Truman Vs Stalin
Sian (1T30)
Question:
Assess the view that Truman was more responsible than Stalin for the outbreak and development of the Cold War in the years 1945 – 1949.
Focus: Origins/Causes of the CW, 1945 - 1949
Assumption: Both were responsible, but who was more responsible? Was Truman really more responsible than Stalin?
Criteria : “responsible” – whose actions had greater impact? Whose actions more expansionistic? Which player had a strong position? Who was truly to blame?
Evidence:
Policies and motives of SPs in the immediate post-WWII context action-reaction sequence of events between superpowers
Thesis:
While there is no doubt that both Truman and Stalin, leaders of the US and USSR respectively, had an important role in the outbreak and subsequent development of the Cold War, Truman was more to blame and at fault than Stalin.
While there is no doubt that both Truman and Stalin, leaders of the US and USSR respectively, had an important role in the outbreak and subsequent development of the Cold War, it can be argued that Truman was more to blame and at fault than Stalin. Truman’s actions, such as the misinterpretation of Soviet intentions and changes in American foreign policy, would trigger an action-reaction sequence of events and the division of Europe into two opposing blocs which were fuelled by tensions between the rival powers, fundamental characteristics of the Cold War.
Firstly, the motivations and conditions of post-World War II USA, which were vastly different from that of the USSR, played a role in the changes in American foreign policies towards Europe. Right after World War II, USA’s economy was booming with the residue of the World War II, as the economy had grown significantly during the war. This was a complete opposite of the state of the USSR after the war, with the Soviet economy in bad shape and the country devastated. Expansionism was actually the last thing on Stalin’s mind, with his top concerns being the rebuilding of the Soviet Union and
Question:
Assess the view that Truman was more responsible than Stalin for the outbreak and development of the Cold War in the years 1945 – 1949.
Focus: Origins/Causes of the CW, 1945 - 1949
Assumption: Both were responsible, but who was more responsible? Was Truman really more responsible than Stalin?
Criteria : “responsible” – whose actions had greater impact? Whose actions more expansionistic? Which player had a strong position? Who was truly to blame?
Evidence:
Policies and motives of SPs in the immediate post-WWII context action-reaction sequence of events between superpowers
Thesis:
While there is no doubt that both Truman and Stalin, leaders of the US and USSR respectively, had an important role in the outbreak and subsequent development of the Cold War, Truman was more to blame and at fault than Stalin.
While there is no doubt that both Truman and Stalin, leaders of the US and USSR respectively, had an important role in the outbreak and subsequent development of the Cold War, it can be argued that Truman was more to blame and at fault than Stalin. Truman’s actions, such as the misinterpretation of Soviet intentions and changes in American foreign policy, would trigger an action-reaction sequence of events and the division of Europe into two opposing blocs which were fuelled by tensions between the rival powers, fundamental characteristics of the Cold War.
Firstly, the motivations and conditions of post-World War II USA, which were vastly different from that of the USSR, played a role in the changes in American foreign policies towards Europe. Right after World War II, USA’s economy was booming with the residue of the World War II, as the economy had grown significantly during the war. This was a complete opposite of the state of the USSR after the war, with the Soviet economy in bad shape and the country devastated. Expansionism was actually the last thing on Stalin’s mind, with his top concerns being the rebuilding of the Soviet Union and