As part of the containment policy to fight communism, the Marshall Plan was enacted at the end of WWII. The United States believed that preventing economic instability in Western Europe would aid in preventing the spread of communism there and throughout the world. The United States provided Western European countries with substantial financial aid through the Marshall Plan, which aided in rebuilding their economies, stabilizing their political structures, and improving standards of living. This economic recovery in Western Europe contributed positively to the US economy, creating markets for US products and supporting international economic growth.