When and why did the cold war start?
- Created by: C.P.
- Created on: 25-06-14 18:54
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- When and why did the cold war start?
- USA's aims and beliefs
- Open Markets, Basically America allowed capitalist to spread massively which angered communists.
- Self-determination, The right of all national groups to decide their own form of government according to the democratic wishes of its people.
- Collective security, The Bolsheviks saw the League of Nations as an instrument of world capitalism.
- Wilsonian Liberalism
- However,Wilson position undermined him. The general public preferred an isolationist policy and he had a senate majority against him. As a result,America did not support join the League of Nations
- Attitudes of the west towards communism and USSR
- In Europe, US influence was achieved mainly by consent through the United Nations.
- On the other hand, Soviet influence was imposed in Europe.
- Due to the power struggle that was left as a result of WW2, ideological differences made future action difficult.
- "Whoever occupies a territory imposes his own social system... it cannot be otherwise" - Stalin, 1945
- Role of Personality
- Initially, Roosevelt was on relatively good terms with Stalin as he was part of the minority that was optimistic with the relations.
- However when he died, Truman who replaced was a hard-line anti-communist which rapidly soured the relationship.
- Churchill, was suspicious of Stalin.The Percentages Deal of 1944 limited Stalins actions after the war, which raised tensions.
- "Unless Russia is faced with an iron fist and strong language,another war is in the making".
- As a result of WW2
- The creation of the world bank placed strain on the relations
- The division of Germany brought tension as America wanted to have it recover as it was essential for the recovery of Europe
- This was because the tough conditions placed on applications for loans caused disputes between the USA and the USSR. This was highlighted by the disputes over the Marshall aid
- Major distrust was caused by the use of Atomic bombs without Russia's consent during WW2
- Russian history 1917 - 1920's
- When communism came to the fore in 1917, it sent shivers down the spines of capitalist as one of the largest countries in the world now had an opposing ideology.
- They faced civil war after WW1. They won, but at a great cost and as a result, during the 20's they only just survived.
- During the 30's Stalin introduced policies that would allow them to recover and become a major power,alongside the US during WW2.
- Stalin himself
- At Potsdam, Stalin had 5 million Germans removed from Poland which raised massive fears.
- At Yalta, Stalin wanted to establish a Communist government in Poland.
- His expansionist policy, which included the Berlin Blockade, the Korean War and the Chinese Civil War, all raised further fear.
- In 1948, when Czechoslovakia launched a coup against its government and became communist, there were no more democracies in Eastern Europe.
- USA's aims and beliefs
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