Introduction
The post-war era in the United States and the Soviet Union witnessed rapidly worsening relations between the two countries, culminating in the Cold War. The wartime alliance against Nazi Germany was the starting point for both Nations, but ideological differences and the struggle for geopolitical supremacy soon made the relationship difficult. Studying Truman’s Truman Doctrine speech and the Marshall Plan gives the idea about the US-Soviet conflicts and their connection to the Cold War outbreak.
Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
In 1947, the Truman Doctrine speech by the U.S. President, Truman, clearly stated the nation’s intention to assist the free world’s members in their fight against oppression by armed minorities or external forces. Truman requested $400 million from Congress in military and economic aid for Greece and Turkey, and he portrayed this help as an inevitable move to stop the spread of Communism (National Archives, 2022). One of its key tenets was the emerging containment policy that aimed at curbing Soviet expansion. Much in the same way, the Marshall Plan, implemented in 1948, intended to help war-ruined Europe economically. The idea originated from George Marshall, a United States Secretary of State (National Archives, 2021). This plan sought to rebuild the economies, prevent communist expansion, and create stability in Europe. The Marshall Plan was organized so that $13.3 billion was provided to Europe for four years.
Conflicts and Contributions to Cold War Tensions
The deep roots of the Cold War could be found in the fundamental ideological differences, geopolitical conflicts, and mutual mistrust between the United States and the Soviet Union. The worsening of tensions in the world was due to some joint endeavors of both countries to increase distrust and antagonism. The United States’ declaration of the Truman Doctrine and the launch of the Marshall Plan were direct replies to the spread of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe (National Archives, 2021). By granting economic and military assistance to countries endangered by the spread of communism, the USA desired to terminate Soviet expansionism. Such actions were seen as an aggressive move by the Soviet Union, and as a result, the atmosphere continued to worsen.
Soviet Response and Escalation
As a result, the Soviet government tried even harder to keep its grip on the countries of Eastern Europe after the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan were announced. The connection of communist regimes in the states, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary, intensified the Soviet impact on that region. In 1948, when the Soviet Union was alongside the East blockade of Berlin, the tension between the East and West became more evident (National Archives, 2021). The blockade was the ultimate reply to the West’s strategy to blend West Germany into the Marshall Plan, suggesting that the Soviet Union remained conscious of the West’s impact.
Role of Ideology and Mutual Mistrust
The Ideological divergences from communism and capitalism further fueled the Cold War rivalry. The U.S. saw communism as a threat to democracy and human rights values, and the USSR saw capitalism as a fundamentally exploitative and aggressive system. This ideological split deepened the mutual mistrust and suspicion of each other, making finding cooperation strenuous (National Archives, 2022). There had been airing of propaganda, engaging in espionage, and proxy wars by both countries to sell their ideologies while undermining the counterpart’s influence.
Contributions to Cold War Escalation
One of the events that led to the rise of Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviets was the dropping of nuclear bombs by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Although the U.S. employed it to wipe out the Japanese resistance and bring World War II to an end, the weaponizing of the atomic bombs heralded a new era of the Cold War and a nuclear arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union (National Archives, 2022). The development of nuclear weapons by the superpowers made the fear of mutually assured destruction more profound and made it look like the balance of power was at stake.
Addressing Who Started the Cold War
From my perspective, the Cold War was not caused by a single incident or person, but rather, it resulted from a chain of interactions between the United States and the Soviet Union, which were far more complicated. Both states were not innocent in this process, and their actions and policies all played their part in the development of the conflict. On the other hand, the Doctrine of Truman and the Marshall Plan were a reaction to what was seen as Soviet expansionism. However, the Soviet effort to take control of Eastern Europe and the Berlin siege only aggravated the situation. Ideological divisions, mutual distrust, and the manufacture of nuclear weapons turned the Cold War hot in more ways than one. Hence, it may be said that it is reductionist to solely assign the role of the initiator of the Cold War to either the USA or the Soviet Union, as this process is extremely complex.
Conclusion
The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan became two critical factors in developing the first stage of the Cold War history. Such steps manifested a pro-American wish to limit the USSR’s expansionist sentiments and to promote democracy in Europe. But, at the same time, they ultimately exerted an influence on intensifying the US-Soviet relations, which resulted in a long ideological confrontation and geopolitical conflict. The Cold War did not have a simple origin, but rather, it resulted from a mix of ideological, geopolitical, and strategic factors. Both states were involved in the escalation and aggravation of the situation through steps taken to cause distrust on each side and provoke antagonism. At last, the Cold War became the main conflict of the 20th century, having remolded the world political map.
References
National Archives. (2021, September 28). Marshall Plan (1948). National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/marshall-plan
National Archives. (2022, February 8). Truman Doctrine (1947). National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/truman-doctrine
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