Did the United States Win the Cold War

Following World War II, the United States was intimidated by the Soviet Union due to their lack of trust with the nation and the fear of the spread of communism. The United States feared that there was a potential that the communism could flow into the country and take away their freedoms. Following the war, the Soviet Union captivated Eastern European states as a way to provide a buffer zone if the Western States were to attack them, thus resulting in an additional, increased lack of trust from the West. “Much to the dismay of the Allies, the nations of Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Yugoslavia all had communist governments by 1948 (Linda Delaine).” Due to the countries being under communist control, the West had no access to resources, resulting in the hostility between the two States. The United States decided to combat the communist country with strategical approaches. Several policies were utilized by the United States to battle communism during this time. The first

During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union created an alliance to prevent Nazi Germany from spreading their fascist and radical ideals, but after the war, it quickly became apparent that both countries had intentions to exploit their previously stable relationship. Shortly after World War II, the Soviet Union made it their primary goal to expand their communist policies across Europe (and eventually the world). Their communist policies heavily contradicted the reason why the United States joined World War II, contrasted American ideals, and placed American democracy in jeopardy. Although relations seemed healthy shortly after the war, the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union dwindled to war due to the United States’

Soon the USSR would try and take more of Eastern Europe, while also not letting any capitalist or NATO country intervene. Winston Churchill commented on this, saying that the Soviet Union had drawn an “Iron Curtain” across Eastern Europe and said that these countries and cities were “not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and increasing measure of control from Moscow” (Document 1). Communism had taken over these countries and the Soviet Union now had control over 8 different countries. This was seen as a threat to the US since capitalism and communism were very conflicting ideas. The US saw the Iron Curtain as a way to spread communism, which further tightened tensions that soon led to the Cold War.

Document Review Regardless of the alliance between the United States and the Soviet Union during World War II, the cooperation found during a time of war began deteriorating due to the differences of the two nations. Soviet leaders claimed that communism and capitalism were unable to exist peacefully. Tensions grew strong as the USSR began acting out, causing the beginning of the Cold War and eventually the “Red Scare” in America, resulting in a change in foreign policy. Hints of the Cold War began in WWII as the multiple delays in creating another front in Europe made the Soviets suspicious of their Western Allies’ motives.

The time period between 1945 and 1991 is considered to be the era of the Cold War. The Cold War, known as the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union, each known during this time as the "super powers". This conflict consisted of the differing attitudes on the ideological, political, and military interests of these two states and their allies, exte nded around the globe. A common political debate covers the issue of who, if anyone won the Cold War. Many believe the United States won the Cold War since (it) had resulted in the ultimate collapse of the Soviet Union. While others are to believe the United States had not won it as much as the Soviet Union had lost it since they feel Reagan did not end the Cold War, but that

The official end of the cold war. No one really won the cold war. The United States of America spent trillions of dollars on themselves. Demands of freedom were soon spread to the Soviet Union.

Did you ever come to think where America would be if the USSR won the Cold War? During the years of 1970 through the present, Americans really became the modern people we are today. From coming out of the Cold War as the sole world superpower, the devastating emotional effects of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and the new advancements in what we now know as early stages and forms of our modern technology. America, already on top of the world before this time, set itself in place in the history books in this era. (New Voices, New Frontiers p. 1277-1289) One of the most important people in this era is Ronald Reagan because of his role as the president of the United States and helping the U.S. seal off the Cold War. Furthermore, a major event

Within the center of this division lay Berlin. Russia’s communist intentions were becoming clearer to western powers. Stalin had no plans to back down from further conflict. In 1946, Churchill delivered the “Iron Curtain” speech, symbolizing future relations with the communist powers. In 1947, U.S. president Truman established his famous doctrine of containment policy, which outlined in vague terms the west’s distain and containment intentions of further communist expansion by Russia. In 1948, Americans witnessed the pressurized showdown in Berlin between western forces and Russian occupiers, which eventually led to the division of Germany, and the construction of the Berlin Wall. Once, the Russians began developing and testing nuclear weapons, and the subsequent development of space flight, Americans placed their lives in the hands of their government to handle this new, Cold War.

The Unites States and Communist Union of Soviet Socialist Republics put aside their immense political differences to become allies during World War II. Previous hostility between the Soviet Union and democratic nations, did not stop the communist world power from forming an alliance with the United States and Great Britain. The United States similar to the Soviet Union saw Nazi Germany as a greater threat to national security and world peace than the other’s political ideologies or philosophies; therefore, the most dangerous enemy. Tensions during the alliance were always near, but a common opponent concealed a restricted amount ideology in common. Even with the political differences, the United States, Britain, Soviet Union and additional nations surfaced from World War II victorious in 1945. The alliance between the United States and the Soviet Union disintegrate quickly after the surrender of Japan. The rapid change from allies to enemies was rooted in the Unites States and Soviet Union’s foreign policies towards each other. The Soviets wanted to spread the political and economic system of communism into Eastern Europe, while the United States wanted to protect all countries from the threat of communism. Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, demanded that Eastern European countries enter the Soviet sphere of influence. The United States was resistant to allow Stalin dictate the shape of the postwar world, which began Unites States’ anti-communist foreign policy.

Although the USSR and the United States were not exactly friendly towards each other, both nations realized that when handling some of the world’s problems co-operation was necessary. Within the U.S. there was a belief that a reduction of defense spending called the “Peace Dividend” would free up funds that could be redirected to social spending; that a new world order based on liberal insti-tutions such as the U.N. would be able to more fully function now that there was no threat of a Soviet veto within U.N.S.C. and finally as a result democracy would become the world

Soon after the end of the World War Two (WW II), a new period of tensions began in the world with once again Europe at the very heart of the tensions. It was the Cold War. It “was a state of political and military tension between powers in the Western Bloc (the United States, its NATO allies and others) and powers in the Eastern Bloc (the Soviet Union and its allies in the Warsaw Pact). It “split the temporary wartime alliance against Nazi Germany, leaving the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the United States as two superpowers with profound economic and political differences: the former being a single-party Marxist–Leninist state, and the latter being a capitalist state with generally free elections.” Although it was not the same scale as the WWII in terms of destructions and casualties, the Cold War did however bring the world to the brink of total nuclear war. While both superpowers avoided confronting each other directly on the military field, they had an open and intensive competition in the area of culture and consumerism.

​In 1946, Winston Churchill gave his speech that is known as “The Iron Curtain”, to announce the beginning of the Cold War. The Iron Curtain consists of blocking the Soviet Union’s ideals, politics and military away from Europe. The Soviet Union valued communist ideals and a dictatorship. After World War II, the United States became a pillar for the ideals of capitalism and democracy. The Communist ideals imposed by Soviet Union expansion could threat the West because they go against Western’s morals. The United States has a history of fighting for freedom, for the ability of people to actively participate in the government and for

Throughout history, war has been the most common resort for nations to solve problems or show off their strength. However it wasn’t until recently where mankind had just live and experience a war that not only did it have the potential destroy nations, but also had the potential to destroy the whole world and humanity itself. This was known as the Cold War where after WWII, citizens of the world witnessed the potential of the atomic bomb and feared the possibility of nuclear fallout or total annihilation of the Earth. The only two superpowers remaining at the time were the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic. These two nation competed against each other in a nuclear arms race. They fought to spread the ideals of either a free democratic, capitalistic society or a controlled socialist, communist society. After a 45 year struggle from 1945-1991, the Cold War came to an end due to the fall of the Soviet Union. It was inevitable due to the fact during the last few years of the war, the USSR face internal domestic problems such as their financial/economic situation, failed political reforms, and revolution throughout the Union itself. The causes to the collapse of the Union not only affected them but affected the world to present day.

The “Cold War” was a unique time period were paranoia ran high and the world was at a stalemate as it watch the competition between the two world superpowers,(U.S. and the U.S.S.R.).

When World War II ended the United States and Russia emerged as “Superpowers”. Though they had fought as allies, each had their own agenda and post -war strategies. The United States found itself unable to enjoy the pleasures of peace after the wars completion. Having been unable to establish a true settlement in Europe, America watched, as Russia appeared to strengthen its hold of the region. The Soviets were taking a position in Europe that concerned the United States, led by President Harry S. Truman. The Soviets were refusing to vacate Austria and were maintaining a post war occupation, on the premise that they had conquered Austria when it was a hostile nation.