4.5.1

The Responsibility for Cold War Tensions

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Blaming the Soviet Union for the Cold War

The ‘orthodox’ (traditional) interpretation placed the blame for the Cold War tensions on the Soviet Union and its aggressive expansion.

US government historians

US government historians

This was a view commonly held by historians who had been involved with the US government.
- including George Kennan and Herbert Feis
These historians pointed to Stalin’s expansionist rhetoric as evidence for these views.

'Red Scare' historians

'Red Scare' historians

This was a common view among English-speaking historians during the time of the Cold War.
And particularly among those who had lived through the ‘Red Scare’.
- The 'Red Scare' was the fear that communism would spread from within the West and bring down capitalism.

Blaming the US Government for the Cold War

‘Revisionists’, prominent from the mid-1960s to the 1970s, were more critical of the US government, particularly given the scandals of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War.

Revisionists

Revisionists

Revisionists believed that the USA had done little to directly aid the USSR during and immediately after WWII.
They believed that the USA had used Marshall Aid as a way to achieve domination over Europe.
- Forcing the Soviets to behave defensively.

Opposite of orthodox

Opposite of orthodox

This was a direct challenge to the views of orthodox historians.
- Orthodox historians believed that the USSR was to blame for Cold War tensions.

1

Was the Treaty of Versailles Fair?

1.1

What were the Motives and Aims at Versailles?

1.1.1The Treaty of Versailles 1.1.2Roles of Wilson, Clemenceau & George

1.2

Did the Victors Get Everything They Wanted?

1.2.1The Terms: Territory 1.2.2The Terms: Reparations 1.2.3The Terms: Armaments 1.2.4The Terms: War Guilt 1.2.5The League of Nations 1.2.6French Reaction 1.2.7American Reaction 1.2.8British Reaction 1.2.9Countries Left Out of the Treaty of Versailles

1.3

What was the Impact on Germany up to 1923?

1.3.1German Reaction to the Treaty 1.3.2Germany’s Allies 1.3.3Economic Impacts: Ruhr & Hyperinflation 1.3.4Social Impacts of the Treaty in Germany 1.3.5Political Impacts of the Treaty on Germany 1.3.6Reducing Reparation: The Dawes Plan

1.4

Could the Treaty be Justified at the Time?

1.4.1Positives & Negatives 1.4.2Contemporary Opinions About the Treaty

2

Was the League of Nations a Success?

2.1

How did Weaknesses in the League Lead to Failure?

2.1.1The League of Nations 2.1.2Structure of the League: Assembly & Council 2.1.3Structure of the League: Special Commissions 2.1.4Structure of the League: Permanent Court 2.1.5Structure of the League: Secretariat 2.1.6Financial Crisis in the World

2.2

The League’s Success in Peacekeeping

2.2.1Successes: International Borders 2.2.2Successes: International Agreements 2.2.3Failures: Vilna (1920)2.2.4Åland Islands 1920-21 2.2.5Failures: Corfu 1923 2.2.6Failures: Bulgaria 1925

2.3

How Important was the League's Humanitarian Work?

2.3.1Refugees, Health, Slavery, Working Conditions 1 2.3.2Refugees, Health, Slavery, Working Conditions 2

2.4

How did the Depression Impact the League?

2.4.1The Great Depression, 1929 2.4.2The Manchurian Crisis, 1931 2.4.3Invasion of Abyssinia, 1935

3

How did Hitler's Foreign Policy Impact the War?

3.1

What were the Long-Term Consequences of Versailles

3.1.1Long-Term Consequences of Versailles

3.2

What were the Consequences of the League's Failure

3.2.1The Disarmament Conference 3.2.2Collapse of the League of Nations 3.2.3Tension in Europe in the 1930s 3.2.4WWII & Failure of the League of Nations 3.2.5Weak Nations

3.3

Was the Policy of Appeasement Justified?

3.3.1The Spanish Civil War, 1936-39 3.3.2The Sudetenland 3.3.3Arguments for Appeasement 3.3.4Arguments Against Appeasement 3.3.5Reasons & Acts of Appeasement 3.3.6Impact of Appeasement

3.4

How Important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

3.4.1The Nazi-Soviet Pact 3.4.2The Polish Crisis & the Outbreak of War

3.5

Why did Britain & France Declare War on Germany?

3.5.1The Guarantee for Poland and the War 3.5.2Hitler’s Foreign Policy & Rearmament 3.5.3Hitler's Plan 3.5.4The Saar 3.5.5Remilitarisation of the Rhineland 3.5.6The Rome-Berlin Axis 3.5.7Germany & Italy in the Spanish War 3.5.8The Anti-Comintern Pact 3.5.9Anschluss with Austria 3.5.10The Munich Agreement 3.5.11The Crisis over Czechoslovakia

4

Who was to Blame for the Cold War?

4.1

Why did the US-Soviet Alliance Break Down?

4.1.1Cold War - Definition 4.1.2The Grand Alliance 4.1.3The 1945 Summit Conferences 4.1.4Early US-Soviet Relations 4.1.5The Breakdown of the US-Soviet Alliance 4.1.6Attitudes of Truman & Stalin 4.1.7US & Soviet Attitudes to Peace

4.2

How did the USSR Gain Control of Eastern Europe?

4.2.1The USSR & Eastern Europe

4.3

How did the US React to Soviet Expansionism?

4.3.1The Beginning of the Cold War 4.3.2The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan 4.3.3East-West Boundaries 4.3.4Berlin Crisis

4.4

What were the Consequences of the Berlin Blockade?

4.4.1Germany 4.4.2Bizonia 4.4.3Berlin Blockade 4.4.4FRG & GDR 4.4.5NATO 4.4.6Warsaw Pact

4.5

Who was More to Blame for Starting the Cold War?

4.5.1The Responsibility for Cold War Tensions 4.5.2Blame on the USRR 4.5.3Blame on the US 4.5.4Sharing the Blame

5

Did the US Contain the Spread of Communism?

5.1

The US and Korea, 1950-53

5.1.1The US and Korea: Background to the Crisis 5.1.2The Korean War 5.1.3The Course of the Korean War

5.2

The US and Cuba, 1959-62

5.2.1Build-Up to the Cuban Missile Crisis 5.2.2The Cuban Missile Crisis 5.2.3Consequence of the Cuban Missile Crisis

5.3

The US and Vietnam, 1955-75

5.3.1French Rule in Vietnam 5.3.2President Eisenhower 5.3.3President Kennedy 5.3.4The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 1964 5.3.5US Tactics 5.3.6Vietcong Tactics 5.3.7The Vietcong 5.3.8The My Lai Massacre, 1968 5.3.9Vietnamisation 5.3.10The Tet Offensive, 1968 5.3.11Attacks on Cambodia & Laos 5.3.12The Bombing of North Vietnam 5.3.13The Failure of Vietnamisation 5.3.14The Growth of Opposition 5.3.15The Draft System 5.3.16The Kent State University Shootings, 1970 5.3.17Political Opposition 5.3.18Reasons for Support 1 5.3.19Reasons for Support 2 5.3.20Political Support 5.3.21Peace Negotiations 5.3.22The Paris Peace Accords, 1973 5.3.23Economic & Human Costs 1 5.3.24Economic & Human Costs 2 5.3.25The Strengths of North Vietnam 1 5.3.26The Strengths of North Vietnam 2 5.3.27The Weaknesses of the US 1 5.3.28The Weaknesses of the US 2 5.3.29Opposition in the US 5.3.30Reasons Why USA Lost

6

How was USSR's Control Over Eastern Europe?

6.1

Opposition to Control in Hungary & Czechoslovakia

6.1.1Causes of Opposition 6.1.2The Hungarian Uprising 6.1.3Czechoslovakia, 1968 6.1.4Reaction to the Brezhnev Doctrine

6.2

Similarities Between Hungary & Czechoslovakia

6.2.1Hungary and Czechoslovakia 1 6.2.2Hungary & Czechoslovakia 2

6.3

Why was the Berlin Wall Built?

6.3.1The Berlin Wall 1 6.3.2The Berlin Wall 2 6.3.3The U2 Crisis

6.4

Solidarity in Poland & Soviet Influence

6.4.1Solidarity in Poland

6.5

Gorbachev's Responsibility

6.5.1Reagan & Gorbachev 6.5.2Reagan and the ‘Second Cold War’6.5.3The Collapse of Soviet Control 6.5.4The Collapse of the USSR

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1

Was the Treaty of Versailles Fair?

1.1

What were the Motives and Aims at Versailles?

1.1.1The Treaty of Versailles 1.1.2Roles of Wilson, Clemenceau & George

1.2

Did the Victors Get Everything They Wanted?

1.2.1The Terms: Territory 1.2.2The Terms: Reparations 1.2.3The Terms: Armaments 1.2.4The Terms: War Guilt 1.2.5The League of Nations 1.2.6French Reaction 1.2.7American Reaction 1.2.8British Reaction 1.2.9Countries Left Out of the Treaty of Versailles

1.3

What was the Impact on Germany up to 1923?

1.3.1German Reaction to the Treaty 1.3.2Germany’s Allies 1.3.3Economic Impacts: Ruhr & Hyperinflation 1.3.4Social Impacts of the Treaty in Germany 1.3.5Political Impacts of the Treaty on Germany 1.3.6Reducing Reparation: The Dawes Plan

1.4

Could the Treaty be Justified at the Time?

1.4.1Positives & Negatives 1.4.2Contemporary Opinions About the Treaty

2

Was the League of Nations a Success?

2.1

How did Weaknesses in the League Lead to Failure?

2.1.1The League of Nations 2.1.2Structure of the League: Assembly & Council 2.1.3Structure of the League: Special Commissions 2.1.4Structure of the League: Permanent Court 2.1.5Structure of the League: Secretariat 2.1.6Financial Crisis in the World

2.2

The League’s Success in Peacekeeping

2.2.1Successes: International Borders 2.2.2Successes: International Agreements 2.2.3Failures: Vilna (1920)2.2.4Åland Islands 1920-21 2.2.5Failures: Corfu 1923 2.2.6Failures: Bulgaria 1925

2.3

How Important was the League's Humanitarian Work?

2.3.1Refugees, Health, Slavery, Working Conditions 1 2.3.2Refugees, Health, Slavery, Working Conditions 2

2.4

How did the Depression Impact the League?

2.4.1The Great Depression, 1929 2.4.2The Manchurian Crisis, 1931 2.4.3Invasion of Abyssinia, 1935

3

How did Hitler's Foreign Policy Impact the War?

3.1

What were the Long-Term Consequences of Versailles

3.1.1Long-Term Consequences of Versailles

3.2

What were the Consequences of the League's Failure

3.2.1The Disarmament Conference 3.2.2Collapse of the League of Nations 3.2.3Tension in Europe in the 1930s 3.2.4WWII & Failure of the League of Nations 3.2.5Weak Nations

3.3

Was the Policy of Appeasement Justified?

3.3.1The Spanish Civil War, 1936-39 3.3.2The Sudetenland 3.3.3Arguments for Appeasement 3.3.4Arguments Against Appeasement 3.3.5Reasons & Acts of Appeasement 3.3.6Impact of Appeasement

3.4

How Important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

3.4.1The Nazi-Soviet Pact 3.4.2The Polish Crisis & the Outbreak of War

3.5

Why did Britain & France Declare War on Germany?

3.5.1The Guarantee for Poland and the War 3.5.2Hitler’s Foreign Policy & Rearmament 3.5.3Hitler's Plan 3.5.4The Saar 3.5.5Remilitarisation of the Rhineland 3.5.6The Rome-Berlin Axis 3.5.7Germany & Italy in the Spanish War 3.5.8The Anti-Comintern Pact 3.5.9Anschluss with Austria 3.5.10The Munich Agreement 3.5.11The Crisis over Czechoslovakia

4

Who was to Blame for the Cold War?

4.1

Why did the US-Soviet Alliance Break Down?

4.1.1Cold War - Definition 4.1.2The Grand Alliance 4.1.3The 1945 Summit Conferences 4.1.4Early US-Soviet Relations 4.1.5The Breakdown of the US-Soviet Alliance 4.1.6Attitudes of Truman & Stalin 4.1.7US & Soviet Attitudes to Peace

4.2

How did the USSR Gain Control of Eastern Europe?

4.2.1The USSR & Eastern Europe

4.3

How did the US React to Soviet Expansionism?

4.3.1The Beginning of the Cold War 4.3.2The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan 4.3.3East-West Boundaries 4.3.4Berlin Crisis

4.4

What were the Consequences of the Berlin Blockade?

4.4.1Germany 4.4.2Bizonia 4.4.3Berlin Blockade 4.4.4FRG & GDR 4.4.5NATO 4.4.6Warsaw Pact

4.5

Who was More to Blame for Starting the Cold War?

4.5.1The Responsibility for Cold War Tensions 4.5.2Blame on the USRR 4.5.3Blame on the US 4.5.4Sharing the Blame

5

Did the US Contain the Spread of Communism?

5.1

The US and Korea, 1950-53

5.1.1The US and Korea: Background to the Crisis 5.1.2The Korean War 5.1.3The Course of the Korean War

5.2

The US and Cuba, 1959-62

5.2.1Build-Up to the Cuban Missile Crisis 5.2.2The Cuban Missile Crisis 5.2.3Consequence of the Cuban Missile Crisis

5.3

The US and Vietnam, 1955-75

5.3.1French Rule in Vietnam 5.3.2President Eisenhower 5.3.3President Kennedy 5.3.4The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 1964 5.3.5US Tactics 5.3.6Vietcong Tactics 5.3.7The Vietcong 5.3.8The My Lai Massacre, 1968 5.3.9Vietnamisation 5.3.10The Tet Offensive, 1968 5.3.11Attacks on Cambodia & Laos 5.3.12The Bombing of North Vietnam 5.3.13The Failure of Vietnamisation 5.3.14The Growth of Opposition 5.3.15The Draft System 5.3.16The Kent State University Shootings, 1970 5.3.17Political Opposition 5.3.18Reasons for Support 1 5.3.19Reasons for Support 2 5.3.20Political Support 5.3.21Peace Negotiations 5.3.22The Paris Peace Accords, 1973 5.3.23Economic & Human Costs 1 5.3.24Economic & Human Costs 2 5.3.25The Strengths of North Vietnam 1 5.3.26The Strengths of North Vietnam 2 5.3.27The Weaknesses of the US 1 5.3.28The Weaknesses of the US 2 5.3.29Opposition in the US 5.3.30Reasons Why USA Lost

6

How was USSR's Control Over Eastern Europe?

6.1

Opposition to Control in Hungary & Czechoslovakia

6.1.1Causes of Opposition 6.1.2The Hungarian Uprising 6.1.3Czechoslovakia, 1968 6.1.4Reaction to the Brezhnev Doctrine

6.2

Similarities Between Hungary & Czechoslovakia

6.2.1Hungary and Czechoslovakia 1 6.2.2Hungary & Czechoslovakia 2

6.3

Why was the Berlin Wall Built?

6.3.1The Berlin Wall 1 6.3.2The Berlin Wall 2 6.3.3The U2 Crisis

6.4

Solidarity in Poland & Soviet Influence

6.4.1Solidarity in Poland

6.5

Gorbachev's Responsibility

6.5.1Reagan & Gorbachev 6.5.2Reagan and the ‘Second Cold War’6.5.3The Collapse of Soviet Control 6.5.4The Collapse of the USSR

Practice questions on The Responsibility for Cold War Tensions

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

1
What is the name given to the interpretation of the causes of the Cold War that blames the Soviet Union and its aggressive expansion?Multiple choice
2
Who held the 'orthodox' view when placing blame for the Cold War?True / false
3
Who do the 'orthodox' view place the blame for the Cold War with?Multiple choice
4
Which group of people were critical of the US government's responsibility for the Cold War tensions?Multiple choice
5
Beliefs of revisionists:True / false

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Warsaw Pact

Blame on the USRR