Stalin’s failure to abide by the agreements made at Yalta and Potsdam caused the Cold War? (IGCSE 2016)

Tackling a question - especially in a high-pressured exam environment - it can be very helpful if you start with a structure and plan; and then use this to arrange your knowledge of a topic as it 'pops into your head.' -- Intro: Quickly outline the terms of the agreements at Yalta and Potsdam; and those which Stalin didn't abide by. This will instantly show the examiner you are confident with the syllabus. And will help you think of why/why not this wouldn't have caused the cold war - and help jog your memory of any causes you might have forgotten. Outline these competing causes (for best marks, show how one cause makes another less important). Then give one sentence of what you are going to argue. For top marks think about different ways to elevate and relegate different causes.E.g. Trigger factors (factors which were necessary in the short-term but only mattered because of larger long-term factors)-- Main Body: Three paragraphs. In your plan make sure you have written down your beginning and concluding sentences. These should streamline your argument and make sure you are always evaluating (crucial for top marks). E.g. Para 1 Beginning: Stalin's failure to abide by agreements breached trust between the Western and Eastern allies, making future diplomatic cooperation harder and a Cold War more likely. Para 1 Ending: As such Stalin's failure to abide by agreements was an important cause of the Cold War. Para 2 Beginning: However, the Western Allies' aggression also contributed to the cold war; indeed, Stalin would have abided by his agreements if the Allies hadn't offered Marshall Aid money to Eastern European countries. Para 2 Ending: As such, Western aggression reduced trust between America and Russia; and encouraged Stalin to go back on his agreements. It is therefore a more important factor in the cause of the cold war. -- Conclusion: 'To conclude, there were multiple factors which caused the cold war. Here explain how they interrelate. But cause 1 and 2 would not have mattered or even happened if it were not for previous allied aggression. As such, Stalin's failure to abide by agreements was only one of a number of other secondary causes.