Part of The Student Room Group

  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

The Cold War was caused by a clash between two irreconcilable ideologies. How far do you agree with this?

Extracts from this document...

Introduction

The Cold War was caused by a clash between two irreconcilable ideologies. How far do you agree with this? After the end of the Second World War in 1945 the world was divided. Russia thought communism could guarantee peace in the world but America believed in capitalism: two irreconcilable ideologies In theory communism and capitalism are not totally different but in practice they could not work parallel to each other. This was the main cause of the Cold War. The events leading up to and at the beginning of the Cold War, for example to divide Germany into zones, the existence and using of atomic bombs, Russia's aim of spreading world communism and America's fear of communist attack were essential catalysts for the events during and following the Cold War. During the week from 4/2/1945-11/2/1945 the winner of World War II the "Big Three", Franklin Roosevelt, president of America, Winston Churchill, Prime minister of Britain, and Josef Stalin, leader of Soviet Union, met in Yalta, which is the place where the conflict began, to determine how the war should be finished. ...read more.

Middle

The western nations felt necessary that the liberated states of Eastern Europe should be re-established with a democracy and a capitalist economy. They believed that these systems were more civilized and less violent. This resulted in a clash of the two ideologies. The most visible part of the Cold war was the arms race. On July 24 1945 at the Potsdam Conference Truman told Stalin that they had a new weapon of unusual destructive force. Officially Stalin said that he was glad to hear it and hoped America would make "good use of it against the Japanese"(Harry Truman's version, 1955). Only a few days after Truman's announcement Hiroshima were destroyed by the atomic bomb on 8 September 1945. Two days later America dropped another bomb on Nagasaki. The war against Japan was ended without the need of Russia and so they did not take part in the occupation of Japan. The political demonstration of the superiority of the American military created fear in the Russian government. Also the fact that America had more than one bomb scared the world. ...read more.

Conclusion

The USSR was ready for some concessions, but the US made no real effort and by June 1946, the talks had ended. The absence of a US loan made the USSR more interested in reparations. In the treaty of Potsdam each country was permitted to extract reparations from its zone, but only the USSR did so. In light of these facts, the Cold War was caused by irreconcilable ideologies and differences between the leaders of the two ideologies, capitalism and communism. This was mirrored in the treatment and division of Germany, which was discussed in Yalta.The two countries, Russia and America, had so many ideological differences that they were bound not to get along. America wanted equal rights, freedom etc but Russia wanted dictatorship with no individual rights or freedom - both totally different. The battleground was created and tensions ran high. For the next 46 years, the United States and Russia would fight a war of nerves without any casualties. The Cold War had begin. 1108 Words Chenchen Cao 01.05.2007 History SL/ Grade 11 Mr. Mimmack - 1 - ...read more.

The above preview is unformatted text

This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level International History, 1945-1991 section.

Found what you're looking for?

  • Start learning 29% faster today
  • 150,000+ documents available
  • Just £6.99 a month

or


Not the one? Search for your essay title...
  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

See related essaysSee related essays

Related AS and A Level International History, 1945-1991 essays

  1. Marked by a teacher

    To what extent do you accept the view that the USA and the USSR ...

    4 star(s)

    Therefore due to their ideological differences the two superpowers became divided by the end of 1945. However, the USA misinterpreted the actions and motives of the USSR which appeared to be expansionist and aggressive. But they were actually defensive measures carried out to protect the USSR from being attacked in the future.

  2. How far was the USSR responsible for the outbreak of the Cold War?

    crisis following the harsh winter of 1946-47 and the growth of the communist parties in Italy and France were related thus making the Americans believe that strong economies could fight against communism. This could be seen as evidence for the drive of US leaders for dominance, as there would be

  1. This graduation paper is about U.S. - Soviet relations in Cold War period. Our ...

    breakdown of negotiations on an American loan, confrontation between the two superpowers seemed irrevocable. It is difficult to imagine that the momentum building toward the Cold War could have been reversed after the winter and spring of 1946. Thereafter, events assumed an almost inexorable momentum, with both sides using moralistic rhetoric and ideological denunciation to pillory the other.

  2. 'Containment, as first conceived by President Truman, eventually caused the collapse of the Soviet ...

    In the Korean War, led by General Macarthur and President Truman, they sought about to prevent communism spreading from North Korea in to South Korea that was under attack. Before the war was over, Truman was replaced by Eisenhower and he, being a Republican sought to 'roll back' communism.

  1. The Cold War was a big rivalry that developed after World War II.

    The two leaders failed to reach agreement, and Khrushchev again threatened to sign a separate peace treaty with East Germany. In July 1961, the U.S.S.R. canceled cuts in its armed forces and increased military spending. Growing numbers of East Germans were fleeing to West Germany.

  2. What were the main issues relating to Germany that caused Cold War tension?

    caused Russian interests to be compromised, and the Russians casted doubts on the Americans' sincerity. They felt that the Americans were not taking into account Russian sensitivities, and this incident helped to drive a wedge between the US and its Allies, such as the UK, who agreed with the US on this about-turn, and the Russians.

  1. "To what extent was the cold war caused by two irreconcilable ideologies?"

    When the U.S finally did enter, on D-Day (June 6th 1944) they provided the long longed for "Second Front", to divide the German force, which was pounding on Russia. Now, the U.S and Russia were fighting a common enemy again, and discrepancies were put aside again -at least for the moment.

  2. To what extent do you accept the view that the USA and the Soviet ...

    The USA becoming a superpower meant that, though it retained its pre-war liberal and capitalist stance to some extent, its outlook had become stronger, especially in concern to foreign affairs, for which its ambitions had become greater. The USA, previously concerned primarily with the Western Hemisphere, had expanded its area

  • Over 160,000 pieces
    of student written work
  • Annotated by
    experienced teachers
  • Ideas and feedback to
    improve your own work