Cold War Essay Research Paper The conflict

Cold War Essay, Research Paper

The conflict in ideologies between capitalism and communism

resulted in one of the greatest conflicts of the twentieth century.

The belief that freedom and democracy would die under

communist rule caused the United States to start a conflict that

would last for decades. The decisions made by the United States

in W.W.II caused tensions to rise between the U. S. and the

Soviet Union. Fear of Communism in capitalist nations, caused

the United states government to use propaganda to raise Cold

War anxieties. Furthermore, the American media influenced the

attitudes of Americans, making a hatred of communism spread

though the nation. Thus, the United States caused the conflict

known as the Cold War, through its political policy and

propaganda.

The political relations going on in Europe during and

directly after World War II had an enormous effect on laying the

foundation for the Cold War. War time conferences such as Yalta

and Terhran harshened the relationship between the communists

and the capitalists. At the end of W.W.II American policy

towards the Soviets changed drastically. The change in president

in 1945 caused relations with Russia to worsen. Furthermore,

other political contributions to the Cold War entailed the Truman

Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. The division of Europe between

the west and east drew physical borders which outlined that the

war of misinformation that had began. Also treaties of the post

war world further separated the two super powers of the world

for the decades to follow. The waging of hot wars through other

countries also strengthened Cold War hatred.(1)

The first of the cold war tensions arose out of W.W.II

conferences between the Soviet Union, America and, Great

Britain. Tehran, the first major conference which lead America to

start the Cold War, included all three of these nations. At this

conference the reshaping of post-war Europe was discussed (2)

Later in February of 1945, the big three met again at Yalta. At

this conference European boundaries, German reparations, and

Polish elections were agreed upon.(3) Stalin, the Russian leader,

agreed to hold free and fair elections. Later after Roosevelt, who

attended these conferences, died Truman became president. He

accused the Soviet leader, Stalin, of not holding up to his

agreements at Yalta.(4) Stalin wanted to use Poland as a buffer

zone to prevent any future invasions from happening through this

area. During W.W.II the Soviets had lost 27 million, and Stalin

made it clear that in no way would he allow this to happen

again.(5) Stalin responded to Truman.s accusation with the

following words, .I am ready to fulfill your request and do

everything possible to reach a harmonious solution. But you

demand too much of me. In other words, you demand that I

renounce the interests of security of the Soviet Union, but I

cannot turn against my country..(6) On the other hand, American

General Lucius Clay, who was stationed in post war Germany

commented . we must have the courage to proceed quickly with

the establishment of a government for western Germany…42

million Germans in the British and American zones represent

today the strongest outpost against Communist penetration that

exists anywhere..(7) At this response Truman changed his

attitude toward the Soviets with the words, . there isn.t any

difference between the totalitarian Russian government and the

Hitler government..(8) Furthermore, America decided to keep

Stalin out of the loop about the Manhattan project, which

furthered distrust, because Stalin learn about the bomb through

espionage. Truman.s change in attitude toward Stalin, from that

of FDR.s negotiation with .Uncle Joe. to one committed to

stopping the Soviet cause, led to the creation of a new American

anti-Soviet political policy.

The Truman Doctrine, the name given to the policy

established by Truman, would soon arise in American foreign

policy. This Truman Doctrine came out of a speech the Truman

gave to a joint session of congress. It was the response Truman

gave to Britain, which delcared that they no longer could give

military and economic aid to Greece.(9) In this speech Truman

finally gave the Cold War official status, by stating the threat

that the Soviet government had on national security. In

Truman.s actual words he said, .I believe that it must be the

policy of the United States to support free peoples who are

resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by

outside pressures..(10) Congress, knowing that Great Britain

would no longer give aid the Turkey and Greece, realized that

these nations would soon turn to communism. Thus, they

decided to appropriate four hundred million dollars to help i

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