Who Was to Blame for the Cold War?

Who caused the Cold War?

Historians debate whether the USA or USSR bore greater responsibility for the outbreak of the Cold War.

How did the USA cause the Cold War?

Some historians argue the USA was mainly responsible for the start of the Cold War for 6 key reasons:

• ❖ The Marshall Plan, the Truman Doctrine, the policy of containment and the creation of NATO were seen as aggressive moves.
• ❖ President Truman was openly anti-communist, which caused greater tension. His relationship with Stalin was much worse than that of Roosevelt, his predecessor.
• ❖ The USA didn't inform the Soviets about their work on developing the atom bomb. The Soviets found out through their spies and felt betrayed.
• ❖ Stalin was not consulted over the formation of Trizonia or the adoption of the Deutschmark, despite agreement that decisions over Germany would be made jointly.
• ❖ Stalin saw the USA's refusal to leave West Berlin as a threat.
• ❖ Both sides participated in the nuclear arms race.

How did the USSR cause the Cold War?

Some historians argue the USSR was mainly responsible for causing the Cold War for 6 key reasons:

• ❖ Stalin went against some of the promises he made at Yalta, such as occupying Poland and refusing to allow eastern European countries to have free elections.
• ❖ Instead of free elections in eastern Europe, Stalin ensured communist puppet governments - which he could control - gained power. This happened in Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and East Germany. This was seen as a threat to capitalism.
• ❖ The Red Army's occupation of eastern Europe was seen as a threat, and an attempt to control the whole of Europe.
• ❖ Comecon, Cominform and the Warsaw Pact were seen as aggressive moves.
• ❖ The Berlin Blockade was an extremely aggressive act.
• ❖ Both sides participated in the nuclear arms race.