1) The Origins

The origins and starting date of the Cold War are not clear cut, but the general agreed starting date is 1947. This is because this is the year the Truman Doctrine was introduced, and the Marshall Plan and Cominform (Communist Information Bureau). It's origins can actually be traced back to 1917 when the Bolshevik Revolution took place in Russia, and soon there was a collision course established that led to the beginning of the Cold War.

There was a rivalry between Marxism in both its Leninist and Stalinist variants, and Liberalism both in its American and European variants. There were also problems with British imperialism, the legacy of the Second World War which seemed to have created a power vacuum the 2 main superpowers were fighting to fill, and there were many different national interests.

Stalin, Roosevelt/Truman, and Churchill/Attlee were the main players in the development of the Cold War.

The American-Soviet relationship became strained as the Soviets seemed to be trying for world domination whereas the US wanted to spread capitalism and democracy across Europe. Their ideologies were thus completely opposed. Both the Soviets and the Americans believed their ideologies were the best; they believed their respective ideologies were bringing modernity to the world; they also believed their respective ideologies would help progress the world; and both believed history to be on their side and so they would be the successful party.

Following the First World War, the Soviets believed that the Bolshevik Revolution was to be followed by a world revolution. But, the Americans were perceiving the Soviet Union to be a threat to liberty. But, in 1933, there were economic and geopolitical concerns due to Hitler's rise to power that led to a US-Soviet diplomatic recognition. The rising power of Japan also seemed to be a potential threat to both superpowers. The German attack on the Soviet Union in 1941, and the Japanese attack on the United States in 1941 brought both superpowers together. The Grand Alliance was thus created.

There were still underlying tensions between the US, the UK and the Soviet Union, but the alliance was one of convenience and necessity. Stalin's overriding goal was to safeguard the Soviet homeland and he exploited western fears of a separate German-Soviet peace. The Allies recognised the territorial gains made in the 1939 Nazi-Soviet pact, and agreed that the post-war governments of Central and Eastern Europe should be pro-Soviet. But, it seems the Russians were being allowed to bleed to weaken Germany, and only then would the Western powers intervene.

Roosevelt was dismissive of the future role of the British as he didn't like British imperialism (he couldn't infiltrate imperialist markets). So, he focused on Soviet-American cooperation for post-war peace and stability. Churchill also failed to convince Roosevelt to reach an agreement with Stalin to limit Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. They attempted to agree on spheres of influence, as can be seen with the 'percentages agreement'. But, despite the underlying tensions that were increasing towards the end of the war, the big three still believed it was in their best interests to cooperate.

Despite their empire, Britain was basically bankrupt following the Second World War, and so they were wanting materials from Germany. The US were only interested in the moral victory and didn't want to become more intertwined with European affairs. But, the Soviets desperately needed reparations. The Soviets also needed to cooperate with America as they needed their food and aid. So, Russia was in a very difficult position. The US were still militarily, politically and economically strong; Britain was militarily overextended and were an economically weak imperial power; and the Soviet Union were shattered, but were economically resilient and had an overwhelming conventional military force right in the heart of Europe. The post-war visions and perceived needs needed to be reconciled.

• Stalin's post-war goals were to ensure security for himself, his regime, his country and his ideology. He believed hat disproportionate wartime losses should lead to enormous post-war gains. But, Soviet weakness made cooperation inevitable.
• Roosevelt aimed to remove the potential for future wars by a collective security organisation, the United Nations, and a depression-proof global economic system.
• Churchill, and later Atlee, wanted to retain Britain's influence and great power rank.

The Yalta Conference (4th-11th February 1945) was held before the war was officially ended, and so Roosevelt was still willing to cooperate with Stalin as Russia's help was still needed in the defeat of Japan. The conference left Stalin believing he had a free hand in Eastern Europe and Poland. He was thinking in spheres of influence, and therefore recognised the US's and Britain's predominance in the territories they had liberated.

But, following Roosevelt's sudden death, his vice president, Truman, took over. He was wary of Stalin and the expanding Soviet influence, and thus protested to Moscow over the Soviet violations of the Yalta agreements on Poland. But, he also believed in American power and righteousness believing he'd still be able to strike a deal with Stalin. So, he didn't heed Churchill's advice to forestall further Soviet advances into Central Europe by installing troops there.

The Potsdam Conference was held on the 17th July-2nd August 1945. This largely confirmed previous agreements and postponed the Germany question. It temporarily concealed the growing East-West divergence too. But, the incoming labour Prime Minister Attlee and his Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin shared the suspicions held towards Soviet policy. Truman soon lost his optimism too.

Between 1945 and 1946, foreign ministers were needed to start post-war preparations, but there were mounting disagreements and tensions. Tensions over the Soviet treatment of non-communist parties in Eastern Europe were increasing, and Truman was still hoping to reach an agreement. Stalin was testing Western positions but receded when he met resistance. During the Moscow Conference of December 1945, there were mutual, yet cosmetic, concessions. But, the US public mood began turning against the Soviet Union as they were no longer being shown pro-Soviet propaganda like during the war. They were now being confronted with the initial anti-communist views the US had always held.

1946 seems to have been the transition year of hardening relations. But neither side wanted or were ready for another war. The US were wary of the Red Army's (overestimated) strength in Central Europe, and their main preoccupation was with the strength of the communist parties in Western Europe. Churchill gave his Iron Curtain speech on the 5th March 1946, but the Americans still gave it a mixed reception and this created tensions in the Anglo-American relations.

Stalin believed that the Capitalist powers would start fighting amongst themselves, but the Anglo-American cooperation was soon promoted through their increasingly common threat perception. The growing threat of the Soviet Union brought them together. Together they helped in the rehabilitation of German industries as a prerequisite for the economic recovery of Western Europe. They had a common economic policy towards Germany, and combined with Britain's financial problems, the US and British zones were merged on the 1st January 1947. Then there came an increasing political division of Germany due to the revivial of political parties at the local level in respective zones.

There was also a US and British rejection of Stalin's claims to Turkish territory, and Turkish and Mediterranean naval bases. The US and Britain wanted access to water space. There was also an Anglo-American opposition to the continued Soviet occupation of Northern Iran. The US deployed naval forces to the Mediterranean, and so it seemed Stalin had reached the limit of what he could extract from his wartime allies. There was soon an emergence of the basis of the US Cold War strategy that revolved around containment. The US were constantly increasing their military threat every time the Soviet Union seemed to make advancements.

1947 was the turning point. It marked the end of US hesitation and marked the beginning of Washington's containment policy towards the USSR. Hopes for negotiations were abandoned, and domestic pressure led to the Truman Doctrine.

On the 1st February 1947, Britain announced its withdrawal of support to the Greek government against communist insurgents, and the Turkish armed forces' permanent mobilisation that had been in place since 1945 to protect the Straits from the Soviets. This was financially motivated and came as a shock to Washington, but was soon seen as an opportunity. The US could now extend its protection to Greece and Turkey, and thus Truman decided to take over from the British. He first had to win over Congress, which led to the Truman speech of the 12th May 1947. He warned of the danger of the spread of communism, and generally implied a worldwide communist conspiracy. Greece was becoming communist which could be a stepping stone to the rest of the Mediterranean. He believed a kind of crusade was required to stop the spread of communism. Following the speech, the Marshall Plan was developed. It aimed to provide Europe with the money to recover which would stop it falling to communism.

The Marshall Plan was a broadening of US containment. War savaged Europe was in a state of economic and social distress making it a fertile ground for communism which would have negatively affected the US economy. The Marshall Speech of the 5th June 1947 called for a determined US effort to support the economic revival of Europe. This would stem the tide of communist advancement and ensure the continued prosperity of the American economy.

The plan wasn't framed in Cold War terms, and the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and Central Europe were all also invited to participate. Stalin showed initial interest, but eventually refused. The future Soviet satellite states were also not allowed to participate. Stalin tightened his grip following this, which led to the beginnings of Stalinisation. By the second half of 1947, the division of Europe into a Soviet-dominated East and an American-led West seemed to be confirmed. The Eastern Bloc and the Western Bloc had been created.