A
Alee
Guest
What were the concepts of the Cold war? What are the faults of each side?(Please add specific examples that illustrate the causes from both sides) What world events caused it?
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
G
gmj10003c
Guest
Both countries were equally to blame for the Cold War.
However, the Soviet Union was more aggressive (i.e., sending a missile to Cuba, etc.)
However, the Soviet Union was more aggressive (i.e., sending a missile to Cuba, etc.)
M
matt c
Guest
I would place the start of the Cold War in 1918. I know this is not the accepted time period, but if one follows the facts, I believe it is correct. With this in mind:
I would place a large part of the blame on the US and the Allies following the First World War. When the Bolsheviks came to power in 1917, they immediately began to end Russia's involvement in the war, which drew many ridiculous claims that the Bolsheviks were in league with the Germans. The Allies attacked the Soviets, first with lies and propaganda, and then following the end of the war with Germany, the Allies went on to invade Russia as well as to arm and supply the Whites fighting against the new Soviet government; a government which had the popular support of the majority of Russians. This naturally would be a source of problems between the capitalist world and the Soviets. The US and the Allies struck first and many of the problems that would develop are as a result of this time period.
The argument that the Soviets were trying to spread communism is a little weak. Yes, the Comintern and the Stalin School were developed in order to assist revolutions around the world, however, the Soviets main goal was to maintain influence over the world's various communist parties. Stalin used the Comintern to ensure that "Trotskyism" would not spread to other nations and thereby ensuring that no-one would question Stalin's policies. The world's communist parties all fell under the Comintern or Communist International, which was controlled by the Soviet Union. By ensuring Trotskyism (which was really Leninism, and therefore Marxism) did not emerge anywhere else in the world, people would be kept ignorant of the fact that Stalin was not a true Marxist. This was the goal of the Comintern, not socialist revolution in the rest of the world.
The argument that the Soviets are to blame because they placed missiles in Cuba is short sighted and incomplete. One point in history many Americans seem to not understand is that the US had similar missiles already pointed at the Russians placed in Turkey. The missiles in Cuba was just a means of leveling the playing field.
I would place a large part of the blame on the US and the Allies following the First World War. When the Bolsheviks came to power in 1917, they immediately began to end Russia's involvement in the war, which drew many ridiculous claims that the Bolsheviks were in league with the Germans. The Allies attacked the Soviets, first with lies and propaganda, and then following the end of the war with Germany, the Allies went on to invade Russia as well as to arm and supply the Whites fighting against the new Soviet government; a government which had the popular support of the majority of Russians. This naturally would be a source of problems between the capitalist world and the Soviets. The US and the Allies struck first and many of the problems that would develop are as a result of this time period.
The argument that the Soviets were trying to spread communism is a little weak. Yes, the Comintern and the Stalin School were developed in order to assist revolutions around the world, however, the Soviets main goal was to maintain influence over the world's various communist parties. Stalin used the Comintern to ensure that "Trotskyism" would not spread to other nations and thereby ensuring that no-one would question Stalin's policies. The world's communist parties all fell under the Comintern or Communist International, which was controlled by the Soviet Union. By ensuring Trotskyism (which was really Leninism, and therefore Marxism) did not emerge anywhere else in the world, people would be kept ignorant of the fact that Stalin was not a true Marxist. This was the goal of the Comintern, not socialist revolution in the rest of the world.
The argument that the Soviets are to blame because they placed missiles in Cuba is short sighted and incomplete. One point in history many Americans seem to not understand is that the US had similar missiles already pointed at the Russians placed in Turkey. The missiles in Cuba was just a means of leveling the playing field.