Was the Cold War inevitable? Were there other avenues that the leaders of the U.S and Soviet Union could have pursued to avoid an ever-escalating conflict? If the cold war was inevitable, who bears the largest burden of blame and why?
The post WW2 world was largely defined by the political, economic, and military rivalry that emerged between one-time allies, the United States and the Soviet Union. This conflict, commonly referred to as the “Cold War” resulted not only in major changes in the United States global relationships, but also exerted a profound influence on U.S domestic policy and politics. One of the most intriguing and oft debated questions among historians is whether or not this conflict was inevitable or was brought on by decisions made by political and military leaders on either side of the so-called “Iron Curtain”.[unique_solution] For this assignment, in a short, 3 to 4 page essay (double spaced, 12-point font, Times New Roman) I would like you to attempt to answer the question of whether or not the Cold War was inevitable. When answering this question, you should also consider the role of atomic weapons and whether or not their use at the end of WW2 played a role in the growing tensions between the U.S and the Soviet Union. Were there other avenues that the leaders of the U.S and Soviet Union could have pursued to avoid an ever escalating conflict? If the cold war was inevitable, who bears the largest burden of blame and why?
