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

Power Vacuum
1. created in Europe (into which USA & USSR were drawn
  1. Defeat of Nazi Germany had left large areas of Europe without administration/government
Economic devastation
1. over 16 million homeless in Europe
  1. desperate need for reconstruction
    1. USA & USSR provided inspiration for alternative methods of bringing about economic recovery in Europe
highlighted the emergence of USA & USSR as powers with capacity to dominate Europe
1. neither wanted other to dominate power vacuum
  1. division of Europe into spheres of influence & tensions developed over their limits
2. Spheres of Influence
Ideological differences
1. Roosevelt wanted to promote international co-operation and spread democracy as the basis of world peace
2. USSR was now in better position to pursue its own foreign policy aims of securing its borders & spreading communism by territorial acquisition
Distrust & suspicion
1. Stalin had been suspicious of GB & USA's delay in opening second front against Hitler
2. US gvt. uneasy with Stalin's ruthless policies (purges of 1930s etc.)
Development of Atomic Bomb
1. power of destruction seen at Hiroshima sent Stalin clear message about military superiority of USA
  1. Truman's failure to notify Stalin added to Soviets' suspicion of US motives

Resource summary

	Created by hannahr about 10 years ago