Causes of the cold war 1945 - 1953

Orgins of the Truman Doctrine and Marshall plan

PROBLEM? Britain was rapidly running out of money and had used up all their loans. There was a civil war raging in Greece with the communists fighting for country of the country; Britain were helping fight agaisnt them but were forced to pull out due to lack of money. American beleived that communism was spreading and were fearful of it spreading to their own country.

HOW TO SOLVE IT? Truman beleived that poor countries were more vunerable to be attacked by the communists. His plan was to provide more money to these countries so the likelyhood of them being attacked and communism spreading was less.

WHY DID IT LEAD TO THE COLD WAR? Soviets saw it as nothing else but an attack on communism. Allowed Stalin to control countries yet more by making them refuse the plan. It polarised europe to a higher extent and entrenched the division.

WHAT? North Alantic Treaty Organisation. A military alliance between USA and most Western countries to prevent a attack from communism.

WHY? The treaty was signed after the Prague Coup and the Berlin Blockade  because they were signs that there was no alternative but to defend Western Europe. 

WHY DID THE CREATION OF NATO LEAD TO A OUTBREAK IN THE COLD WAR?

• Made Stalin even more paranoid that the West were plotting against him.
• Polarising Europe yet more.