Revisionist Approach (1960’s-70’s)

• Belief: “U.S. expansionism caused a Russian reaction, resulting in the Cold War.”

Historians:

• William Appleman Williams: Initiated this ideology when he critiqued American foreign policy.

Evidence:

• “U.S. business would only be able to operate in a world of capitalist nations with stable & reliable markets to sell the U.S.’s supply of raw material.”

• In this case, the USSR was rebellious in not following what the US wanted, so the US were defensive over their capitalist sphere of influence.

• The U.S. would blame the Kremlin for issues with capitalism.

• The U.S. also disliked the Bolsheviks and communism.

• Truman: “If we see Germany is winning we ought to help Russia and that if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany and that way let them kill as many as possible.”

• Truman didn’t trust the Russians in office at the end of the war.

• The Truman Doctrine, although offering money to USSR, made tensions worse as it was used to brag about the money that the USSR didn’t have.

• The US built military bases in Europe, which made the USSR defensive in turn.

• US made a defensive ring of bases in the West, but this was seen as American expansionism. So, the USSR retaliated by creating their own defensive ring.

• The US had an “open door” policy, which put pressure on the USSR and increased tensions

• US economy was the strongest after WW2, and offered the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan that were both anti-communist. This caused the USSR reaction and resulted in the Cold War.

Reasoning:

• “US imperialism and economic expansionism were responsible for the conflict, not the Soviet union.”