The Battle Of The Cold War

Much of the Cold War fear and turbulence that resonated throughout the late 20th century was the result of post-WW2 ideologies as well as reactions founded in those ideologies. One notable reaction to these ideologies was the US’ involvement in the Korean War beginning in 1950. Its involvement was the result of the post-WW2 fear of the spread of communism and its subsequent need to halt the North Korean invasion of South Korea. This was the first military action of the US during the Cold War and yet, although being a salient event for the US, it became overshadowed and forgotten. In The Bridges of Toko-Ri, James Mitchner details the struggles of Navy fighter pilots in the Korean War. As he cultivates the encounters of these young, unprepared men, he highlights the persisting idea of “why are we here” as well as the horror that nobody in America cares about the war. Mitchner’s insight into this transitionary era in American warfare reveals how the Korean War became eclipsed by both the unity of World War 2 and the hopelessness of Vietnam. Although it was overshadowed by WW2 and Vietnam and became widely known as the Forgotten War, the Korean War played a pivotal role in shaping US policies for the rest of the Cold War.

As tensions continued to augment profoundly throughout the latter half of the Cold War period, they brought forth a movement from a previous bipolar conflicting course, to one of a more multipolar nature. These tensions were now not only restricted to the Soviet Union and United states, but amongst multiple other nations of the globe. It became a general consensus that a notion of ‘peace’ was sought globally, hence, the emergence of détente. The nature of this idea in the short term conveyed itself to be an act of change for the conflicting nations, however, in the long term it proved to be a blatant continuity, ultimately acting as a ‘mechanism for domestic fortification’ which prompted a more divisive tone. It became apparent that by the prime 1970’s Cold War countries were now seeking a state of relaxation in political and international tension, détente, through measures of diplomacy and negotiation. Actions, influences and treaties such as the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, the establishment of SALT 1, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972 and the Shanghai Communique of 1972 evidently help reinforce that the concept of détente brought a period focused on lessening the tensions of international relations and ultimately achieve political relation for the future of the Cold War, although the success and impact of this era is abhorred by many historians who have concluded that détente didn’t activate any positive changes to the cold war, and was conclusively a failure.

The Cold War was a “competition” between the Soviet Union and the United States of America, occurring from approximately 1945 through 1991. The Cold War received its name because it did not evolve into armed warfare or physical conflict. The 46-year-long war began immediately after the conclusion of World War II. Some believe it was Joseph Stalin who started it by saying, “He hated westerners in the same way as Hitler hated Jews.” In contrast, others believe that it was America who had started the war, by stating, “Among democratic countries it was only in the USA that presidents were elected against communism.” To others, the bombing of Hiroshima, which took place on August 6, 1945, sent a signal to the Soviets that the USA had used the atomic bomb on Japan, and would not hesitate using it on other countries. The war, characterized by the icy relationship between the two countries, included a number of aspects: the economic impact on both sides, the Space Race, the strong military coalitions, the sophisticated weapons development, and the steep financial costs. The Cold War ended in 1991, during Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev’s tenure. Gorbachev introduced Glasnost, the allowing of western goods to be imported, and perestroika, the easing of the government’s control on the economy. The reality set in that the Cold War was over when the Soviet Union dissolved into 15 separate and independent countries

For almost 15 years the U.S. has been in a constant state of war. Various terrorist organizations, from al-Quade, to the Taliban, and now Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have maintained our focus so much so that we have almost forgotten about prior threats. Ten years prior to the start of the conflict in the Middle East, the Cold War had officially concluded, ending almost 45 years of server political and military tensions between the U.S. and Russian following WWII. During this period of time, Russia was the central focus of the U.S., although China and North Korea also posed a significant threat. While terrorist threats and activates remain a significant threat, Russia recent annexation of Crimea proves that they are still a very

In 1945 after WWII the United States and the Soviet Union became divided as far as how they felt Europe should be divided. This began the period of conflict called the Cold War. The Cold War was “a state of political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare”(dictionary.com).The USSR believed in communism, where the US believed in democracy. The US was between two potentially hostile nations, the US designed a Buffer Zone to prevent any overt acts of aggression.At the end of WWI,I almost all of the eastern European countries were occupied by Russia these countries were known as Satellite States. The distrust between the two nations began at the Yalta Conference which included the three big powers: Churchill (Great Britain),Stalin (Soviet Union), and Roosevelt (United States of America). Stalin wanted more control as far how Europe progressed after WWII, where Roosevelt believed Europe should hold free election and determine their political system and rivalry between the two superpowers and began the Cold War. Some might blame the Americans for the causing for the Cold War because of the American’s wanted to occupy the countries, but the Soviet Union bares the responsibility for the Cold War because of their actions in Eastern Europe, by the military expansionism of Stalin and his successors, and the principles presented in the Iron Curtain Speech .

As World War II came to its end, agreements among the winning powers began to dissolve. The U.S., Great Britain, and the Soviet Union…had very different views politically, socially, and economically. World War II, which was considered a “hot” war, was followed by the cold war. This war was a conflict primarily between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that persevered throughout much of the postwar period. The ideological differences were mutual distrust. As US was a capitalist country, Americans feared communism and the nuclear arms race were the major

Skilt took a deep breath, pulled back the arrow in his bow, aimed, and prayed to the great spirit that he would hit his target as he released his breath, and the arrow.

During the year of 1945 the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union has already deteriorated badly. By showing dominance and no fear to use the weapons at their disposal, the US Government promised them to develop a diplomatic leverage as well as having greater influence in the post war developments and territorial rearrangements. When taking every aspect into consideration, this action could be seen as the first ground-breaking incident which later developed into the Cold War.

There are now two great nations in the world, which starting from different points, seem to be advancing toward the same goal: the Russians and the Anglo-Americans. . . . Each seems called by some secret design of Providence one day to hold in its hands the destinies of half the world.

Once the Cold War was starting to unfold in the 1950’s and 1960’s, the world endured more change than in any other period of time throughout history. A global independence movement was reshaping the world into what we know it as today. Several nations from the regions of South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East were finally gaining the independence they have long demanded since the 1800’s. All of these nations were former areas that the western powers of Europe colonized for their own benefits. These benefits included the use of slave labor and the slave trade, use of the country’s natural resources, or just to fulfill the need to create a global empire. After hundreds of years of this unjust treatment, dating all the way

The Cold War was a period of time in history that was filled with a lot of tension and uncertainty. Lasting from the end of World War II, 1947 all the way to the 1980s, the hostility was between the United States and the Soviet Union. Even thought this war lasted almost 45 years, it wasn’t like any other war that had been fought around this time. What made it so different and the reason it was called a cold war was because there was never actually any military confrontation or combat from either side. The United States did not like how tyrannical and blood thirsty Russia’s leader, Joseph Stalin, was in regards to running his own country. They were also afraid of just how fast communism would have spread if the USSR was given the power it wanted. On the other hand, “the Soviets resented the Americans’ decades-long refusal to treat the USSR as a legitimate part of the international community as well as their delayed entry into World War II, which resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of Russians.” (Cold War History) Even though there wasn’t an actual active war between the two countries, there were other indirect conflicts, such as the Vietnam and Korean wars. There was also the Cuban missile crisis that occurred in the 60’s and the reason that this conflict was so significant is because it was the closest we had come to a possible nuclear war. The Cold War wasn’t just an important part of history but it showed a lot about the relationship between The United States and

During World War II the US and the USSR were strong and friendly allies that successfully defeated Hitler. Thus, once the war was over the US and the USSR emerged as the world’s reigning super powers but soon to be mortal enemies (Davidson, 570). This hatred towards each other did not arise overnight though. The tension between the two countries somewhat began at the Yalta Conference in February of 1945. When World War II in Europe was coming to an end, the Big Three (British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Soviet Premier Josef Stalin) met in Russia to discuss how to politically shape postwar Europe. Heavy debate erupted, which alluded to the extreme ideological differences between the US and the USSR. Therefore, tensions and conflicts started to rise between the two (LaFeber, 13).

Imagine being told what to do and what not to do and not having control over your decisions. In a communist country, the government decides whether something benefits the country, regardless if it does not benefit the people. However, what really is the communism theory? “Any ideology based on the communal ownership of all property and a classless social structure, with economic production and distribution to be directed and regulated by means of an authoritative economic plan that supposedly embodies the interests of the community as a whole.” (Communism) Essentially meaning that in this political world there is no such thing of someone being above you or “better” than you because everyone is the same economically

Looking back in history you can point out several vicious dictators and leaders that really made a negative impact on the world. These included Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Mao Zedong, and several others. The idea of absolute power to one person is a dangerous concept and can destroy a country in a short amount of time. The Cold War was a time of determination to stop communism in the eyes of the United States. It also was a time for America to better itself and finding the flaws within their own Country. There was a policy set up stating that the States would help out any country in need that was being invaded by a communist country. The U.S. came up with this policy in efforts to stop the expansion of communism across the globe. During this period of change, America went through a great amount of change itself; from true equality to an economic freedom described by the constitution as well as the loyalty within the government systems. Containment was the key element in ending communism for the world, by preventing the communist countries from invading other countries; they were stuck and eventually gave up their efforts.

With the end of the “Cold War”, the hypothesis of war between states declined and created opportunities for peace and security. However, new types of conflicts, new challenges for maintaining international security and new threats to peace emerged. The U.S. attacks on September 11, 2001, marked a before and after in international relations, security concepts, and the emergence of new threats. Governments have had the necessity to change and to design new strategies to address these new threats. Furthermore, it has been necessary to modify the roles of the Armed Forces.