Throughout history America has always been known as one of the first countries to step in to help or solve a problem. This was the same case regarding the Marshall Plan. While many may say that the Marshal Plan is another example of imperialism in the form of aid, this is not the case because it was fulfilling its moral responsibility to help those in need. World War II was a devastating war that lasted from approximately 1939 to 1945. When many think of World War II, they think of the devastation until the end of the war, but the truth is that the consequences of the war in Europe were tremendous; millions of people died and thousands left homeless, hungry and unemployed. Factories, railways, bridges, power plants and water systems were damaged and/or destroyed. Farmers suffered from drought, and when they brought their produce to market, city dwellers could not afford to buy it ("The Marshall Plan for Reconstruction"). In the book Savage Continent: Europe in the aftermath of World War II, Keith Lowe describes the aftermath by saying Imagine a world without institutions, without schools and without universities, with no access to non-existent information because there is no police force or judiciary. Armed men roam the streets taking what they want. Women of all classes and ages prostitute themselves for food and protection (Lowe). feet. (Many other countries were limited in their ability to provide assistance due to their involvement in the war and the physical devastation resulting from the war. The United States was also... the focus of the paper... .. 2014."Key Findings. " U.S. Agency for International Development. NP, Aug. 23, 2013. Web. Jan. 12, 2014. Lowe, Keith. "After World War II." Npr Books. NP, July 24, 2013. Web. "The Marshall Plan for Reconstruction of Western Europe." Constitutional Rights Foundation. NP, Summer 2004. Web. 12 January 2014. "The Marshall Plan Speech." Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. NP, nd Web. 12 January 2014. Shah , Anup. “Foreign Aid for Development Assistance.” Global Issues, April 8, 2012. Web. January 12, 2014. Staff, CNN. “Typhoon Haiyan Death Toll Tops 6,000 in Philippines.” Cable News Network, December 13, 2013. Web. January 10, 2014. "Typhoon Haiyan - U.S. Government Assistance." U.S. Department of State, December 18, 2013. Web. January 12, 2014. “USAID History.” US Agency for International Development. NP, 4 October 2013. Web. 12 January. 2014.