Cold War - Revisionist historians
- Created by: Kieranpeel
- Created on: 20-08-19 14:39
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- Cold War Revisionist Historians
- Revisionists give greater responsibility for the Cold War on the United States.
- US policy after WWll was neither passive nor benign.
- It was driven more by economic consideration and national self-interest rather than principles of democracy and self-determination
- US policy after WWll was neither passive nor benign.
- The Americans were determined to contain Soviet communism in Europe for selfish reasons.
- They wanted capitalist nations in Europe who are open to trade deals and American export
- Policies such as lend-lease, post-war loans and the Marshall Plan all worked towards this objective
- They wanted capitalist nations in Europe who are open to trade deals and American export
- Revisionists such as Gar Alperovitz point to America's "atomic diplomacy" in 1945 as Truman flexing America's diplomatic muscle when negotiating with Stalin.
- He thought Truman using nuclear weapons against Japan was not for military reasons.
- The Soviet Union felt threatened by America's policies and diplomatic approaches of the mid to lat 1940s.
- This contributed to the collapse of their alliance and lost the opportunity of post-war conciliation
- The first significant Revisionist work was William Appleman Williams 'The Tragedy of American Diplomacy' 1959
- He concluded that since the 1890s, the overriding function of US foreign policy has been to secure foreign markets for American goods and services
- He called this an 'open door policy' it seeks to open up nations to American capitalists by removing tariffs and other trade barriers
- He shattered two popular illusions, first that the US was an isolationist, anti-imperialist neutral power. And second that US foreign policy during the cold war was reactive, peace-seeking and not agenda-driven
- He called this an 'open door policy' it seeks to open up nations to American capitalists by removing tariffs and other trade barriers
- He concluded that since the 1890s, the overriding function of US foreign policy has been to secure foreign markets for American goods and services
- These perspectives gained traction and popularity in the United states during the 1960s
- This was a period when failures of the Vietnam led to many to question American foreign policy
- Other Revisionists include Denna Fleming, Christopher Lasch, Walter LaFeber and Lloyd Gardner
- These historians were referred to the 'new left' in the 1960s and 70s
- Other Revisionists include Denna Fleming, Christopher Lasch, Walter LaFeber and Lloyd Gardner
- This was a period when failures of the Vietnam led to many to question American foreign policy
- Revisionists give greater responsibility for the Cold War on the United States.
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