'America was responsible for the start of the Cold War'. Discuss (10)

Introduction: State that there were actions taken by the US that meant it responsible, but not wholly - Stalin/Russia was also to blame for acting provocatively, and furthering the tension between countries. Also, may have been inevitable because of the fundamental difference in ideology - capitalism vs communism, with both countries trying to export their ideology to other countries.Body of the essay: Explore factors that agree with the statement 'Truman Doctrine' e.g. the use of the Marshall Plan to export capitalism; testing the atomic bomb in Japan without telling Stalin, summer 1941; Truman's personal dislike of Stalin in the conferencesAssess factors that disagree with the statement Russia is more to blame: expansionist Communism in eastern European countries, and giving economic aid to countries to become Communist (Comecon); Russia's actions leading up to 1947 Berlin Blockade where Stalin blocked the Allies' access of supplies in Berlin = provocative.Neither - ideological conflict: capitalism vs communism, with both countries wanting to export their models. Also, disagreements about how to split up Germany after the end of WWII.Conclusion: Decide which of USA and Russia had the largest impact, but state that the reality is more complex than it being one country that deserves all the blame. Mention how this is still debated, and that a lot of the disagreement came from the inability for the two countries to meet in the middle, because of contrast in ideologies.