Europeans were reassured that America would help in the face of growing Soviet hostility thanks to the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan was an economic bill introduced by secretary of state George C. Marshall. Marshall proposed that in order for many European countries to suceed after the destruction caused by World War II, they would need financial assistance to rebuild their infrastructure and economy. This is why Marshall proposed giving over $13 billion in aid to several different countries to ensure that they would be able to rebuild and maintain their way of life free from Soviet influence. This bill passed in Congress and became law.