When did the Cold War begin?

Adam Timmins History

Plan of the investigation. Section A

The Cold War was a period of conflict between America and the USSR. This was caused by a number of factors including social and economic differences. Their two political systems of capitalism and communism were at complete opposites of the political scale. This conflict never became a ‘hot war’ but continued through many non-confrontation means such as propaganda and the funding of opposing sides in external conflicts. Because there was never ‘hot war’ the question of when the Cold War began has been a point of debate. The more orthodox historians such as Arthur M Schlesinger have the view that the Cold War started after the end of the Second World War and was started by the USSR. Others have said that it was the conflict between America and Russian communists in the Bolshevik revolution of 1917. Others have said that it may have been foreign forces intervention in the Russian civil war. Others agree that it was mid way through the Second World War when American forces became more pro active. In this investigation I will try to determine when exactly the Cold War started. Much of the research for this will be from two sources. Firstly the orthodox view of the traditionalist Arthur M Schlesinger jr’s book “Origins of the Cold War” and secondly America, Russia, and the Cold War, 1945 – 1996 by Walter Lafeber

Summary of evidence. Section B

The Cold War can best be described as a war without battles. But there were still all the non-confrontation components usually associated with war for example the build up of armed forces, the stock piling of weapons, the use of propaganda and the funding of opposing sides in external conflict. Because of the lack of any ‘hot war’ it is difficult to identify a starting point. This is because it is difficult to identify any single event or action, which started the Cold War.

“In retrospect it is impossible to see the cold war as a case of American aggression and Russian response it is also hard to see it as a pure case of Russian aggression and American response” s

One of the main factors in the start of the Cold War has to be the opposite political ideologies of the Americans and the USSR. The USSR was a single party dictatorship exercising a policy of communism. The Americans were a firmly capitalist country and had a diplomatic style of government. As well as the political differences there were very obvious social ones as well. The media was a main area of difference in the USSR the media was highly censored and was mainly state run. Where as in contrast in America there was free press and very little censorship. This may seem little relevance to the Cold War but it illustrates the difference in the way the two countries were run.

Section C

Schlesinger, Arthur M.,jr., ‘Origins of the Cold War’, original printed 1 oct. 1967. This edition Irvington Pub October 1991.

This books main value is that it was written in 1967 when the Cold War was still active this means that it reflects the contemporary views of the start of the Cold War.

“For the next fifteen years the Cold Wars raged unabated passing out of historical ambiguity into the realm of good Vs evil and bearding on both sides simplifications, stereotypes and self severing absolutes, often couched in interchangeable phrases.” S

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Section C

Schlesinger, Arthur M.,jr., ‘Origins of the Cold War’, original printed 1 oct. 1967. This edition Irvington Pub October 1991.

This books main value is that it was written in 1967 when the Cold War was still active this means that it reflects the contemporary views of the start of the Cold War.

It was written by an American who specialises in the Cold War and the American presidents in the 1950s. The limitations of this source are because the author of the book is American this means that he may have been biased against the USSR at the time, which he wrote the book. Although the early date of the book means that it is useful in providing an insight to the way in which the Cold War was perceived to those who were commenting on it at the time it does have some disadvantages. The main one begins the lack of hindsight and access to the USSR’s records. This would mean that some of the source’s statements could be based on the propaganda of either side.

America, Russia and The Cold War, 1945 – 1996 Walter Lafeber this edition 8th edition

Printed by McGraw-Hill Humanities 1996

This books main value is that it was published in 1996 this means that it will be able to look at more evidence relating to the Cold War than books written at the time. This is because the book used both published and private sources. Walter Lafeber is the professor of history at Cornell University and has often been criticised by more right wing historians for showing a more left wing view of the Cold War there are some limitations to this book. Because the book deals mainly with the American and Russian interests in the cold war, it does not go in to much detail about the other factors in the Cold War such as the external conflicts such as Cuba and Korea. But this should not effect its usefulness in this investigation as I am focusing on the start of the cold war rather than its effects. This book also shows the fear of the Americans that communism would take root in America due to a post war depression like that of the 1930s.

“In the event of long continued unemployment vice president Henry Wallace warned the only question will be as to weather the Prussian or Marxian doctrines will take us over first”l p 11

Analysis Section D

The origins of the conflict between America and the communist Russia can be traced back as far as the 1917 Bolshevik revolution. The Americans decision to send in troops to protect its interests in the Russian civil war. Were the Russia’s claim for new territories and desire to expand her borders has mean that there was always going to be a feeling of unrest and resentment between the two countries. Although there were signs that a rift was appearing between the east and west there were some very important factors missing. The two main missing factors were, firstly around the time of the revolution the country was in a civil war and the USSR did not exist. This meant that there was not the powerful soviet state for the Americans to fear. Secondly because the USSR did not exist there was no war of propaganda or the funding of external communist movements that caused the majority of friction between the two countries later in the Cold War.

This desire for expansionism was to cause America increasing concern later. When in 1922 Russia merged with five neighbouring states to form the Soviet Union. By 1936 five more states joined. This meant that in less than 15 years Russia had amassed an area the size of Europe. At this time there were increasing signs that America and the USSR were become more and more uneasy. The USSR’s expansionism was starting to threaten the rest of Europe there was continuing talk of a communist revolution in countries such as Germany. But again as at the 1917 revolution there was not any public statement from either side that there was a disagreement from either side. The Second World War was also an important factor in this.

The Yalta and Potsdam conferences where allied leaders and Stalin met could be seen as the starting point of the Cold War. As it was the first real meetings that highlighted disagreement and difference that the west and the USSR had. However there is evidence that Yalta could not have been the start of the Cold War. To start with the focus of the conference was the defeat Hitler. This meant that the west and Stalin would need to co-operate with each other. As well as this promises were made to Stalin that pro-Russian governments to be set up in countries after the war. This was not seen as a way that Stalin could expand into Poland.

“Stalin’s suspicions multiplied as he asked Roosevelt and Churchill to agree that post war Russian should include the Baltic stated. These areas had belonged to tsarist Russia and had been reclaimed by Stalin in 1939 by the nazi soviet pact. In 1943 Roosevelt told an unhappy Stalin that millions of us voters of Baltic ancestry made it impossible for him to recognise soviet claims to Latvia.” L p9

This is in contrast to Potsdam were differences in policy became very much apparent. The main was the Yalta arrangements. The American President Truman did not trust Stalin. He believed that he would break the terms of the Yalta agreement and refuse to with draw from certain countries. He was also unhappy about future Russian intentions. There was also the fear that they would try and create a communist Europe. Stalin also showed doubts about the west that had refused to give him the atomic bomb.

However there were one missing factor the Propaganda. Which was virtually non-existent in mid 1945. As Stalin was still ‘Uncle Joe’ to millions and the truth about Stalin’s communism and its effect on the Russian people was still not fully known.

Another event that could have started the Cold War was the Truman doctrine. This was an open statement by America that they would aid countries threatened by Communism to stay democratic. This was exercised in the backing of other countries in conflicts based around the setting up of communist states such as in Korea and Cuba. This was followed by the Marshall plan. The Marshall plans official aim was to give finical aid to any country in Europe that required it and so raising the living standards. But the Marshall plan was implement for two important reasons. Firstly the Americans needed a way to contain the communist expansion in to Europe. And secondly by investing foreign capital America hoped that countries who were boarding on a communist government would become a place for America to export to and so improving the market economy making the soviet option look less attractive. But it is unlikely that the Cold War started this late, not only were all of the elements seem to be in place by the time of Korea in 1950. There was also the fact that in 1949. Russia had exploded their first Atomic bomb giving them an equal threat to the West. Neither side wanted or could risk a nuclear war. This is the first real time when we can say that all the factors that made up the Cold War were in full effect. But because of this it could be said that the Cold War started at an early date and this was just when it became more publicly noticed in the media.

Conclusion Section E

Because of the lack of hot war it is difficult to gain an exact date for the start of the Cold War.

although it is difficult to state the exact date it is possible to state a time frame. It is most likely that the Cold War did not start in the Bolshevik revolution of 1917. This was too early there were not any factors that point to a true Cold War. At this time there were more the signs that there would be one in the future. The Second World War did show signs that there might be conflict between the USSR and America. But there is little evidence that the Cold War started at this time. This is because all countries had a main focus on the war and defeating Hitler rather than the containment of communism by America.

“Although Roosevelt added that he certainly did not want to go to war the soviet union on this point. Roosevelt hoped to delay these issues until after the war.” l

It is also unlikely that the Cold war started in the 1950s, as there is evidence that it had already begun. Both sides now had nuclear technology and there was a considerable amount of propaganda from both sides on the evils of capitalism and communism. The Truman doctrine and marshals plans were also in effect this means that the Cold War started between the end of the Second World War and the Truman doctrine. This means that the most likely start of the Cold War was just after the Potsdam conference. Although there was little propaganda all the other elements were there and it was the first time that the serious differences between the USSR and America became obvious. The time frame found in this conclusion supported by the two texts I choose to focus on. Although they state different events for the start the time frame is the same.

in the ‘Origins of the Cold War’ the start of the cold war is portrayed as

“The point of no return came on July 2, 1947, when Molotov, after bringing 8 technical specialist with him to Paris and evincing initial in the project for European reconstruction, received the hot flash from the Kremlin denounced the whole idea and walked out of the conference. “s

Were as in America, Russia and The Cold War the start of the cold war is implied as

“The Cold War began with the almost simultaneous "declarations of Cold War" by Comrade Stalin and Prime Minister Churchill in 1946, followed by President Truman in 1947.”l p. 39

List of sources

The origins of the Cold War 1941 – 1949 second edition Martin McCauley

Cold War Europe 1945 –1991 a political history second edition John w young

On Every Front: The Making of the Cold War Thomas G. Paterson (1979)