Cold War

The Cold War

The cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union has been a of debate among historians and scholars for less than half a century . The conflict between the two nations officially began between 1945-1947 after the Germans surrendered from the World War II , but ideological differences could be traced even before the war started More than possessing contradictory ideologies , the hostility between these two warring superpowers may be caused by their motive to gain power over other nations . In account , the two countries held opposing governments

- the U .S . stood behind democracy while the Soviets adhered to communism

During their post-war conferences , the U .S , in opposition with the Soviet , encouraged freedom of speech and free elections . In its form of government , political parties exist , and they enjoy the right to form assembly , and freedom of the press . Needless to say , Soviet maintains a communist government , and prohibits the formation of political parties In addition , the U .S . welcomes free trade while Soviet guards its people from Western influences especially those which do not adhere to the ideologies of its government . Moreover , the Soviet government wards off international commerce in general

With fully contradictory ideologies , the two superpowers developed the cold war , with the U .S . being led by the former President Truman , and Soviet Union by its dictator , Josef Stalin . Particularly , historians note that the conflict between the two superpowers intensified with the declarations of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan in 1947 by the U .S

On March 12 , 1947 , Pres . Truman pronounced the Truman Doctrine which states America 's support to every nation resisting attempts of subjugation by armed minorities as well as outside forces . Perceived as an anti-communist doctrine , this declaration was followed by enormous military and economic aid to Greece and Turkey by the Truman government .The Marshall Plan of 1947 was authored by the former U .S . Secretary of State , George Marshall . In his speech at the Harvard University , the professor expressed that the U .S . should provide the needed assistance to regain normal economic health , political stability , and peace in the world . From there , the European nations were invited to submit their plans for economic reformation to receive assistance from the U .S . In stating their economic plans , the assisted nations also submitted their economic records - an act viewed by the Soviet as a way of the U .S . to interfere with one nation 's internal affairs In addition , the Soviet viewed the assistance programs of U .S . as an effort to make the assisted countries anti-communists . In line with this threat , the Soviet Union tried to counter the Marshall Plan with the Molotov Plan which aimed to provide assistance to Soviet colonies in Eastern Europe so as to forbid them from asking assistance from U .S government . For the Soviet , the American government only used its assistance programs to overthrow communist forces and further strengthen its own national security and economic stability by gaining sympathy...