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In recent discussions of the Cold War, a controversial issue has been who to blame for causing the war in the first place. On the one hand, some argue that Truman deserved to be blamed due to American's dramatic military response. On the other hand, however, many historians discuss that the military expansion of Stalin and his successors caused the Cold War. In other words, Stalin's desire in spreading the communism caused American to provide some military responses. In sum, as long as Stalin abandoned the intention of imposing the communism, the Americans would withdraw their soldiers immediately.

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To answer the question "can any person truly be responsible for anything in history, we first need to ask ourselves "does historical responsibility exist." As far as History is concerned, historical responsibility does not exist, since actions are the manifestation of one's belief. Therefore, I would argue neither Stalin nor Truman are responsible for the Cold War.

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I believe that it was the stereotypes that were created through the propaganda of both governments that created the essence of the Cold War. Without competition and hatred towards the other government, the Cold War would most likely not have occurred. Even though in democracy, the society's view on something might affect the government's action, propaganda from the government greatly affect the people's mindset, Like Truman's government inducing half-lies about the true essence of communism; Or Stalin's belief that any non-communist countries are a threat to Russia. However I would not suggest that the governments are responsible for the Cold War. I believe that without a system that repels one another through their fundamental ideological basis, there would be no reason for a Cold War to occur. Even if Stalin's and Truman's government began the Cold War, they were affected by their most principals of Democracy and Communism. I would therefore suggest that it is not any individual's responsibility, nor the government's responsibility, but the responsibility of the concepts that created both systems. 

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Claire Ho

Although the responsibility for starting the Cold War cannot weighed upon one person, it can be safely assumed that either Stalin or Truman had a say in it. Personally, I think the blame shift slightly more one Truman than it does on Stalin. For one, his established Truman Doctrine of 1947. It explicitly declared America's commitment against communism, and in turn, their hostility towards the Soviet Union. Before that however, the Marshall Plan was put into place which caused Stalin to be suspicious and sever any connections with the West. This allowed him to to greenlight the Berlin Blockade of 1948. As a continuation of the Truman Doctrine, NATO was created in 1949, to ensure a stable position of democracy in Europe. This, combined with the rest, began Europe's assimilation and the beginning of the Cold War.

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In my opinion, either Truman or Stalin are responsible for the Cold War. The tension between the Western powers and the Russia is a product that was being created over a long period of time. The historical events happened during the 1900s are all the possible factors that lead to cold war. Therefore, it may be challenging to blame a specific personal as the main cause of the Cold War. However, to some extent, it would be more accurate to blame Stalin for the Cold war, since he played a significant role from the early 1900s to mid 1900s.

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Yes, people can be truly responsible for anything in history. In my opinion, it is what they do that created history. They are the primary decisive factor for the causation of events, for instance, Joseph Stalin was the one who secretly approved to North Korean plans to invade South Korea, and he will be responsible for that decision making. However, sometime the involvement of decision making could be complicated, and the country’s situation( financial, social, political) might be enforcing the leader to make the decision. While taking the factors into account, the responsibility should not be one person to bear. I believe people can be truly responsible, and its the matter of how much they should be accountable.

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No, one single person cannot be blamed for anything. History especially is combination of many perspectives within the event, taken into account and formulated into a conceivable consequence and effect. Both leaders only did what they thought would best protect and help their nations, perhaps without regard of the extent of the other's reaction and degree of response, but in a matter of life and death such a consideration could not be asked, nor would it be in human nature to do so. Truman could have been more sympathetic and Stalin could have been less aggressive, if either was any other person the Cold War might have never happened. However, both had to and did respond decisively to the other side's action. It was this escalation of events which inevitably led to the Cold War.

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Stalin and Truman have been blamed for creating tension between America and Europe, but on global relation wise, Truman's loath on communist system concerns among future foreign relationships. Soon after the World War 2 and  the invention of nuclear weapons, the fear of war among people lead to urging of civil order, it is to be believed that what Truman executes is aiming to prevent the rise of military authoritarian forces from disturbing peace. Therefore, he shouldn't be blamed.

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Tim Shen
Both Truman and Stalin was blamed for the Cold War, this certain question are related with war crime. The government should take their responsibilities to the citizens, governments do need to be responsible after the war. This is what they decided and what they want, they should all know what consequences will be. The authorities that a government owned is larger than people's thought. There is no rights and wrongs in between any war, people start the war because they want to fight for their rights, the rights and wrongs are actually depends on how people view on this. Therefore, they've got to know what the consequences will be, so both Stalin and Truman should take their responsibilities for starting the Cold War.

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I think in my own opinion, some certain leader should be blame to responsible in certain cases. In the cold war event, I think there isn't any person can be responsible, because it was a form of political ideology against. Both country wanted to become the strongest country and made a new rule, so even the president were not Truman or Stalin, I think it still has greatest chance started a cold war. They are just a leader during that period, not responsible for cold war. This event was not only pursue by leader yet every people pursue it.

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I don't think that we can blame a person or a country for taking responsibility for the cause of an incident (in this case, the cold war). This argument could be seen in the "post-revisionist" during the cold war as it claims that the happening of the cold war is inevitable.

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It is difficult to claim that a person can be truely responsible for anything in history. Take the code war dispute about whether Stalin or Truman has the resposibility as an example. Even if either Stalin or Truman has  a personal reason to began the war, there are many possiblities that their followers can stop them. Some may argue that the poeple who were able to stop them will have partial responsibility of the event. Especially for America, where most of the decisions are made by the congress memebers. People may blame them as the cause of the cold war. From another perspective, people may also argue that under the dictatorship of Stalin, people will not be able to stand out and give him suggestions to prevent war. Even though the Poliburo members should also be blamed with Stalin, however, were they able to go aginst him and giver thier opinion? These Poliburo memebrs may have their responsbility by not interfereing Stalin's decision. Therefore, for both Stalin and Truman, it is difficult to state that they are truely, fully responsible for the war.