The Causes of the Cold War Essay - 2058 Words

In discussions of the causes of the Cold War, one controversial issue has been the question: who caused the Cold War? On the one hand, traditional historians argue that the leaders of the Soviet Union are to blame. On the other hand, revisionists contend that the Western leaders are to blame. Others even maintain that it was both the Western and the Soviet leaders who are equally responsible for the development of the Cold War. My own view is that the Western leaders were responsible for protecting democratic values that we enjoy today while the Soviet leadership’s ideology, aggressive and expansionist intrusions were mainly responsible for the development of the Cold War. World War II had ended in 1945 leaving the Soviet Union in†¦show more content†¦He cautioned that Eastern Europe was ‘subject to Soviet influence . . . totalitarian control [and] police governments’ and the actions of the Soviets threaten the safety of the rest of world. Despite emphasizing that neither side desired war, he warned of the consequences of turning a blind eye or showing weakness to the Soviets. He urged a strong Western alliance that supported the principles of the United Nations Charter would certainly deter war or catastrophic defeat if war did breakout. He drew the parallels of how history repeats itself: The war with Germany could have been prevented if the Allies had acted sooner to the German buildup. The speech that Churchill gave was a warning about a dangerous ideology similar to the Nazi ideology which could possibly lead to another war just as destructive as the Second World War. He hoped to prevent war breakout if the United States, Gre at Britain, and the Soviet Union could negotiate before the situation got out of hand. On March 12, 1947, United States President Harry S. Truman addressed Congress, pleading financial and economic assistance be appropriated to the struggling governments of Greece and Turkey. President Truman described how Greece had sustain colossal damage in World War II. The country was in ruins and people had been devastated and in desperate need for recovery. Greece did not have the resources or finances to recuperate and Great Britain could not continue to provide theShow MoreRelatedCauses Of The Cold War1396 Words   |  6 PagesThe Cold War was a political, ideological and sometimes indirect military confrontation that took place after the Second World War between the two largest powers in the world: The United States and the Soviet Union. The conflict between these two great powers intensified without a real war on the ground. It was a silent war characterized by both powers in an arms race with the most lethal weapons without actually using these weapons. That is why that wa r was known as the Cold War. In this paper,Read MoreCauses Of The Cold War1108 Words   |  5 PagesThe Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union spanned almost half of a century. It led to worldwide fears and anxiety over the possibility of nuclear war and the desolation of mankind. It led to various proxy wars, costing the lives of millions in foreign nations and thousands of American and Soviet soldiers. With so much fear, death, money, and willpower going into the conflict, there must be an easy answer as to what force caused and drove the conflict. However, this topic is notRead MoreCauses Of The Cold War1716 Words   |  7 PagesThe Cold War, a conflict between the United States and Soviet Union, the two global superpowers at the time. Given the name â€Å"Cold War† only for the fact that neither the Soviet Union nor the United States fought directly with one another, instead the war was waged through allies in the form of proxy wars and through increase d use of intensive espionage, a never-ending arms race, immense technological competition and on a political forefront as both sides tried to gain the upper hand. The Cold WarRead MoreCauses Of The Cold War984 Words   |  4 Pages The Cold War has lived in infamy in the minds of many people today. The influence of it can be regarded as one of the most terrifying events that could have transpired, and particularly terrifying to its citizens who lived in constant fear of complete annihilation. From the first events to the fall out of a nuclear war, almost all citizens would have no shelter from the devastation of an atomic war. The roots of the Cold War can be found in several main points starting from the Second World WarRead MoreCauses Of The Cold War1388 Words   |  6 PagesLESSON 26 - The Cold War Objectives: Identify the causes for the start of the Cold War Identify key actions taken by the US and the Soviet Union to prepare for war Identify how the Cold War impacted American lifestyle Identify actions taken worldwide between the Cold War combatants The Cold War Begins The Cold War was the state of hostility, without direct military confrontation, between the United States and the Soviet Union. The formation of the United Nations (UN) in 1945Read MoreCauses And Effects Of The Cold War1370 Words   |  6 PagesAbi Amarnath Mrs. Saunders 12 November 2014 English II Causes and Effects of the Cold War Richard Nixon once said of the Cold War that â€Å"the Cold War isn t thawing; it is burning with a deadly heat. Communism isn t sleeping; it is, as always, plotting, scheming, working, fighting.†(www.brainyquote.com). An analysis of the Cold War between 1947-1991 reveals that the Cold War was caused by a difference in political ideals between the USA and the Soviet Union, the aftermath of WWII, and the â€Å"IronRead More Causes Of The Cold War Essay608 Words   |  3 Pages Causes of the Cold War nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; The Cold War occurred during a time of rebuilding for Europe. It characterized international relations and dominated the foreign policies of Europe. It affected all of Europe and determined lasting alliances. The Cold War was caused by the social climate and tension in Europe at the end of World War II and by the increasing power struggles between the Soviet Union. Economic separation between the Soviets and the west also heightened tensionsRead Morethe cause of the cold war Essay794 Words   |  4 Pagescausing the cold war .After the second world war , the ideological difference ,mutual distrust and the disappearance of the common enemy (germany ) , these all are the causes of the cold war .However ,these comflicts were all brought by the US . Many historians believe that the Cold War was inevitable once the common enemy, Germany, was defeated after the end of World War II. Other historians such as John Gaddis stress that neither superpower can be held solely responsible for the ideological war that lastedRead MoreCauses of the Cold War Essay15 70 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"It is clear that fear, greed and revenge were the major factors that caused the Cold War† How far do you agree with this statement when analyzing the causes of the Cold War up to 1949? The responsibility of the origins of the Cold War often triggers questions among historians yet both powers should be blamed for taking part in it. The origins of the Cold War can often be associated with fear, greed and revenge. Through most analyses, the fault was often given to Stalin’s ambitions to expandRead More Causes of the Cold War Essay741 Words   |  3 PagesCauses of the Cold War In this paper I will discuss what actions and thoughts added up to cause the cold war. The cold war lasted from September 1, 1945 to about December 25, 1991. That is about forty-five years, which is an extremely long time. The cold war was a global competition basically between two sides, the Free World, which was led by the United States of America, and the Communist World led by the Soviet Union. The struggle took place through indirect military conflict, and direct