3. The US Declarations of Cold War, 1946-47

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About this Lecture

Lecture

In this lecture, we explore how the US effectively declared Cold War on the Soviet Union from 1946 to 1947 by putting itself on a permanent wartime footing. In particular, we will focus on: (i) how the US decided that it needed to counter the Soviet threat in Europe; (ii) the Truman Doctrine and how this created the political foundations for America's Cold War; (iii) the Marshall Plan and how this created the economic foundations of America's Cold War; (iv) George Kennan's article in Foreign Affairs called 'The Sources of Soviet Conduct' and how this created the geo-strategic foundations of America's Cold War; and (v) the passing of the National Security Act of 1947 which set up the military and intelligence foundations of America's Cold War.

Course

In this course, Professor Andrew Preston (University of Cambridge) discusses the origins of the Cold War from 1945 until 1950. We start by looking at the Cold War as a whole and also explore how the Cold War has been viewed by historians over the years. After this, we have a look at the tension between the superpowers after the Second World War from 1945 to 1946. Then, we explore how the US effectively declared Cold War on the Soviet Union from 1946 to 1947 by putting itself on a permanent wartime footing. In the next lecture, we explore the early flashpoints of the Cold War from 1947 to 1948, including the Berlin Blockade. In the penultimate lecture, we have a look how in 1950 the Cold War became increasingly militarised and globalised. In the final lecture, we look at the question which has captured the attention of so many historians - who was to blame for the outbreak of the Cold War.

Lecturer

Professor Andrew Preston is Professor of American History at the University of Cambridge. He specialises in the history of American foreign relations, primarily since 1898. He has published widely on this subject, including his books The War Council: McGeorge Bundy, the NSC, and Vietnam, Sword of the Spirit; Shield of Faith: Religion in American War and Diplomacy; and American Foreign Relations: A Very Short Introduction.