Answer to Question #100414 in History for Jordan Dolson

Question

Was the United States or the Soviet Union more responsible for the Cold War? Discuss the key events and policies that led to the deterioration of relations between the two nations after World War II (1945-1950) as evidence to support your argument.

Answer 1

The Americans and the British feared the permanent Soviet domination of eastern Europe and the threat of Soviet-influenced communist parties coming to power in the democracies of western Europe. The Soviets, on the other hand, were determined to maintain control of eastern Europe in order to safeguard against any possible renewed threat from Germany, and they were intent on spreading communism worldwide, largely for ideological reasons. The Cold War had solidified by 1947–48, when U.S. aid provided under the Marshall Plan to western Europe had brought those countries under American influence and the Soviets had installed openly communist regimes in eastern Europe.

So, both the United States and the Soviet Union were responsible for the Cold War.