Which nation, the USA or the USSR, was primarily responsible for the start and continuation of the cold war? Be sure to discuss political economic, military and social reasons.

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Question: Which nation, the USA or the USSR, was primarily responsible for the start and continuation of the cold war? Be sure to discuss political economic, military and social reasons.

The Causes of the Cold War

As the twentieth century dawned upon the nations of the world, a dark and ominous future laid ahead of them; a future filled with endless bloodshed and hatred that would engulf the world with a series of wars. After the ending of the Second World War in favor of the Allies, tensions grew between some of the allied nations- The United States of America and the Soviet Union. Under the totalitarian rule of Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Union did not see eye to eye with its ally. The difference in the types of government- democracy in America and communism in the USSR, it was inevitable that a war between these two great nations erupt sooner or later. Trying to prevent a third world war from occurring, President Truman tried to stop the spread of communism and rather spread democracy across the war-torn, barren lands of Europe. In addition to this and many other differences, the nations slowly grew apart from their alliance and hostility was at an all time high. Stalin’s method of governing and spreading his rule over Europe by encouraging communism, transferring industrial equipment of Eastern Europe to rebuild USSR, controlling Eastern Europe to balance U.S. influence in Western Europe, and keeping Germany divided and weak were only some of the many causes of the Cold War. Thus, Stalin can be seen as the instigator of this war and can be blamed for his ignorance in balancing negotiations between his allies and his greed.

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After World War II, Europe was in shambles and it was up to the Allies to help rebuild the war-torn nations. According to the USSR, encouraging communism in the countries of Europe would help rebuild the nations when in reality, spreading the evils of communism does nothing but fuel the beginning of another world war and begin another era of adversity for the world. Because of the difference in governments between the United States and the Soviet Union, Truman and Stalin almost never reached a concord on anything- especially the spreading of communism or democracy in Europe. In Stalin’s views, ...

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