Several reasons resulted to the emergence of the cold war, which involved the USA and the USSR right after the World War II. However, the most significant underlying factor was the growing suspicion between the two countries (Hurst 156). Some of these reasons included the Americans fear of attacks from the communists because the Russians disliked capitalism. Additionally, the development of mass destruction weapons was also of concern.
During the Second World War, America and the USSR were strong allies. However, this turned different after the war as they shared different views about various aspects. They eventually grew apart confirming that their union was illusionary. Furthermore, before the war, the US described the USSR as a reincarnation of the devil but the feeling was mutual; the USSR did not see the US any different from the devil.
The US and the USSR only became allies during the Second World War because they had a common enemy. The suspicion grew even further when the United States refused to share its nuclear secrets (Hurst 156).
Moreover, Joseph Stalin (The Soviet leader) did not know about the nuclear weapon that the Americans were going to use to destroy Japan until reports came back to Moscow about the Hiroshima bombing. The major difference between the Russians and the Americans was that the Americans had sophisticated technology in terms of weapons while the Russians had a vast army.
Some of the ideologies that led to the emergence of the cold war include elections, whereby the Americans believed that elections should exist, and they should be free, while the Soviet Union believed that there should be no election. Secondly, the American believed in democracy, while the Soviet Union supported dictatorship or Autocratic form of leadership.
The third reason is that Americans were capitalists, while the Soviet Union supported communism. Furthermore, the Americans believed in survival for the fittest, while the Soviet Union believed in helping each other.
The difference in the economy, for instance, America being a superpower while the Soviet Union was a small and poor economy also contributed to the emergence of the cold war. Similarly, The American believed in personal freedom, while the Soviet Union was in support of secret police controlled society. In addition, the United States believed in freedom of the press, while the Russians completely censored the media.
In 1945, the Americans dropped a bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which led to the arms race. Consequently, in 1947 Stalin refused Marshall from providing aid to Eastern part of Europe. Additionally, the establishment of NATO in 1949 and china becoming a communist also contributed to the emergence of the cold war. In 1950, the South Korea started a war with North Korea where the United Nations supported the South Koreans, while the republic of China supported the North Koreans.
In 1953, the Americans tested their first hydrogen bomb hence confirming that they were engaging in the development of mass destruction weapons. As a result, the suspicion increased between the United State of America and the USSR. Furthermore, Hungry broke away from the USSR in 1956, which also majorly contributed to the emergence of the cold war. Czar Nicholas II contributed to the Bolshevik revolution in 1957, when he made eleven million people to participate in the First World War.
As a result, the Russian people were extremely agitated and could not take the injuries and loss of lives caused by the war any more hence this set the stage for one of the biggest revolution in the history of Russia. However, after the revolution erupted, Czar Nicholas tried to use force to contain the situation, by the use of military action but the protestors supporting the revolution converted the military.
The formation of a provincial government replaced the fallen Czar regime. However, the provincial government did not live up to its promise of putting to an end Russian involvement in the war (Hurst 156). Instead, things deteriorated; the formation of the Bolshevik party rose against the government and seized various social amenities and institutions in the night of November 6, 1917 with the order and guidance of the Soviet’s Military committee.
The Bolshevik formed the new government, which supported socialism. This was the beginning of the soviet regime, which supported socialism. Such a development was one of the causes that led to the emergence of the cold war because of ideological conflict between the US and the USSR. Most of the people in Russian believed that the Bolshevik party was going to provide better leadership and direction to the country through their Communism.
In 1959, Cuba let by Fidel Castro became a communist nation. Similarly, in 1961, the United States sent military troops to Vietnam, and it is in the same year that the Germans built the Berlin wall.
The difference in ideologies between the super powers was also evident in the allies of these super powers. As a result, there was a distinct separation between the United States allies and the USSR allies. However, throughout this period, the United States and the Soviet Union openly showed their might through space expeditions and advancement in technology.
As a result, it increased the fear between the two countries. The cold war did not start until Truman who was by then the current president of Russia embarked on the Marshall plan. Additionally, the extension of the Russian influence into Europe by use of the red army also contributed to the development of the cold war. Similarly, eastern Germany also fell under the Russian control.
Towards the end of the Second World War, Russia started to put together her control in Europe. The Russians did this by intimidating the voters of the newly formed states and imposing their influence on them. Due to this, the bulk of the votes went to the communists hence making Russia have an enormous influence on the newly formed governments.
The Russians were incredibly tactful; they took control of the military and the entire defense of these newly formed governments. In addition, these were the strongest sectors of the newly formed states. However, there are several reasons that made the cold war not to start until the end of the Second World War for instance; both Russia and the United States of America were busy developing their own economies and form of governance.
In addition, Russia was not stable politically, it was going through revolutions and their internal affairs were not in order. Similarly, neither the United States nor Russia had come up with unique capabilities for instance the bomb, which could raise suspicion and instill fear. These were the reasons that delayed the cold war until the end of the Second World War.
In conclusion, the cold war was because of mistrust and fear between the Soviet Union and the US. This suspicion grew even more when the United States of America invented the bomb, which was one of the most powerful mass destruction weapons at the time. However, Russia also went ahead and invented the bomb hence showing stiff competition between the two countries. In addition, there was a rush between the two countries to form allies. The reason for this was to get support for their ideologies and forms of governance.
Works Cited
Hurst, Steven. Cold war US foreign policy: key perspectives. Edinburgh, UK: Edinburgh University Press, 2005. Print.