How did the legacy of WWII make a Cold War more likely?

How did the legacy of WWII make a Cold War more likely?

1. Power Vacuum

   • created in Europe (into which USA & USSR were drawn
     • Defeat of Nazi Germany had left large areas of Europe without administration/government

2. Economic devastation

   • over 16 million homeless in Europe
     • desperate need for reconstruction
       • USA & USSR provided inspiration for alternative methods of bringing about economic recovery in Europe

3. highlighted the emergence of USA & USSR as powers with capacity to dominate Europe

   • neither wanted other to dominate power vacuum
     • division of Europe into spheres of influence & tensions developed over their limits
   • Spheres of Influence

4. Ideological differences

   • Roosevelt wanted to promote international co-operation and spread democracy as the basis of world peace
   • USSR was now in better position to pursue its own foreign policy aims of securing its borders & spreading communism by territorial acquisition

5. Distrust & suspicion

   • Stalin had been suspicious of GB & USA's delay in opening second front against Hitler
   • US gvt. uneasy with Stalin's ruthless policies (purges of 1930s etc.)

6. Development of Atomic Bomb

   • power of destruction seen at Hiroshima sent Stalin clear message about military superiority of USA
     • Truman's failure to notify Stalin added to Soviets' suspicion of US motives