better hope that Obama's education reforms get through Congress. Sounds like it needs a seismic shake-up.

Answer 9

Bloody hell! Did your teacher finish junior school?

You have access to the internet why don't you use it instead of listening to all these lies.

Answer 10

Tell your teacher to go back to school and learn History. Is your teacher a script writer in Hollywood as well by any chance. What has Kings and Queens got to do with Democracy? We still have Medieval Laws, how does having an ancient Law make us undemocratic? I think you really need to understand the word before asking such an ignorant question.
I actually do like Americans but this rubbish does not help them much in the eyes of the world.

Answer 11

Urm, sorry, but your teacher is wrong. As someone with a degree in history, I'm telling you that much of Western Europe was just as democratic as the USA before WW2. And Europe wasn't poor. France, the UK, Germany, well, they were some of the richest countries in the world, and still are. There's a reason the UK's parliament is called the mother of all parliaments, after all. Democracy is basically, a secret vote, one vote per person, everyone can vote, frequent elections. The UK for a start had all of these things a long time before WW2 (and before the USA in some cases).

Medieval laws? Like what? We're not the ones who didn't let black people vote, who didn't let black people use the same bus as white people...And as for not being capable of doing anything without American dollars, I think you'll find that there were no american dollars involved in the invention of the steam engine (the single invention that revolutionised the world, and is responsible for the way we live now) or the difference engine, or the jet engine, or the submarine, the steam turbine, incandescent light bulbs, hovercraft...and the invent of Democracy occured a few thousand years before America even existed - IN EUROPE. So how could you have possibly have inspired it?

And sorry, but having a monarchy does not mean you are not democratic. The UK's monarchy, for example, is one bound by constitutional rules and laws which means they have no power. They are a figurehead only, and so have no bearing on whether the country has democracy or not.


Basically, your teacher is mis-educating you. You should sue. In fact, it looks like most of your education has been rather, well, lacking in factual information judging by the rest of your question.

Source(s):

Degree in history and politics and a student of international relations.

Answer 12

Your teacher is an idiot . To start with Europe is a continent not a nation and secondly we had democratic governments before America even existed .
The British parliament is called the mother of all parliaments for a reason .

You clearly know nothing about history but then you're American so no surprises there !

Answer 13

99 % of europe was democratic to a greater or lesser degree almost since before america was discovered. your teacher needs to go back to school.your declaration of Independence and most of its amendments is based on the magna carta written in the time of prince john back in medieval times so get off your democratic high horse we gave you democracy not the other way round ,some but gladly not all americans are so insular and haven't got a clue about the world they live in and its people, society culture,the arts music and philosophy were all taken to america , you have benefited from the rest of the world and in the timescale of history the states has existed in a blink of an eye so show some respect for your parent countries which made the u.s. what it is !

Answer 14

I won't bother with most of your puerile drivel, though I should point out that the computer is a British invention, as is the World Wide Web. Similarly, almost all major inventions and discoveries that affect our lives today hail from Europe. Electricity, radio, television, radar, jet engines, internal combustion engines, railways, etc, not to mention good old fashioned democracy. The USA did invent the atom bomb though. Conratulations, you invented a way to destroy the planet.

Oh, and by the way-the USA is a constitutional republic, NOT a democracy. Your teacher is an imbecile, which kind of explains why Americans are so unbelievably stupid sometimes.

Answer 15

haha listen to all these constipated limies getting all emotional, as always, when ww2 is mentioned, as they don't like to admit they were saved from obliteration by the USA

Answer 16

First of all Europe is not and did not become a single nation.
Second - much of Europe was democratic before WW2.
Third - some monarchies still exist in Europe - but they are largely constitutional monarchies where laws are made and the countries are run by democratically elected bodies.
Fourth - Much of Europe was hardly poor then and is richer than we are now.
Fifth - THe USA is approx 23% of the World's GDP. The European Union makes up a larger proportion of the world's production.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cou…

Source(s):

So the only arrogance I see is on your part.

BTW Murcia is right expect for the point about China being the largest economy in the world. The USA is still the largest individual country GDP, with Japan second and China third.

Answer 17

Keep it up kid your American propaganda education is going well if this is what they are teaching you,,Also a relief to know that American education has not got any better than it started, We poor uneducated folks here in the european countries thank you for all you the education and stuff you have given us as instances, ed the talking horse, superman and batman and friends, micky mouse, donald duck, rambo, john wayne, IRA bombs and bullets , hamburgers, hot dogs,
and so on.....Thank you so much America for getting us sorted out and educating us on democracy,,,,yhall

Answer 18

Probably something to do with the million soldiers we had in europe after the war.

Its not like they had a choice.

Answer 19

You hate foreign arrogance. Let me tell you some things: Since it was first a country, effectively created by the English, America has spent more time at war than at peace. You may have helped the world in countless ways, but that's only because you fu**ed it up beforehand and had to sort out your mess. The British Empire covered a quarter of the globe at one point. We believed in democracy and let the nations have their independence. Democracy existed in Europe well before it existed in America, the Greeks invented it for Gods sake. Listen to that Happy Murcia guy, he's got the right idea.

Answer 20

Your question and further comments give you rednecks an even worse name; to call Europe a country is about as ignorant as it gets, you probably believe the World is only 6000 years old.


The programmable computer was invented in the UK, Manchester University. Most original inventions are British , see the 2nd link:

Source(s):

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/script…


http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind…

America also drives on the wrong side of the road, see the 3rd link:

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind…

Answer 21

You want to learn a little about history we were already democracies
and Hitler came to power on a democratic vote. The People who are answering you are not arrogant but pointing out the errors in the basis of your question.
I am not anti-American but if this is the standard of history lessons in USA I do fear for the future of USA which is gradually losing influence.

I will say that on the whole and in spite of many errors by in USA since WW ll your country has on the whole been an influence for the good, but I am alarmed to detect a jingoism which indicates that the decline of USA as a world power is well underway.

Most answers on here are far more polite than you deserve

The European Economic Community is not and I hope never ever will be a nation,because we will all lose too much

Answer 22

Not even going to bother "educating" you - suffice to say that school is still not working JJJJJJJJJ.

T : "constipated limeys" - well you must have an acute case of diarrhoea with the cr*p that has just issued forth from your keyboard! Why don't you and your ignorant buddy up above go for a walk on the Freeway - preferrably a really busy one!!

Lucky : "junior associates", "smallish comments" - I cannot believe that you are defending the troll up above who frequents this site daily to post insulting, derogatory and argumentative rants. He is an ignorant and arrogant brat whose parents obviously lacked any decent parenting skills. I pity the USA when he is eventually launched out of school into your society. Education in the UK - well why don't you just take a look at some of his "little gems" that he posts on here - his grammar is appalling - he cannot spell the most elementary of words. Indeed a 5-year old child in Junior School here in the UK would score higher than him in a spelling test. It would appear that his "teachers" (and I give them that title very loosely) are force-feeding him absolute rubbish. Believe me if they demonstrated this ineptitude here in the UK they would be dismissed and would be prevented from ever stepping foot in a classroom again. There is nothing wrong with our education system but it would appear that there are some serious flaws in yours - perhaps you should direct your worries in this respect closer to home.

Answer 23

Whoa your ignorance and arrogance is just awful,i hope all Americans are not like you,hopefully your just some Troll making the normal American people look bad.


Oh and Britain is the world's 5th richest economy and London holds the worlds financial centre.

Take a look at UK on a map and see why your comments are so retarded!

I would swore an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II any day then put up with some monkey like George Bush as Head of State.

Nothing wrong with having a Monarchy it is our Ancient Heritage which goes back Thousands of years.

America has only been a superpower for less than 50 years and you are already been over taken by China.
Great Britain ruled the world for almost 400 years.

Oh wait a second look at all these American food's?
--------------------------------------…
Hot Dog - German
Burger - German
Pizza - Italian
Apple Pie - English

Great Britain the worlds oldest longest continuously running democracy.

The American bill of rights is based on the English Bill of Rights of 1689.Whole sentences are lifted from it! John Adams himself said that the British Constitution was 'the most stupendous fabric of human invention in history' - which is why they based the US constitution on it. The US constitution is merely a combination of half a dozen parts of the English constitution into a single concise document that every man could understand and have access to. Okay dear?


All the best

Cheerio.

Answer 24

You're seriously in school? Have you been sleeping in class? America did not inspire Europe to become democratic (BTW Europe is not a nation). European philosophers inspired American colonists to be democratic. It's the other way around. Democracy originated from Europe. In fact, before WWII Europe was already fairly democratic. People never answered your question because your question is flawed. Your assuming that democracy sprang from America and suddenly Europe adopted it as well. That is completely untrue.

Also, just because European nations retained kings and queens mean relatively nothing. Most of the power lay within the Prime Minister anyway. The monarchy had already turned into figureheads rather than active participants in national policies.

And yes, the British Empire was the largest in the world before WWII. They controlled vast amounts of land worldwide. Only after WWI and WWII did British colonialism start to fade away.

And why exactly do you hate foreigners? They trash your nation? They use American computers? So you hate them for allowing your country to prosper? You understand that America is so strong because it has worked so well in the global economy? You seem to be advocating a return to isolationism. Do what you please but that would be shooting yourselves in the foot.

Answer 25

I guess you offended the European crowd. Its funny to read their smallish comments. I didn't realize education had suffered so badly in the UK. They get hurting feelings when you point out their short comings. Be kind to our junior associates in Europe and the won't get bent so easily.

Answer 26

Europe is not a country. It is a continent. Germany and Austria were occupied by Allied forces after WW2. Democratic constitutions were drawn up under the auspices of the Allies and the two countries held free elections in 1949. Other countries which had been occupied by the Nazis either returned to democracy or had to put up with Stalin's rule. Neutral countries were democratic to begin with and the UK, which entered the war but was never occupied, carried on as before.

I think your teacher should be doing his/her homework, never mind you.

Answer 27

Find a new school.

Answer 28

i don't know why anyone bothers to answer this this little geek,hes just a fool who's never stood up for himself in his life unless he hiding behind a computer, hes a typical stereo type yank, consumed with feelings of inadequacy over his country's constant failings and lack of history,a sad little deviant who spends all day in his bedroom jerking off.
he gives us a good insight of what the average american is really like,a mouthy cowardly little jerk off, who doesn't care about anything, least of all his fellow americans,people like him are the reason the world laughs at them.

Answer 29

I wasn't going to answer this piece of inane drivel, but then I came upon the 'I hate foreigners' and had to laugh.

Is there an american that you like? After all, all citizens of the USA define themselves as Irish American, Hispanic American, Iranian American, German American, Afro American and so on and so on. The only ones not foreign are the Native Americans, and you still keep them on reservations with special laws and a special department of native affairs - even South Africa got rid of that 20 years ago!

Please don't return to your ???? American roots, there are enough idiots in the free world without having you add to the total. Stay in America and pollute your own society.

Answer 30

Your teacher is talking out of his or her backside (*** or butt to you non-english speakers).

Ask your teacher to show you where , lets say, scotland is on an atlas.....or wales.....or any other of the european countries. You may have to first explain to your teacher what an atlas actually is...

As for foreign arrogance....it's way smaller than the arrogance of you pathetic americans. and by the way 'your' means belonging to you, you're means 'you are', you ignorant, arrogant t**t.

Answer 31

Actually, although you were trolling, Britain isn't a democracy it's a constitutional monarchy.