Many historians argue that the origins of the Cold War began with the Russian Revolution in 1917. When the Russian revolution sparked the Russian Civil War it was clear that the USA and Britain were keen to defeat the Bolsheviks. They provided troops to the 'whites' in an attempt to crush the Bolshevik Reds. There was also an ideological clash between Woodrow Wilson and Lenin. In 1919 Wilson presented his fourteen points including an ambitious plan for self determination, free trade and the League of Nations. In contrast Lenin was preaching world revolution and the spread of communism.
During the 1920s and 1930s USA followed a policy of isolationism and Stalin was busy with his 5 year plans. As a result it can not be argued that there was during this period no Cold War. However Moscow did try to undermine capitalism by establishing the Comintern ( The Communist International - a single foreign Communist Party with branches in different countries)
In 1939 the USSR signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact while still in talks with Britain and France. In 1941 Hitler invaded the USSR. In 1945 the USSR and the USA then met face to face as they occupied Europe.
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