Interpretations Of The Cold War Flashcards
When was the US Orthodox View?
Late 1940’s - early 1960’s
What were the main features of the US Orthodox View?
- USSR and Stalin to blame
- View of the US
- Cold war caused by aggressive expansion by Soviet leaders who wanted to spread communism
What is the context of the US Orthodox View?
- The Red Scare; A huge fear of communist infiltration into the US government. Public trials held for suspected communists.
- Lack of sources
- Many historians had been involved in the Cold War; they were biased as were not going to blame themselves.
What are some examples of historians who agreed with the US Orthodox View?
- Thomas Bailey
- George Kennan
- Herbert Feis
When was the US Revisionist View?
Mid 1960’s - mid 1970’s
What were the main features of the US Revisionist View?
- USA to blame
- Orthodox historians has overstayed the Soviet threat
- USA provoked the Cold War by trying to achieve economic dominance in Europe and Asia
- Truman’s ‘get tough’ attitude made Stalin feel threatened
What is the context of the US Revisionist View?
- Cuban Revolution; Soviets believed the US wet enjoy involved to keep their power -> USA didn’t need to get involved
- Vietnam War; caused many deaths and injuries meaning many lost trust in the USA
What are some examples of historians who agreed with the US Revisionist View?
- Joyce and Gabriel Kolko
- William Appleman
- Thomas G Paterson
When was the Post Revisionist View?
1970’s - 1989
What were the main features of the Post Revisionist View?
- They just couldn’t understand each other
- Both USA and USSR to blame
- USSR beliefs and actions to blame
- USA overreacted
- Result of fear, confusion and misunderstanding on both sides
What was the context of the Post Revisionist View?
- Historical debate; intense debate as historians find new ways of interpreting history
- Thawing is the Cold War; better relations between the USA, USSR and communist China (Berlin wall comes down) which influenced historians to look at misunderstanding rather than blame
What are some examples of historians who agreed with the Post Revisionist View?
•John Lewis Gaddis
When was the New Historians View?
1989 onwards
What were the main features of the New Historians View?
- End of the Cold War = more sources from soviet archives. This strengthened existing divisions between interpretations
- Decision was not made as to who was to blame
- We still don’t know
What was the context of the New Historians View?
- End of the Cold War
- =New soviet sources just released
- The Reagan Factor; some historians tried to blame him for being too aggressive on the USSR. Others agreed with his policies. Both found evidence to support their ideas.
