What factors lead to the Cold War?

Answer 1

AnswerThe Cold War was a period of intense competition between the USSR and the USA, where both countries tried to show that it was more powerful.

Firstly, both the countries were suspicious of each other as they were both extremely militarily able countries. They feared that they would be double-crossed or sabotaged by the other and therefore mistrusted each other. USA had built up a powerful navy and air force with advanced technology, while the USSR became modern and industrialized under Stalin's rule. Both the USA and the USSR were powerful enough for the other to worry, and thus the Cold War was partially a consequence of the suspicion.

Secondly, there was a significant difference in the ideologies of the USA and the USSR. The USA practiced democracy and capitalism, while the USSR was communist. In capitalism and democracy, people had to care for themselves and earned themselves money according to how hard they worked; elections were held to represent the people and human rights are of high importance. However, in a communist regime, the state controlled the economy and land of the whole country, and the communist party leaders provided homes, healthcare and education to the people. Freedom of speech, thought and religion is restricted, and communism involves a single party rule. This significant contrast made both countries feel that it was necessary to reign supreme over the other, and spread its beliefs and system to as many countries as possible in order to gain more influence. This difference in ideologies thus played a part in triggering the cold war.

Lastly, The competition to gain more influence in the world became a reason for the cold war. The USA set up the Marshall Plan while the USSR set up the COMECON (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance) in order to attempt to influence more countries to follow them. Eventually, the supporters of Communism would border the supporters of Democracy, and conflict might follow. For example, the USSR was able to commit acts of intimidation to the parts of Berlin that belonged to the USA and its allies because Berlin fell within USSR territory. The Cuban missile crisis and Korean War also took place from the competition to gain more influence. Acts like these would give reason for the cold war to take place.

Answer 2

When the U.S learned that the U.S.S.R (Russia) devoloped it's own nuclear weapons, Russia became a threat to the U.S. Likewise with the Russians (Though they didn't get their nukes until after the U.S). Both countries were superpowers and grew in fear of each other, threating each other with "If you shoot me once, I'll shoot you ten times! Make that eleven!".

Answer 3

To name a few:

General mistrust.

Stalin was upset that the Americans never informed him about the atomic bomb.

Difference in political ideologies.