Reasons for the Cold War.
Reasons for the Cold War The Yalta and Potsdam peace conferences of 1945 were the beginning of the tensions between the capitalist West and the communist East. The Allies reached agreements on most issues but were still divided on some very important ones. The greatest source of conflict between the East and West was Poland. In 1945 Stalin was the leader of the USSR and attended both peace conferences. Churchill attended the Yalta conference as the leader of Great Britain and was then replaced by Attlee who attended the Potsdam conference. Roosevelt also attended the Yalta conference but sadly died and was replaced by Truman who attended the Potsdam conference. By the end of the Second World War the USSR and the USA were the two superpowers, they had defeated Hitler and the Nazis and this had left both countries very powerful in comparison with the rest of the world at this post war time. Despite the USA and the USSR having been allies during the Second World War there were many disagreements at the peace conferences. These disagreements lead to great tensions between the two superpowers and therefore the Cold War began in 1949. The Cold War was the increasing tension that developed between the two superpowers. The War had two rival sides and there was spying and propaganda from both of these, which also encouraged an arms race. It was not, however a proper war
Who Started the Cold War?
Who Started the Cold War? After World War II, Communism began to spread across several European countries, such as Poland, Romania and Hungary. In the West a strong sense of fear of this ideal quickly began to spread as well. When the Cold War broke out, every nation was involved. The most prominent leaders involved were Churchill, Stalin and Truman. Together, their actions were the cause of the Cold War. After World War II, countries brought forth different views in which to restore Europe, which ultimately led to tensions internationally and as a result, the Cold War began. The President of the United States, Harry Truman, became seen as the dominant player in European affairs. He initiated the Truman Doctrine along with the Marshall Plan which set out to protect the "free" people against Communism. He begins taking control which causes difficulties among European countries. As well, his Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan particularly violated the principles of a group in charge of the well-being of the world; the United Nations. Truman truly discriminates against Communism and began creating a widespread fear of this ideal which presents a huge impact on several European countries. Truman truly disrupts the relations between all nations throughout the world. Truman accurately classifies as the person to have started the Cold War. The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan,
Was USA losing cold war
To what extent was the USA losing the Cold War 1949-1960? During this period the USA was increasingly concerned with its global position and the need to contain the growing threat of international communism. The period started badly with the 'fall' of China to communism in 1949. The measure of US success in the Cold War at this time depends upon perception of the American position and whether the USA was content to keep communism contained or showed a willingness to 'roll back' the influence of the USSR and communist expansion. The USA showed different levels of success and failure in different regions and with different technologies. American success overall was much higher than critics have suggested. In 1949 the USA held the nuclear monopoly, this gave an additional force to US diplomacy throughout the world. With the development of the Soviet A-bomb, nuclear stalemate was established. This was a setback for the Americans who then carried out a massive investment programme to develop the more powerful H-bomb, the US dismay it took the Soviets only a year to catch up on this new technology. Although the USA was not behind in this part of the Cold War, the loss of advantage was acutely felt within Washington and broader American society, fear of the Bomb and the effects of radiation were common in US culture and attitudes. American citizens no longer felt as safe
The cold war
During the cold war, relief and politics were seen as separate. Yet with an increasing recognition that relief alone is insufficient for the complex humanitarian emergencies, many humanitarian agencies have come to rethink the relationship between humanitarianism and politics. This shifting concept of humanitarian assistance is often called a new humanitarianism. It considers that humanitarian aid should be integrated into part of the long term processes of political issues in relation to the promotion of peace and justice. New humanitarianism is political from the start, and its logical consequence, it rejects the traditional principle of neutrality. In classical humanitarianism, neutrality is one of the essential principles, together with humanity, impartiality, and independence. It considers that humanitarian agencies must seek the consent of warring parties to work in the context of violence in order to gain access to all victims in need of help. Neutrality requires that humanitarian agencies not become involved in, or engaged in any hostilities, abstaining from any political or military considerations. The main priority of neutral agencies is the immediate relief of human suffering. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has kept its neutral position at war as the centre of its mission. For the ICRC, neutrality is described as, "in order to enjoy
In the years 1953-60, President Eisenhowers cold war diplomacy was based on confrontation rather than coexistence; How far do you agree with this view?
In the years 1953-60, President Eisenhower’s cold war diplomacy was based on confrontation rather than coexistence; How far do you agree with this view? In the years of his presidency Dwight D. Eisenhower had to make a whole lot of complicated decisions some of which were headed towards peaceful coexistence with USSR, while others were clearly targeted against the Soviet Union. With the death of Stalin in 1953 it became possible to think of peaceful coexistence for the first time, as the new leader of the Soviet Party would emerge. Almost straight after his death signing Korean armistice in July 1953 did the first step towards peaceful coexistence. Even though new leader Nikita Khrushchev pledged to “bury Western capitalism”, he rejected inevitability of war and pursued peaceful coexistence. As a result of that Geneva summit in October 1955 was the first time Superpowers spoke of peaceful coexistence, which was certainly a breakthrough. Spirit of Geneva eased the relations and by the end of the 50’s several Western leaders had visited Moscow and Khrushchev had toured the U.S., further talks on peaceful coexistence and even possible mutual disarmament were made at Camp David. This new understanding was supposed to be cemented in 1960 with the Paris summit conference, however the U2 incident preceded it at the root. Eisenhower would not apologize and relations
Causes of the Cold War
Causes of the Cold War The cold war was a direct result of many causes. The leaders of the world could not agree on very much and lead the world into the cold war. During the second world war, Britain, France, USA and the Soviet Union had all been allies, fighting against Germany. After World War Two, Britain, France and the Usa had become enemies of the Soviets. The Cold War was caused by several events. The first of the nine events was the yalta conference. The yalta conference was held on 4th February through the 11th 1945. The main discussion was the future of poland, it was decided that poland would be divided and much of the eastern sector was given to the Soviets and the western sector was given to Germany. It was also decided at Yalta that Germany would be divided into four zones: British, French, USA's, and Soviet. In turn, Berlin, Germany's capital, would also be divided into the same zones.other decisions made were that east european countries would hold free elections and the new organization that would replace the League of Nation would be the United Nations. Following the Yalta Conference was the meeting at Potsdam. At Potsdam two of the 'Big Three' were not present, as they had changed. President Roosevelt had died on April 12th 1945, and was replaced by president Harry Truman. Also, Churchill had lost the general election, and was replace by Clement
Cold War and middle East
Rene' Barajas 04/24/08 Period 7 3. To what extent was the cold war a conflict between two irreconcilable ideologies? The Cold War was a conflict between the Communist nations led by the Soviet Union and the democratic nations led by the United States in the 1940's up until 1990, the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It was a hotly contested period filled with conflict, tension, and competition. It was a team of fear, pride, and nationalism. American children were taught to hide under their desks in case of the "Big One." Children in the Soviet Union were taught to work hard and to value Mother Russia over everything. This time period could have resulted in disaster, even a WWIII, but it did not. The cold war was due largely in part to a conflict in irreconcilable ideologies, those of capitalism and communism. Capitalism was the belief in a free market, every man for himself. Communism was a stark contrast, every man is equal and they all work for the state. These conflicting ideologies were the basis for the mistrust, disdain, and competition that was the Cold War. The United States and the Soviet Union represent two opposing systems of government. In the United States, the government is elected by free elections. The people can form political parties to voice their political opinions. They also possess the right of assembly, of speech and of the press. In the Soviet
Was the Cold War Inevitable?
Elias Chamoun 20th century topics R5 - Richardson 2/18/2004 WAS THE COLD WAR INEVITABLE? With the end of WWII, the Soviet Union and the United States confronted each other for dominance over a pile of, exhausted and chaotic countries. The historical magnitude and consequences of the Second World War were destined to cast the Soviet Union and US in the fatal role of antagonists with no third state powerful enough to balance and relieve the acute security dilemma (China was not as powerful as the US or USSR). The enormous destruction wrought upon the Soviet Union by the German war machine in WWII was bound to produce a quest for maximum security needs. The Soviets lost nearly 9 million soldiers and more than 27 million civilians; nearly 1,710 cities and settlements, 70,000 towns and villages, and over 6 million buildings of all kinds were devastated.1 The government of any nation suffering such staggering losses would be bound to seek to take measures against any such catastrophe ever occurring again. The Soviet Union engaged in a supreme wartime effort to conquer as much of the vital borderlands as possible. As long as this effort also served the common purpose of defeating the Axis, its implications for the future were passed over in silence or veiled with some ambiguous and face-saving formula by Roosevelt and Churchill. But as victory drew near, the necessity for
When did the Cold War begin?
When did the Cold War begin? 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
Post-Cold War Realities
Post-Cold War Realities INTRODUCTION: THE ANTI-AMERICAN ALLIANCE In June 1995, the Speaker of the Majlis (parliament) told the visiting Deputy Chairman of the Russian Duma, Alexander Vengerovsky, that the two strategic states of Iran and Russia should form an alliance to limit the expansion of U.S. hegemony in the region.[1] This proposal effectively sums up the entire history of the Russian-Islamic Republic ‘strategic partnership’—anti-Americanism. During the final decade of the Cold War, mutual loathing for the United States held together a relationship of slightly less suspicion and disdain for each other. As the protracted conflict between Moscow and Washington began to thaw, so did relations with Tehran. Subsequently, in the face of intruding U.S. presence in the greater Middle East, the benefits of cooperation in the obstruction of Western influence became increasingly evident and useful. Both share an aversion to a unipolar world in which the United States wields unchallenged primacy, controlling the United Nations, dictating supplier unions, and deciding who receives advanced arms, technology, and industry. As a result, they have found common ground to further their own political, economic, and hegemonic aspirations. For Iran, Russia provides distinct opportunities to advance its goals of conventional and nuclear military buildup; extension of
