“The ideological division meant the Grand Alliance was certain to collapse in 1945.”

What does the statement claim about the Grand Alliance in 1945?

That ideological divisions made its collapse inevitable.

What were the core ideological differences between the USA and USSR?

Capitalism and democracy vs communism and one-party dictatorship.

How did earlier events contribute to ideological mistrust?

Western intervention in the Russian Civil War and the Nazi–Soviet Pact created long-term suspicion.

Which 1946 document argued that Soviet ideology required expansion?

The Long Telegram.

Why does ideology make collapse likely according to traditionalist historians?

They argue the ideologies were fundamentally incompatible, making confrontation inevitable after WWII.

What evidence shows ideology did not prevent wartime cooperation?

Lend-Lease aid, military coordination, and agreements at the Tehran and Yalta conferences.

What does the Declaration of Liberated Europe (Yalta) show?

That compromise and collaboration were still possible in early 1945.

What belief did Roosevelt hold that challenges inevitability?

He believed personal diplomacy and the UN could sustain post-war cooperation with the USSR.

How did Soviet security concerns contribute to tension?

USSR demanded a buffer zone in Eastern Europe due to huge wartime losses and fear of future invasion.

Why did US use of the atomic bomb worsen tensions?

Truman didn’t fully inform Stalin, signalling mistrust and power imbalance.

What were the major disagreements at Potsdam (1945)?

Germany’s future, reparations, and Soviet control in Eastern Europe.

Why do post-revisionist historians argue collapse wasn’t inevitable?

They see mutual security fears—not just ideology—as the main cause of the Cold War.

How did leadership changes influence the collapse of the Grand Alliance?

Truman replaced Roosevelt and took a harder line against Stalin, heightening tensions.

How did misunderstandings contribute to the breakdown?

Stalin saw U.S. behaviour as aggressive; the U.S. saw Soviet security actions as expansionism.

Was the collapse of the Grand Alliance “certain” in 1945?

No—ideology made tension likely, but collapse resulted from a mix of ideology, security concerns, leadership, and post-war disputes.

What is the best overall judgement?

The collapse was probable but not inevitable; ideology shaped mistrust, but practical post-war conflicts caused the breakdown.