During the course of the Second World War the USA and USSR fought shoulder to shoulder against Fascist aggression. There was no death of understanding between the two. Yet towards the end of the Second World War both the Powers fell out.
Misunderstanding between the two Superpowers, as USA and USSR were called, gave rise to the Cold War. The Cold War signified a period of tension in the international politics during the post-war world. Several factors may be said to be responsible for the Cold War.
Firstly, many historians trace the origin of the Cold War in the emergence of the USSR as a socialist country. Secondly, there are other historians who did not consider the ideological difference between democracy, as represented by the USSR was very important in the making of the Cold War.
They are of the opinion that there was a competition between the two superpowers for gaining the support of the neutral countries. And it was this competition that gave rise to the Cold War. Thirdly, a significant stage in the Cold War was the announcement of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan by the USA. These two announcements aimed at the recovery of Europe from the disasters of the Second World War.
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But this became a cause of tension as the USSR did not allow its satellites to accept either of the two plans. Fourthly, the developments in Germany further aggravated the difference between the Soviet Union and the western countries.
Fifthly, the Cold War basically marked an atmosphere of tension. It excluded direct confrontation. But it must be remembered that shadow wars were fought between the two Superpowers centering round the tension that existed in the politics of different Third World countries. Wars in Korea and Vietnam are instances in point.
Sixthly, the Cold War was intensified due to formation of military alliances by the two Superpowers. While United States and most of the countries of Western Europe formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) the USSR consolidated its position by the formation of Warsaw Pact. Above are some of the important causes responsible for the Cold War.