The Cold War

The Cold War

1. Causes of the Cold War

   • Russian Civil War
   • Opposing ideologies
     • Capitalism vs. Communism
   • Fear and mistrust
   • Post war conferences and broken promises
   • Eastern bloc countries/buffer zone/satellite states
   • US use of atomic bomb
   • Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
   • Iron Curtain Speech
   • Demise of common enemy (Hitler)

2. US were to blame

   • 1947 - Truman Doctrine
     • Truman said he would protect countries under the threat of communism by sending money (richer they are, more they favour capitalism)
   • Co-operated with Russia during WWII rather than taking a stand
   • 1945 - Atomic bombs were a statement of power
   • 1918-1921 - US and British troops sent in to contain communism in Russian Civil War
     • Created tensions
   • Roosevelt died and was replaced by Truman, who was inexperienced and less understanding
   • Should have been more understanding that Stalin wanted the Bloc countries to protect Russia - 1/6th of their population had been lost
   • Truman allowed Iron Curtain speech to be delivered

3. USSR were to blame

   • 1947 - Stalin gave BLOC countries official independence yet controlled and chose leaders
     • Claimed they were his only protection against Germany
   • Trying to impose communism - America was acting on self-defence
     • Wouldn't stop until a new leader came, which eventually happened

4. USSR and US

   • 1945 - Yalta conference: Roosevelt and Stalin couldn't come to a compromise
     • Stalin lied about giving the BLOC countries a democratic vote
   • 1945 - agreements between Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin as to what to do about Nazis and Germany
     • America testing nuclear bombs
       • So is Russia, just not as fast
     • Stalin lied about government he said he'd set up in Poland with communists and capitallists
   • 1946 - Stalin and Truman suspicious of each other
     • Hired spies from their embassies in each other's countries
     • Truman allegedly planning world domination
     • US preparing for war
   • Actions of defence misinterpreted as ones of aggression

5. Britain were to blame

   • 1946 - Iron Curtain speech depicting Russia and communism as evil