The main elements of the Marshall Plan, officially known as the European Recovery Program, included economic aid and financial assistance aimed at rebuilding European nations after World War II. Announced in 1947 by U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall, the plan allocated approximately $13 billion in aid to help stimulate economic recovery, reconstruct war-torn infrastructure, and stabilize economies. Another key aspect was the promotion of democratic governance and cooperative economic practices to prevent the spread of communism. The Marshall Plan was instrumental in facilitating recovery, fostering European integration, and establishing a framework for economic cooperation that would shape post-war Europe.