Was The Cold War Inevitable

HIS 1111
Prof. Thomas Boogaart
October 8, 2014
Throughout the 20th century, humanity has witnessed monumental historical events. From the great depression, to the devastation of two world wars, to the Holocaust, all the way to the creation of a superweapon. However, The Cold War was a different and unique concept on its own. So unique, that humanity has entered a new chapter never discovered before. Throughout history, there was always conflict, but never before has a conflict of this magnitude and potential mutual destruction ever been observed before. “Human history is highly nonlinear and unpredictable” (Michael Shermer). Mr. Shermer’s quote is highly relevant in the Cold War, because at its height, both the United States and the
However, there was also miscommunication and empty promises made during the war, such as when President Roosevelt convinced the Soviets that Germany would be fighting on the French front in 1942. Germany did not fight a two-front war until D-Day in 1944, two years after what was promised, at which point the Soviets had fought in the Battle of Stalingrad and Siege of Leningrad, in which both battles resulted in at least five million casualties on the Soviet side alone. Interestingly, there wasn’t as much tension during the war than after, since the Allies had one common ennemy and goal. In any case, those empty promises were not forgotten by Stalin, but instead were the seeds sown to the hardships lying ahead. “Stalin did not like or trust either man... thus he artfully planned to use the Tehran meeting to divide Roosevelt and Churchill and to solidify gains for the Soviets.”1 Stalin was many things, paranoid was among them. He refused to trust either Churchill or Roosevelt, and cared only to further his own interests, as it was seen in the Tehran conference. An example of his selfish behaviour can be noted when Stalin demanded enormous reparations from Germany, despite Roosevelt’s best attempts to dissuade him. Josef Stalin was hot-headed and wanted everything he asked for. His lack of diplomacy and lack of
Each had their own unique system, societal norms, advantages and disatvantages. And each ideology tried to limit the influence of the other ideology throughout the world. For example, the Soviet govenement installed the Iron Curtain, which halted any advances that the West may have made to increase its Capitalist influence, as well as stop any unwanted people from snooping around. After World War II, communism began gaining power and fame throughout Europe, despite the worries of Americans: “Communist parties in Western Europe had so much popular support that in France and Italy it seemed possible that they might come to power by democratic means.”2 The rising popularity of left-winged governements, and the thought of most Europe controlled by communism was deemed unacceptable by America, which then launched the Marshall Plan: A $13 billion investement in European countries to help rebuild and restart its economy. The Marshall Plan was America’s way to increase its capitalist sphere of influence, while diminishing communism. Tensions quickly escalated as each ideology wanted to be the superior superpower and have as much influence as possible. This led to wars being fought in disputed regions, such as Vietnam, the Korean Peninsula, Afghanistan... Mistrust between leaders led to increased tensions, which forced them to increase their influence as much as