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Evidence to support and refute four factors that caused the Cold War. AQA A level history 2R the Cold War, c1945–1991
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1. Ideology caused the Cold WarEvidence to support this view:
Capitalism and communism are in direct conflict with one another
ideologically
Marxist-Leninism (the official ideology of the USSR) explicitly aimed for the
overthrow of capitalism in a world revolution
Stalin's speech in 1946 claimed conflict was 'inevitable'
'Red Scare' in 1919 shows deep rooted anti-communist sentiment in the US
Evidence to suggest ideology didn't cause the Cold War
During WWII the USSR and the USA had been able to work together despite
their ideological differences
Stalin had proposed peaceful coexistence until 1947
too simplistic of an argument to suggest ideology caused the Cold War as the
leaders seemed to act pragmatically (e.g. Stalin didn't help Mao during the
Chinese civil war, even though he was communist, as he didn't want another
large communist country in Asia)
2. Misunderstandings
Evidence to support this view:
Superpowers were striving for self-protection but these actions were
misinterpreted as agressive policies trying to gain world dominance
e.g. the Soviet desire to create a buffer zone in Eastern Europe to protect
them from future invasion was perceived in the West as aggressive Soviet
expansionism.
e.g. The US attempts to push currency reform in West Germany was to
stimulate the economy in Western Europe so that the 'power vacuum' after
WWII didn't lead to extremist politicians gaining mass support was seen by
Russia, and Novikov as 'dollar imperialism'
Evidence to suggest misunderstandings didn't cause the Cold War:
Some policies/decisions were clear attempts to isolate nations or coerce them
into action
e.g. The Marshall plan clearly excluded communist states from getting
economic aid
e.g. the Berlin Blockade is a clear example of Stalin attempting to coerce the
West.
3. Soviet Aggression
Evidence to support this view:
Soviet determination to control eastern Europe caused hostility and fear
within US policy makers. This caused the US to play a reactive role to the
Soviets in the origins of the Cold War.
e.g. elections rigged in Hungary (1947) and Czechoslovakian coup (1948) to
overthrow existing government
Evidence to suggest Soviet agression didn't cause the Cold War
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