Some argue that ideological views and nationalist interests were the key factor however some dispute that the personal differences between the two leaders got to a point of no reconciliation. To make direct comparisons one must evaluate the situation before Khrushchev came into power. Mao had gained Communist control of China and turned to Russia for guidance which was led by the psychotic Stalin, so Stalin and Mao formed an alliance which was made official with the Sino-Soviet treaty which benefited the Chinese as they gained 300million (currency) from the treaty to build their country in the image of Russia. In return China was expected to aid Russia with military which was visible in the Korean War; however relations between Russia and China hit a minor stumbling block when Russia sent China an invoice for military aid provided for the Korean War which made Mao uneasy of the relationship to a degree. When Stalin died in 1953 Mao became disillusioned with the new leader Khrushchev within a few years due to the secret speech distancing Russia from Stalin and pursuing two anti-Stalin policies in destalinization and peace co-existence.
Another significant reason why the US intervened in South East Asia was the power vacuum after Dien Bien Phu. The French were defeated and withdrew from Vietnam, and the US were worried that China, or even perhaps the Soviets would begin to take control. Then Ho Chi Minh emerged as a potential leader; Ho had spent time in Moscow and the US viewed him as a communist rather than a nationalist, which meant they feared him being in power and therefore, they had to get involved in South East Asia. Alternatively, the US may have intervened in South East Asia because of the lack of faith in the Geneva accords.
However, you shouldn't make the assumption that devotion to ideology was all that was behind Cold War animosity; countries tend to be more complaint trading partners with countries that share their political systems and both Stalin and the Cold War Era presidents in the US knew this. The tension eventually built, but no one wanted to go to actual war again after the colossal massacre of WWII, hence the term Cold War. 2. Describe and explain the ideological differences between the United Stated and the Soviet Union. In 1917, Russia became a communist country with an agenda of converting the world to communism.
Kennan says that the Russian people are ruled by a tyrant and these ideas are not their views but the viewpoint the Communist Party. In other words, there can be a peaceful coexistence between Communist and a capitalist country if the country such as United States would consider a foreign policy that stressed coexistence, rather than aggression, once circumstances improved. In his essay Kennan suggested that the United States must contain the Soviet Union in order to prevent Socialism from expanding beyond it current borders. Containment Containment is described as the “basic idea of resisting the expansion of Soviet power by exercising the political, diplomatic, economic, moral, and military power of the US and its allies.” It is a post-war concept of George F. Kennan on how the United
Why Did LBJ Continue U.S. Involvement in South Vietnam? Cold War Considerations: China & South East Asia The rise of China as a superpower had made the world appear an even more threatening place to the USA in terms of the spread of communism. After the Americans had fought the Chinese in Korea and South East Asia seemed to offer ample opportunities for the spread of Communism in what was known as “The Domino Effect”. When Vietnam appeared to be on the verge of collapse. Laos was threatened by Communist insurgents and Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia had renounced aid from the US and demanded neutrality in any further conflicts.
Soon after, various evaluations of the war dictated that USA and the “western” supporters (i.e. Capitalist governments) were to blame. As far as Modern World History states, I am led to believe that both sides were “belligerents” of equal contribution to the war’s happening. Russia (USSR) and its Communist Allies have been frequently discarded with the blame of the Cold War’s development but is this harsh judgment really a correct interpretation of the events? Because of allegations leading up to the 1960s, the ordinary western resident would most probably blame the USSR for the war’s happening (obviously the element on pride and patriotism are to be taken into account) but to the more historically taught persons, further elements can be taken into account.
To help counter that threat Truman started secretly sending money as well as supplies to help back the French forces against Ho Chi Minh's forces (Schomp The Vietnam War 5). This led Ho to seek help from China and the Soviet Union, which made Ho favorable towards communism (Schomp The Vietnam War 5). Although the United States was not directly involved in the war until 1955, they did still indirectly play a role in the move against Ho Chi Minh's forces. In an attempt to regain control, France left the French educated, strongly anti-communist Bao Dai in control of the region ("Vietnam War"). This enraged Ho Chi Minh, and his forces immediately rose up seizing the northern city of Hanoi, creating the Democratic Republic of Vietnam ("Vietnam War").
Khrushchev shocked the world by delivering his famous speech in 1956 in which he brought down the “cult of the personality” of Stalin. The First Secretary revealed a hidden letter written by Lenin containing criticism against Stalin. Khrushchev denounced the Father of Communism by talking of his violent rules and practices and especially the purges that Stalin used to get rid of his political enemies("Khrushchev's "Secret Speech,"). According to the speech Stalin had established “dictatorship and terror,” and Khrushchev accused him of “violations of the Socialist legality.” The effects of the de-Stalinization showed that the people from the Soviet Camp were not ready
Primary Causes Of The Cold War The conflict between the US and the formerly known USSR occurred because of several political conflicts. Both the US and the U.S.S.R. felt that their ideology was better and because of World War 2, pre-existing strife had built up. The major ideological difference was that the U.S.S.R. was supporting communism, whilst the US was supporting capitalism. With the actions of the soviet union, helping to liberate the defeated countries, it was understood that the liberators may stay and help them install their form of government and leave. Fear of the other country laying influence of their ideology, as a means to gain power, tensions rose.
For instance, when Mother Russia overthrew its tsar, made a revolution, became the Soviet Union, unified itself under Lenin and created an ideological structure called communism, the United States could only react with fear and trepidation. The government could not accept the simple fact that a country could exist with economic and political principles so critically opposed to democracy and industrial capitalism. The first factor is that during World War Two, the USA and the western powers had worked together with the Soviet Union to defeat Nazi Germany and its allies. However, the alliance was based solely on the fact that they had a common enemy- Germany. Once that enemy was near defeat, disagreements began to emerge.