Question

Why did the Cold War start?

Answer 1

There was a lot of tension between the US and NATO and others. If you want to read on everything and the effects and what exactly was the reason. Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War

Answer 2

Well, from what I understand, the origins of the cold war stemmed from friction between America and the Soviet Union originating during the closing years of WW2, but also before that with the Red Scare.

Agreements were made regarding how Germany would be split up amongst the powers, how elections would be held in Poland, and what would eventually come to be NATO. On top of this, Stalin had made many requests for relief, troops, and opening a second front to take some of the heat off of Russia. America only sent the least amount of troops that they could, tens of times less than what Stalin had asked for. The second front was also opened far later than Stalin had hoped. Oh, and Stalin did not follow through on the whole free elections in Poland, at least not really.

Even after the war ended, Soviet troops remained in the Eastern European countries, countries that became "satellites" of the Soviet Union, where Communism regimes took hold. As a result, the "Containment" of Communism began with the Truman Doctrine, which provided money to help support the overthrow of Communist regimes.

I could go on for hours because there are more events that caused the Soviets to feel as if they were being threatened, Stalin in particular. NATO and the Russian equivalent, the Warsaw Pact. Nuclear weapons. McCarthyism. The first and second red scare. Propaganda. The Berlin Airlift. All of these things contributed to the start of the Cold War, if not more.