causes of the cOld War
Who Started It?
It can be said that there is no definite or official cause of the Cold War. Different people with different viewpoints will say that it was the United States or the Soviet Union that sparked it with their respective actions. It can be said that it started right after the end of World War II in 1945. The people who say that it was the United States that caused the Cold War point out that the U.S. hid the fact that they had the atomic bomb from their allies, the Soviet Union, then proceeded to intimidate the world with it, while opening a new age for the world. They also cite the U.S.'s fear of communism, which may have caused the U.S. to initiate their actions. The people who point the finger at the U.S.S.R. say that the Soviets started the Cold War by imposing the "Iron Curtain" of communism on Eastern European countries. In regards to both the U.S. and the Soviet Union, neither believed or liked the others ideologies, and they both feared attack from one another.
When and Where It Started
The end of WWII can be put to blame for starting the Cold War. After WWII ended, the United States and Soviet Union emerged as the global superpowers, but had extremely different social and political views. These major differences, along with both nations desire for more worldly influence, is a leading factor when considering the start. The Yalta Conference in 1945 is believed to be a cause for the Cold War as well. At Yalta, the leaders of the "big three" of the U.S., U.K., and Soviet Union were unable to agree on post-war borders, occupations of Germany and Japan, and what to do with Poland. This inconclusiveness led to mixed reactions and feelings between the leaders, which may have sparked the tensions between them.