The Arms Race Was The Main Reason For The Development Of The Cold War From 1945-1972
'The Arms Race was the main reason for the development of the Cold War from 1945-1972'.
How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer using your subject knowledge. (16marks)
I don't believe that the arms race was the main reason for the development of the Cold War from 1945-1972. Although it clearly illustrated the intense rivalry between the USA and the USSR, it was simply one of many factors contributing to the war between communism and capitalism. When the USA ended World War Two by dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, they demonstrated their intention to become the single world superpower, which was perceived as a direct threat to the USSR and communism. This prompted the arms race, which quickly …show more content…
Though the arms race was important, it was merely the result of this conflict, which was far more crucial in the development of the Cold War. The Truman Doctrine, announced in March 1947, detailed the USA's determination to stop the spread of communism and portrayed it as an enemy to the American way of life. The Soviet Union responded with Cominform, which brought unity to the communist countries in Eastern Europe and brought their governments closer to Moscow. These two opposing ideologies remained the overarching issue throughout the war, resulting in Marshall Aid, Comecon, and more. Though the arms race remained at the forefront of the Cold War, it was just part of a larger influence, and in my opinion, it had no more impact than space race and the proxy wars occurring in …show more content…
This marked a decisive change in the battle between communism and capitalism, from a purely ideological 'war of words', to military offensives, backed by American and Soviet troops and equipment. The Korean War demonstrated the USA's commitment to containing communism, and this first proxy war illustrated the complicated relationship between the two superpowers. Neither wanted full military engagement due to the power of their nuclear weapons, which shows how the arms race actually prevented development, as it resulted in an expensive standoff between the superpowers which could have continued for years. Instead, supporting opposing forces in other countries allowed the USA and the USSR to prove their dominance without risking unimaginable destruction, progressing the conflict. The long and bloody Vietnam War, which began in 1954, similarly illustrated the USA's determination to defeat communism, and had a massive impact on domestic affairs, which undoubtedly had repercussions on the Cold War. These two proxy wars were incredibly important for the development of the war, as the fighting forced the superpowers to face the tangible effects of this ideological conflict and proved how far they would go to
How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer using your subject knowledge. (16marks)
I don't believe that the arms race was the main reason for the development of the Cold War from 1945-1972. Although it clearly illustrated the intense rivalry between the USA and the USSR, it was simply one of many factors contributing to the war between communism and capitalism. When the USA ended World War Two by dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, they demonstrated their intention to become the single world superpower, which was perceived as a direct threat to the USSR and communism. This prompted the arms race, which quickly …show more content…
Though the arms race was important, it was merely the result of this conflict, which was far more crucial in the development of the Cold War. The Truman Doctrine, announced in March 1947, detailed the USA's determination to stop the spread of communism and portrayed it as an enemy to the American way of life. The Soviet Union responded with Cominform, which brought unity to the communist countries in Eastern Europe and brought their governments closer to Moscow. These two opposing ideologies remained the overarching issue throughout the war, resulting in Marshall Aid, Comecon, and more. Though the arms race remained at the forefront of the Cold War, it was just part of a larger influence, and in my opinion, it had no more impact than space race and the proxy wars occurring in …show more content…
This marked a decisive change in the battle between communism and capitalism, from a purely ideological 'war of words', to military offensives, backed by American and Soviet troops and equipment. The Korean War demonstrated the USA's commitment to containing communism, and this first proxy war illustrated the complicated relationship between the two superpowers. Neither wanted full military engagement due to the power of their nuclear weapons, which shows how the arms race actually prevented development, as it resulted in an expensive standoff between the superpowers which could have continued for years. Instead, supporting opposing forces in other countries allowed the USA and the USSR to prove their dominance without risking unimaginable destruction, progressing the conflict. The long and bloody Vietnam War, which began in 1954, similarly illustrated the USA's determination to defeat communism, and had a massive impact on domestic affairs, which undoubtedly had repercussions on the Cold War. These two proxy wars were incredibly important for the development of the war, as the fighting forced the superpowers to face the tangible effects of this ideological conflict and proved how far they would go to