The Cold War Study Notes - 734 Words

Part A After World War II, tensions began to increase between the U.S. and the Soviet Union largely based on mistrust. On one side, America had not been invaded, had nuclear weapons, and was rebuilding Japan and Europe. On the other side, the Soviets had lost millions of people and had a decimated infrastructure and agricultural economy. To protect itself from perceived aggressive, the Soviets occupied Eastern Europe and the Iron Curtain was born, giving way to the term Cold War. The major U.S. foreign policy issue at the time was based on two things: containment of communism and the domino effect. The decolonization of countries in Africa and Asia was significant because each side (US and USSR) wanted to be the dominant influence in that country. The US felt that if one country in a region went communist, like dominos, all would (e.g. Vietnam). Part B When Chinas revolution ended and the country (except for Taiwan) became communist, the US worried that the Soviets would have undue influence in most of Asia. China is vast in territory and people, and with the Soviets and Chinese as allies in the war against capitalism, the stakes were even higher. China backed North Korea against the US occupied South, again the feeling was if South Korea became communist, it would only be a matter of time before Japan, the rest of Indo-China, and so on became communist. The fear between the major players was increased once the Soviets launched their first nuclear weapon, in 1949. TheShow MoreRelatedRichard Byrd s The Cold War1340 Words   |  6 PagesThe Cold War, spanning almost half a century, was a conflict that accelerated the production of nuclear weapons and forced the United States and the other belligerent, the Soviet Union, to make scientific advances at a rate unseen in any other time in human history. The Cold War Comes to Main Street: America in 1950, written by Lisle A. Rose, thoroughly examines the year 1950 in the United States and the effect that the Cold War had on the American populous. Rose examines communism and the militaryRead MoreThe European Dimension Of The Cold War1458 Words   |  6 PagesThe Cold War between two rival super powers – the young United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics – was an inevitable one. The relationship between the former war allies had begun to dissolve during the Second World War and eventually came to blows in 1947. First, it’s important to note that the Cold War was something that was only between the USA and the USSR is a fallacy. David Reynolds’ piece titled The European Dimension to the Cold War is a historiographical pieceRead MoreJapanese Politics, By Takashi Inoguchi1508 Words   |  7 Pagesabout Japanese Politics. One of the main arguments that Inoguchi makes in the book is that the study of Japanese politics from his first segment (1983-1999) leads to the almost normalization of Japanese Politics in the second decade segment (1994-2004). It appears that the characteristics of the one party system that was attempted in 1955 (last one year and failed) can be seen in this second decade study. The system itself is becoming less of the traditional system where thought processes and trustRead MorePol 300 Week 5 Assignment 1 New Strayer1086 Words   |  5 PagesASSIGNMENT 1 NEW STRAYER To purchase this visit following link http://www.activitymode.com/product/pol-300-week-5-assignment-1-new-strayer/ Contact us at: SUPPORT@ACTIVITYMODE.COM POL 300 WEEK 5 ASSIGNMENT 1 NEW STRAYER POL/300 Assignment 1 – The Cold War and U.S. Diplomacy Select a president from the table, â€Å"Presidents and Their ‘ Doctrines,’† in Roskin, Chapter 4. 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Before a closer examination of these works, a short explanation of the three common viewpoints regarding the study of the Cold War is warranted. These viewpoints are Attribution, Structural, and Misperception. With these viewpoints to guide the way, the above authorsRead MoreThe End Of The Cold War1694 Words   |  7 PagesThe end of the cold war, is often considered as marking the dawn of a fundamentally different political environment. This change in environment, has brought about new salient questions by scholars and policy makers about the relevance of nuclear weapons in the world. In his article, ‘learning to love the bomb’ Jonathan Tepperman calls president Obama’s plan to rid the world off nuclear weapons wrong, dreamy, unrealistic and a big mistake. I found this article interesting as it seems rather paradoxical