British cartoon, 2nd March 1948

starter activity

Who is being blamed for Cold War in this British cartoon of the 1940s? What are the limitations in using this source? Instead of asking who was to blame for Cold War is there another line of enquiry that could be pursused?

How far was the US How far was the US responsible for the responsible for the

Cold War?Cold War?To identify and explain the differences between To identify and explain the differences between

orthodox, revisionist & post-revisionist orthodox, revisionist & post-revisionist historians of Cold Warhistorians of Cold War

To assess the part played by President Truman To assess the part played by President Truman (1945-53) in emergence of Cold War(1945-53) in emergence of Cold War

To develop skills in analysing the views of To develop skills in analysing the views of different historians studying the development different historians studying the development

of Cold Warof Cold War

LOs

Your taskYour task

Read p.49 and in your own words summarise Read p.49 and in your own words summarise the key ideas by these three schools of the key ideas by these three schools of historiographyhistoriography:: OrthodoxOrthodox or traditional or traditional RevisionistRevisionist Post-revisionistPost-revisionist

Note down the names of historians associated Note down the names of historians associated with each schoolwith each school

Extension. Which do you agree with? What Extension. Which do you agree with? What evidence would you use to support your evidence would you use to support your judgement?judgement?

Key schools of thoughtKey schools of thought

HistoriographyHistoriography – study of historians – study of historians viewsviews

TraditionalTraditional (orthodox) – conventional, (orthodox) – conventional, western view, USSR to blamewestern view, USSR to blame

RevisionistRevisionist – looking at history from – looking at history from different, ‘revised’ perspectives, the different, ‘revised’ perspectives, the US must share the blameUS must share the blame

Post-revisionistsPost-revisionists – not who but what – not who but what was to blame, e.g. break down of was to blame, e.g. break down of diplomacy, economic factorsdiplomacy, economic factors

Your taskYour task

Read p.49-51 and note down evidence Read p.49-51 and note down evidence to support each of these statements:to support each of these statements:

Truman was to blame for the Truman was to blame for the emergence of Cold Waremergence of Cold War

Truman wasn’t entirely to blameTruman wasn’t entirely to blame Economic factors were responsibleEconomic factors were responsible Extension. Reach a judgement on Extension. Reach a judgement on

which statement was the most accurate. which statement was the most accurate. Choose 2 pieces of evidence to support Choose 2 pieces of evidence to support your judgementyour judgement

Truman was to blame!Truman was to blame!

Change of policy from conciliation Change of policy from conciliation under Roosevelt to ‘Iron Fist’under Roosevelt to ‘Iron Fist’

Truman lacked Roosevelt’s negotiating Truman lacked Roosevelt’s negotiating skillsskills

Truman felt less secure in his position, Truman felt less secure in his position, e.g. challenges from Dixiecrats over e.g. challenges from Dixiecrats over Civil Rights policies like Fair DealCivil Rights policies like Fair Deal

His approach hardened divisions His approach hardened divisions between East & Westbetween East & West

Truman confounded critics & won 1948 presidential elections

It wasn’t all Truman’s It wasn’t all Truman’s faultfault

Truman was responding to hostility within Truman was responding to hostility within US administration to USSR caused by US administration to USSR caused by communist expansion in Eastern Europecommunist expansion in Eastern Europe

Key advisers, e.g. George Kennan, ‘Long Key advisers, e.g. George Kennan, ‘Long Telegram’ (1946) spoke about ‘steady Telegram’ (1946) spoke about ‘steady advance of Russian nationalism’advance of Russian nationalism’

Previous administrations had been too Previous administrations had been too soft on communismsoft on communism

Soviet aggression gave Truman no other Soviet aggression gave Truman no other choice than to adopt an Iron Fist to avoid choice than to adopt an Iron Fist to avoid warwar

Economic factorsEconomic factors

Military-industrial complex Military-industrial complex encouraged conflict to secure encouraged conflict to secure capitalist markets and provide capitalist markets and provide continued investment in military continued investment in military spending after WWIIspending after WWII

Your taskYour task Study sources D, E & F on p.51-2 and Study sources D, E & F on p.51-2 and

complete the table your teacher provides.complete the table your teacher provides.

Extension. Which interpretation offers the Extension. Which interpretation offers the most accurate view of US responsibility? most accurate view of US responsibility? Write a short judgement paragraphWrite a short judgement paragraph

“The US was to blame for

the development of Cold War

between 1947 and

1953.”

Debate

Extension taskExtension task

Keep a log of examples of orthodox, Keep a log of examples of orthodox, revisionist & post-revisionist revisionist & post-revisionist historians of Cold Warhistorians of Cold War

Find examples of different schools of Find examples of different schools of thought from other periods of thought from other periods of history you’ve studied at GCSE or history you’ve studied at GCSE or AS, for example Nazi Germany or AS, for example Nazi Germany or the Russian Revolution. Explain your the Russian Revolution. Explain your decisions.decisions.

PlenaryPlenary

Why is it important to ask what Why is it important to ask what caused Cold War as much as who caused Cold War as much as who caused it?caused it?

What does ‘historiography’ mean?What does ‘historiography’ mean? Give 3 examples of historical schools Give 3 examples of historical schools

of thoughtof thought How far was the US to blame for the How far was the US to blame for the

development of Cold War after 1947?development of Cold War after 1947?