Suranya Govender Cold War Essay Drafts
COLD WAR THEME 1: was Cold War rooted in mutual suspicion, mistrust and
misinterpretation of intentions?
Essay topics related to the theme
1. To what extent was the Cold War rooted in mutual suspicion, mistrust and
misinterpretation of intentions?
a. The Cold War was rooted in mutual suspicion, mistrust and
misinterpretation of intentions to a large extent
2. The Cold War was rooted in mutual mistrust, misreading of intentions, non co-
operation, obstruction and opposing interests of the Soviet and the Western
blocs. Discuss the validity of this statement
a. This statement is valid to a large extent.
,Suranya Govender Cold War Essay Drafts
COLD WAR THEME 1: was Cold War rooted in mutual suspicion,mistrust and
misinterpretation of intentions (essay points)
Main Point: Cold War was rooted in mutual suspicion, mistrust and misinterpretation of
intentions to a large extent
Evidence:
Soviet Union’s mistrust of the West
o West helped white armies in Russian Civil War (because the Bolshevik
Revolution made the west anxious, they didn’t want a ‘worker’s revolution’ in their
countries), communists lost trust for West
o Russia’s exclusion from League of Nations (until 1934)
o West’s failure to reveal and pass on nuclear bomb secrets (suspicion)
o Western delay in opening up a second front
o Truman Doctrine: USA abandons policy of isolationism and participated in affairs
of Post-war Europe
o Truman Doctrine indicated how America’s policy towards Russia was
becoming more aggressive
o It was a policy of containment of Russia and Communism
o Marshall Plan: Stalin called this propaganda and “dollar diplomacy”
o Formation of NATO
The West’s mistrust of the Soviet Union
o 1917: Russia became communist and withdrew from WWI, communism
became a direct threat to the existence of capitalism
o Stalin’s policies and actions (purges) antagonized the democratic West
o Churchill was distrustful of Stalin and urged the Allies to capture Berlin before
the Russians got there
o Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact and Russian invasion of Poland
indicated that Russia was imperialistic and aggressive
o Stalin’s takeover of Eastern Europe and the creation of satellite states
o Yalta: Stalin ignored Yalta Agreement. Keeps troops in occupied
territories and rigs elections. (Satellite states were a defensive move or
buffer zone according to Stalin , thus the West misinterprets intentions
of USSR)
o At Potsdam, he is the last of the Big Three, therefore Truman and
Atlee avoided confrontation as they resented Russia’s territorial gains
o Iron Curtain Speech: Churchill addresses USA audience, warning that Soviets
are aggressive and need to be stopped.
o Khrushchev’s secret installation of Soviet Missile bases in Cuba to aid Castro,
a communist leader that the American government were trying to overthrow.
, Suranya Govender Cold War Essay Drafts
o Cominform
o USSR’s misinterpretation of the West’s intentions: The West blamed
Stalin for annexing states after WWII and therefore this forced USA to adopt
‘policy of containment’
o The West’s misinterpretation of USSR’s intentions: Stalin’s policy was a
defence against the growing aggression and expansionism of USA (‘Dollar
Diplomacy’, Marshall plan)
Counter-argument
To a lesser extent, the Cold War was rooted in differing ideologies (democracy
and capitalism vs totalitarianism and communism) and the competition between
the Superpowers for ‘spheres of influence’
COLD WAR THEME 1: was Cold War rooted in mutual suspicion, mistrust and
misinterpretation of intentions?
Essay topics related to the theme
1. To what extent was the Cold War rooted in mutual suspicion, mistrust and
misinterpretation of intentions?
a. The Cold War was rooted in mutual suspicion, mistrust and
misinterpretation of intentions to a large extent
2. The Cold War was rooted in mutual mistrust, misreading of intentions, non co-
operation, obstruction and opposing interests of the Soviet and the Western
blocs. Discuss the validity of this statement
a. This statement is valid to a large extent.
,Suranya Govender Cold War Essay Drafts
COLD WAR THEME 1: was Cold War rooted in mutual suspicion,mistrust and
misinterpretation of intentions (essay points)
Main Point: Cold War was rooted in mutual suspicion, mistrust and misinterpretation of
intentions to a large extent
Evidence:
Soviet Union’s mistrust of the West
o West helped white armies in Russian Civil War (because the Bolshevik
Revolution made the west anxious, they didn’t want a ‘worker’s revolution’ in their
countries), communists lost trust for West
o Russia’s exclusion from League of Nations (until 1934)
o West’s failure to reveal and pass on nuclear bomb secrets (suspicion)
o Western delay in opening up a second front
o Truman Doctrine: USA abandons policy of isolationism and participated in affairs
of Post-war Europe
o Truman Doctrine indicated how America’s policy towards Russia was
becoming more aggressive
o It was a policy of containment of Russia and Communism
o Marshall Plan: Stalin called this propaganda and “dollar diplomacy”
o Formation of NATO
The West’s mistrust of the Soviet Union
o 1917: Russia became communist and withdrew from WWI, communism
became a direct threat to the existence of capitalism
o Stalin’s policies and actions (purges) antagonized the democratic West
o Churchill was distrustful of Stalin and urged the Allies to capture Berlin before
the Russians got there
o Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact and Russian invasion of Poland
indicated that Russia was imperialistic and aggressive
o Stalin’s takeover of Eastern Europe and the creation of satellite states
o Yalta: Stalin ignored Yalta Agreement. Keeps troops in occupied
territories and rigs elections. (Satellite states were a defensive move or
buffer zone according to Stalin , thus the West misinterprets intentions
of USSR)
o At Potsdam, he is the last of the Big Three, therefore Truman and
Atlee avoided confrontation as they resented Russia’s territorial gains
o Iron Curtain Speech: Churchill addresses USA audience, warning that Soviets
are aggressive and need to be stopped.
o Khrushchev’s secret installation of Soviet Missile bases in Cuba to aid Castro,
a communist leader that the American government were trying to overthrow.
, Suranya Govender Cold War Essay Drafts
o Cominform
o USSR’s misinterpretation of the West’s intentions: The West blamed
Stalin for annexing states after WWII and therefore this forced USA to adopt
‘policy of containment’
o The West’s misinterpretation of USSR’s intentions: Stalin’s policy was a
defence against the growing aggression and expansionism of USA (‘Dollar
Diplomacy’, Marshall plan)
Counter-argument
To a lesser extent, the Cold War was rooted in differing ideologies (democracy
and capitalism vs totalitarianism and communism) and the competition between
the Superpowers for ‘spheres of influence’
