Final answer:
The USSR could blame the USA for starting the Cold War due to the American policy of containment, which aimed to halt the spread of communism, and the US development and deployment of nuclear weapons.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the blame game of the Cold War, both the United States and the Soviet Union held each other responsible for starting the conflict. However, the USSR could argue that the USA played a significant role in escalating tensions and contributing to the start of the Cold War. One reason would be the American policy of containment, which aimed to halt the spread of communism.
Following World War II, the USSR sought to expand its influence in Eastern Europe and support communist governments, while the USA saw this as a threat to its own security and the spread of democratic values. To counter Soviet influence, the US implemented the Truman Doctrine, which provided military and economic aid to countries resisting communist takeover. This led to direct confrontations between the two superpowers, with the Soviet Union believing that the US was interfering in its sphere of influence and threatening its security.
Additionally, the USSR could argue that the United States' development and deployment of nuclear weapons further heightened tensions. The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II demonstrated America's military superiority. This led the Soviet Union to accelerate its own nuclear weapons program, fearing an imbalance of power. The arms race between the two nations greatly contributed to the climate of distrust and hostility that defined the Cold War.