The Origins of the Cold War
Uploaded by srheric on Apr 25, 2007
The Origins of the Cold War
The Cold War, which lasted from the mid-1940s until the end of the 1980s, was a battle for longevity amid democratic and communistic governments. After WWII the western powers attempted to curtail the spread of communism but faced fierce opposition from Eastern Europe which sought to prevent the expansion of democracy. The origins of the Cold War can be traced through the motives of the US and USSR, containment policy, and the division of Germany. America’s emergence as a world power was a salient instigating factor of the conflict.
When America replaced Britain as the supreme world power it was forced to take on British responsibilities. Thus, when the Soviet Union, under Stalin, attempted to extend its control into central Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East, the United States inherited Britain’s task of restraining Russian expansion. Restriction was key in preventing the spread of communism; which threatened the existence of capitalistic and democratic nations such as the US. America was reasonable in its restrictions. It made no attempt to roll back Soviet power where it already existed. However, the United States had goals to make international governments resemble that of it’s own; including self-determination, autonomy, free trade, unlimited sea access and investment capability, and an Open Door policy in the economic sphere. As the strongest nation in the world the United States would benefit handsomely if an international order based in such goals were established. Conversely, from the Soviet perspective, extending the borders of the USSR and dominating the formerly independent states of Eastern Europe would provide needed security and would be adequate compensation for the fearful losses the Soviet people had endured in the war. Thus, the Soviets understood American resistance to their expansion as a threat to their security and legitimate aims. Moreover, objections over the acquisition Poland and other states were reasonably interpreted as an attempt to undermine regimes friendly to Russia and to encircle the Soviet Union with hostile neighbors.
Consequently, in retaliation, it endeavored to topple administrations affable to the United States in Western Europe and elsewhere. The growth of the communist parties in France and Italy clearly taking orders from Moscow led Americans to believe that Stalin was engaged in an international plot to destroy capitalism and democracy by subversion. Soon evidence of this hostility transpired. In February of 1946, both Stalin and his foreign minister...