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Causes of the Cold War

Conflicts between Truman and Stalin

There was little (as little as possible) conflict between America and Russia during the second world war as Roosevelt's political beliefs and policies were quite tolerant of communism, and the two countries needed to form alliance in order to defeat Nazi Germany. However, after his death in 1945, he was replaced by Truman who was very Anti-Communist and friction began to develop between USA and USSR. The alliance between the two countries fell apart and by 1948, the Cold War had developed, but no battle can be declared as both sides had an atomic bomb capable of destroying the earth.

Ideological Differences between America and the USSR

Truman's anti-communist beliefs and determination to confront communism played a huge part in this conflict, but other factors also contribute to distrust and disagreement between the allies. All of these had cumulatively contributed to the fall of wartime alliance and hence, the development of the Cold War.

Politics

America was hugely capitalist whilst Russia was communist.

America's government was led by two parties enabling democracy and freedom amongst the American people whilst Russia had a single dictator party government (communist) and secret police which had the power to arrest anyone who had differing beliefs from the government.

America's people had freedom of speech and the freedom to have their own political beliefs. Russia on the other hand was had State Control: censorship, terror and purges, secret police.

Both Truman and Stalin were against the others' policies (Truman thought Communism was "evil" and Stalin thought Capitalism was "evil")

Germany

America wanted Germany to recover from poverty (Marshall Aid and the Truman Doctrine) and to get back into international trading whereas Russia wanted to weaken Germany and create a "Buffer Zone" of communist/"friendly" states around Russia.

Other Differences

America was economically the most powerful and richest country in the world and Russia was geographically the largest- each country wanted the other's advantage.

America had the Atomic bomb but feared Russia's giant army. Russia was not warned about the Atomic bomb (Potsdam Conference)

The Yalta Conference:

The Yalta Conference was held in 1945, Germany had not yet been defeated. The aims of the conference included agreements on how to split Germany once it has been defeated, agreements on alliance with Russia against Japan, and free elections on Eastern Europe.

Participants:

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