The Arms Race Was The Main Reasons For The Cold War Essay

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'The Arms Race was the main reason for the development of the Cold War from 1945-1972'. How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer using your subject knowledge. (16marks) I don't believe that the arms race was the main reason for the development of the Cold War from 1945-1972. Although it clearly illustrated the intense rivalry between the USA and the USSR, it was simply one of many factors contributing to the war between communism and capitalism. When the USA ended World War Two by dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, they demonstrated their intention to become the single world superpower, which was perceived as a direct threat to the USSR and communism. This prompted the arms race, which quickly reached a stalemate as the USA developing a bomb inevitably resulted in the USSR developing a similar weapon within the following few years. Their nuclear stockpiles continued to grow, and receive a large portion of the military budget, but…show more content…
Though the arms race was important, it was merely the result of this conflict, which was far more crucial in the development of the Cold War. The Truman Doctrine, announced in March 1947, detailed the USA's determination to stop the spread of communism and portrayed it as an enemy to the American way of life. The Soviet Union responded with Cominform, which brought unity to the communist countries in Eastern Europe and brought their governments closer to Moscow. These two opposing ideologies remained the overarching issue throughout the war, resulting in Marshall Aid, Comecon, and more. Though the arms race remained at the forefront of the Cold War, it was just part of a larger influence, and in my opinion, it had no more impact than space race and the proxy wars occurring in
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