Explain how the Marshall Plan contributed to the overall strategy of containment.

The strategy of containment was, of course, based on the
idea of hemming communism in where it already existed.  Communism was not to be allowed
to spread out of Eastern Europe.  The Marshall Plan was a major early part of this
strategy.

The purpose of the Marshall Plan was to rebuild
Western Europe, making it prosperous once again.  The idea was that a region that was no
longer impoverished would not be inclined to become communist.  The countries of the
region would also, hopefully, be tied more closely to the US through the US's
help.

In this way, the Marshall Plan was part of
containment.  It was meant to make it less likely that the people of Western Europe
would want to embrace communism.