What started the cold war?
You probably already know that the Cold War was complicated. One of the problems is that historians cannot all agree why it started. There are even arguments about when it started! Most historians say the Cold War began soon after the end of World War 2 in 1945. However, relations between the USSR and Britain and the USA were often strained before that date. This Gallery and the next one look at this issue. We have 3 case studies of incidents in this period which will help you to develop your own views on the Big Question. Look at the Big Question section to see exact details of what you have to do. When you are clear in your own mind, click on the case studies to begin your investigation In 1917 Russia was suffering from the effects of the First World War. Its ruler, Tsar Nicholas II, was overthrown in a revolution in March 1917. This did not really solve Russia’s problems. A Provisional Government ran the country until a new government could be set up. Not all Russians supported the
Cold War The Cold War began after World War Two. The main enemies were the United States and the Soviet Union. The Cold war got its name because both sides were afraid of fighting each other directly. In such a “hot war,” nuclear weapons might destroy everything. So, instead, they fought each other indirectly. They played havoc with conflicts in different parts of the world. They also used words as weapons. They threatened and denounced each other. Or they tried to make each other look foolish. Over the years, leaders on both sides changed. Yet the Cold War continued. It was the major force in world politics for most of the second half of the twentieth century. Historians disagree about how long the Cold War lasted. A few believe it ended when the United States and the Soviet Union improved relations during the nineteen-sixties and early nineteen-seventies. Others believe it ended when the Berlin Wall was torn down in 1989, or when the Soviet Union collapsed in late 1991. The United St
