Causes Of The Cold War Dbq

The end of World War II led to an era from 1945 to 1970 known as the Cold War. The Cold War was a conflict between the U.S.S.R. and the United States in response to communist expansion. Communism was viewed as threat to Western Society. The United States believed in the Domino Theory; the idea that if one nation was conquered by communists, neighboring nations were at risk, and therefore it was the United States’ obligation to prevent that from happening. Foreign policy of the 1950s in the United States was dominated by the containment of communism. The Cold War was not fought on the battlefield rather it was fought in political, social, and economic battles. After World War II the only world superpowers left were the United States and the …show more content…
The Truman Doctrine had the goal to aid Turkey, Greece, and other nations in their battle against communism (Doc C). The people of the United States were sceptical of the Truman Doctrine at first due to the fact that it meant the United States would be involved in European affairs and cost the United States $400 million. Along with the Truman Doctrine, U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall created the Marshall Plan. The goal of the Marshall Plan was to aid and rebuild European nations damaged during World War II in return for the purchase of American goods (Doc D). The Marshall Plan is viewed as one of the United States’ most successful programs ever. The Marshall Plan was successful in assisting unstable nations that were very susceptible to communist revolution regain stability. The United States was most successful in the containment of communism in Western Europe. Most of Western Europe was in ruins after World War II. Reconstruction, loss of life, instability, and a faulty economy made Western Europe a perfect breeding ground for a communist revolution. To the surprise of many, Western Europe was able to remain free and democratic with the help of the United States and NATO. NATO was formed in 1949 by the United States and 11 other Western Nations (Doc E). NATO had the goal of preventing communism from spreading further from the Communist Eastern bloc. The United States was highly successful in containing …show more content…
The United States financially supported the anti-communist nationalists led by Ngo Dinh Diem from 1954 to 1964. In 1965, the first United States troops arrived in south Vietnam. The Vietnam War was long and brutal. The United States ultimately lost the war. Communism spread from Vietnam to Laos and Cambodia. The United States experienced little to no success in Southeast Asia and that was not the end to the failures. The United States supported the Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista during the 1950s. In 1959, a revolution led by Fidel Castro took control of Cuba’s government. Castro implemented social reforms and improved the economy which satisfied the Cuban people. Castro also suspended elections, controlled press, jailed or executed opponents, and nationalized U.S. owned sugar mills and refineries. These acts of Castro prompted President Eisenhower to order an embargo on Cuba. Castro had to turn to the U.S.S.R. for economic and military aid. By 1960, all Cuban businesses were nationalized without compensation. The United States broke off ties with Cuba and Castro was seen as an enemy. 1961, a CIA trained group of Cuban exiles invaded Cuba in what is known as the Bay of Pigs. The invasion was a complete failure for the United States. The Bay of Pigs disaster made the United States look weak. Khrushchev, leader of the U.S.S.R., built missile sites in Cuba.