Unit Outline
At its heart, the Cold War could be considered a conflict of ideas between two rival social, political and economic systems. As an ideology calling explicitly for revolution of the capitalist system, it's easy to see how conflict could emerge. But despite this, both the US and USSR ended up being allies against the fascist powers during the Second World War. How ideology brought these strange allies together, and how it would conspire to tear them apart, explains much about the causes of the Cold War.
Yet some have argued that despite ideological challenges, the Cold War was by no means inevitable. At the close of the Second World War, both superpowers were confronted with a power vacuum in both Europe and Asia. The Axis powers had been defeated and the colonial empires of Britain, France and the Netherlands looked on their last legs. The way in which decisions were taken over how to deal with this situation would also play a part in the worsening relationship between the superpowers. To what extent ideology helped to define common interests and relationships, as well as perceptions of security and threat would shape the evolution of the Cold War.
The breakdown of the Grand Alliance thus provides an excellent case study in which to introduce students to the historical concept of causation and to examine the statement of inquiry for this unit which is:
Yet some have argued that despite ideological challenges, the Cold War was by no means inevitable. At the close of the Second World War, both superpowers were confronted with a power vacuum in both Europe and Asia. The Axis powers had been defeated and the colonial empires of Britain, France and the Netherlands looked on their last legs. The way in which decisions were taken over how to deal with this situation would also play a part in the worsening relationship between the superpowers. To what extent ideology helped to define common interests and relationships, as well as perceptions of security and threat would shape the evolution of the Cold War.
The breakdown of the Grand Alliance thus provides an excellent case study in which to introduce students to the historical concept of causation and to examine the statement of inquiry for this unit which is:
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STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Common ideologies and interests can help to form relationships, or if absent, cause them to break them apart
GLOBAL CONTEXT
Identities and Relationships (Competition and cooperation; teams, affiliation and leadership) - Students will explore identity; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities and cultures; what it means to be human.
KEY HISTORY CONCEPT
Causation - Effective historical thinkers recognize that many claims made about the past seek to more thoroughly explain and understand how a certain set of circumstances originated. Deep historical understanding is demonstrated where students recognize that most historical events are caused by an interplay of diverse and multiple causes that require students to make evidence-based judgments about which causes were more important or significant, or which causes were within the scope of individuals to direct and which were not.
RELATED HISTORY CONCEPT(S)
Ideology - An ideology is a system of ideas and ideals, which can form the basis of political or economic theories, policies and actions. Ideologies usually encompass systematic arrangements of premises and assertions that are used to interpret the world and make normative assertions about how it should be organized. Ideologies can evolve and change over time in order to meet the needs of a group of people or a society. Ideologies can be derived from the place and space in which a group of people or a society is located. Ideologies can evolve into political, economic or social systems and these systems can impact humans in a variety of ways. For example, through the definition of certain rights and responsibilities.
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1. What role did ideology play in the Cold War?
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Both the US and USSR ended up being allies against the fascist powers during the Second World War. How ideology brought these strange allies together, and how it would tear them apart explains much about the causes and nature of the Cold War.
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2. How did wartime disagreements affect the alliance?
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The wartime alliance between the Big Three powers was clearly a marriage of convenience. This can be seen clearly in the many arguments that emerged during the war between the powers. But were these disputes fatal, or could they be overcome?
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3. Did Soviet expansionism end the alliance?
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The legitimacy of Soviet post-war policies in Central and Eastern Europe are a key issue in studying the causes of the Cold War. Whether the USSR was justified in its expansion of power, or whether it was acting aggressively, helps us determine who was to blame for the war.
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4. Was US exceptionalism to blame?
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Soviet actions against nationalist and democratic forces in Eastern Europe were clearly repressive in the post war period. Yet some would argue that US policies, whilst not as violent, clearly intended similar outcomes in terms of the expansion of their power.
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5. Did events in Asia exacerbate tensions?
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Traditional narratives of the Cold War portray it primarily as a conflict between two Western superpowers. But that neglects the very real impact that events in Asia between 1945-49 had on shaping Cold War tensions, working to increase the scope and scale of the conflict.
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6. Were tensions over Germany the final straw?
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With Cold War tensions simmering to boiling point by 1947, events in Germany in 1948 would trigger the first major Cold War. The Berlin Blockade is a clear example of how Cold War tensions prevented cooperation, leading to the full division of Germany.
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7. Summary: Who was to blame for the Cold War?
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Our first unit finishes with an examination of the different historical perspectives and historiography that has evolved about the origins of the Cold War, giving students a chance to discuss and consider their own perspectives on why the grand alliance broke down by 1949.
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