To what extent were the policies of the United States responsible for the outbreak and development of the Cold War between 1945 and 1949?
The United States was responsible for the outbreak of the development of the Cold War that was between 1945 and 1949 because of a numerous amount of reasons for example there was the Marshall Plan, The Truman Doctrine, Truman being an anti-communist, the atomic bombs that were dropped on Japan and lastly the Nato Alliance. However some may argue that the U.S.S.R were responsible for the Cold War because of Stalin took over Eastern Europe.
First the Marshall Plan was a huge reason for the the United States being apart of the Cold War to begin with; The Marshall plan changed the economic situation in the European continent as a result of freeing up trade policies within the continent. This created a situation in which trade could be conducted freely and this ended up boosting their economy. While the Marshall Plan may not have initiated the economic recovery it was important in helping it. Also the Marshall plan helped America by the fact that to supply Europe with goods American farms and factories raised production levels which as a result the American economy continued its wartime boom.
Second the Truman Doctrine and Truman being an anti-communist was another reason why the United States was responsible. To begin with the Truman Doctrine provided Turkey and Greece with economic and military aid after the Ottoman Empire's collapse in World War II.Therefore it was an indirect way by the United States to promote their idea of democracy to these nations.The United States did this because the Soviet Union's idea of communism was fastly spreading throughout Europe and the United States saw it as a threat. Therefore, by supplying other countries with aid, they won them over.
Third the bombs being dropped on Japan by the United States Harry Truman dropped the bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima to end the war. At the time you could say that America was fighting two wars, one against Germany and one against Japan. Even though Japanese military supplies were very limited at this point in time of the war, Truman still enforced the Japanese to sign a treaty to surrender. After they failed to surrendered, America dropped 2 bombs on Japan. The effect was Japan surrendered the war immediately after the 2nd bombing. It also showed the military power America could potentially use to the world. The significance of it now is that the atomic bomb has basically created an arms race. The Cold War was a feud over not only communism but the fear of a nuclear war.
Fourth the NATO Alliance was another reason why the United States was responsible for the cold war NATO is an abbreviation for North Atlantic Treaty Organization the 12 members of NATO were the United States and Canada, Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal. The twelve members of NATO pledged military support to each other in case any member was attacked.
Others may say that the U.S.S.R was to blame for the Cold War because of Stalin taking over Eastern Europe because the United States believed that Stalin was building up communism in the eastern European countries which the United States did not want. Some may say that Soviet expansionism really did stem the whole cold war because it brought to the forefront the US's fear of communism and total hostility and the proxy war began over Marshall Aid, and the Berlin Airlift in 1948, which were as a result of soviet expansionism.
Hence the United States were responsible for the cold war because of The Marshall Plan, the Truman Doctrine, Truman being an anti-communist, the bombs being dropped on Japan and lastly the NATO alliance however some may argue that the U.S.S.R was responsible for the Cold War because of Stalin taking over Eastern Europe.
