1917 - 1970 World History Overview - Research Paper Example

Containment and cold war Long time suspicion had existed between the Soviet Union and the West, and friction was sometimes depicted in the alliances formed during world war two. During the cold war period, a general policy of the allied States towards the communist nations was to contain them in that they were to be kept within their borders with the hope that internal disagreement would end their threat. After the Second World War, the Soviet Union and the United States of America certainly had distinct objectives and goals. America was determined to spread democratic ideas and capitalism while opening new places to do business with in free market. On the other hand, the Soviet Union focused to spread communism and protect its borders from future invasions. The United States aimed at stopping communism at costs as seen in the Truman doctrine, Marshall Plan, Berlin airlift, and the Korean War. All these plans did in fact led to the en d of cold war. Containment and cold were related in that the policy of containment aimed to stop the emerging tension between the two superpowers. The Marshall Plan and cold war The European recovery program or the Marshall plan was enacted at the Paris conference to enhance economic recovery in European countries after world war two. The plan was formulated to foster and promote European production and enhance internal trade in certain European countries during this period of heightened tension between United States and Soviet Union. The Marshall plan was enacted in order to contain the growing nature of soviet influence especially in Czechoslovakia. From the beginning, the Soviet Union opposed this plan while other Nations in Eastern Europe ignored or denounced it. The Marshall plan was an element of foreign aid plan of the United States and it led to economic recovery of European states during the cold war period. Truman doctrine and cold war President Harry S. Truman stated that the United States would provide military, economic, and political help to all democratic nations under threat from authoritarian regimes or forces. This policy made United States adjust her foreign policies of avoiding conflict with other nations. The Truman doctrine was a step forward in containing the spread of communism. The doctrine provided that it was the duty of the United States of America to assist those people who resisted subjugation from external or internal pressures. This doctrine led to an end of America’s policy of isolationism and embraced global leadership by assisting other nations to recover from the effects of the war. The cold war on the other influenced American local or domestic policy in that the consequences of the cold war affected positively on American people in America as they had an opportunity to expand their trading activities with other democratic nations in the world. Berlin airlift and cold war In 1948, the Soviet Union blocked Berlin City bringing to a halt transportation of goods and services to the city. In response to this growing tension, the Berlin airlift was initiated to counter this aggression. Berlin airlift and the cold war tension are related in that the allied powers under the leadership of United States were opposing the expansive nature of the Soviet Union that was determined at spreading communism to the west. In 1948-49, Berlin airlift program was executed in that supply of essential necessities such as fuel and food was flown to West Berlin by air transport under the United States leadership. During this time, over two million West Berliners were supplied with fuel and food. They could no longer succumb to chilly conditions of winter season. Later, the Russians lifted the Berlin blockade since their mission failed. Berlin wall and cold war The Berlin wall was constructed in 1961, a long separation of the East Berlin that was partly controlled by Soviet Union and the wet under the control of western powers. The East Berlin promoted communist ideals. The Russians covered most of East Berlin, the Berlin wall aimed to prevent well-educated East Berliners from leaving East Germany. Such events represented battlefronts during the cold war period. The construction and destruction of Berlin wall stood as representation of the cold war period. The construction of Berlin wall represented the ideological differences that existed between Soviet Union and the western powers. While the Soviet Union tried to infuse its policies to people using such means during the cold war era, the western nations led by the United States were determined to contain this move and avoid any possibility of physical war. NATO and cold war It is impossible for one to talk about cold war without mentioning the north Atlantic treaty organization. The formation of NATO came because of Soviet Union and other nations allied to her formed the Warsaw pack treaty as a military strategy to safeguard their interests in Europe and other parts of the world. This treaty was enacted as a countermeasure against the threat of invasion by the USSR during the cold war era. It focused at protecting the freedom of the north Atlantic nations. It stated that any armed attacked on one-member nation would be considered an attack against all members. This treaty provided for collective protection of all member states. In addition, the treaty also encouraged economic, political, and social cooperation. The formation of NATO has helped in peacekeeping missions in Europe, America, and elsewhere in the world. Nixon doctrine and cold war In 1969, United States president Richard Nixon dealt with cold war in different manner in that he met the Apollo 11 on their return from the moon symbolizing American victory in the space race. In addition, Nixon tried to adapt new U.S foreign policies to the binding pressures of the Vietnam War, which were infringing the U.S military capabilities to meet global commitments. There were persistent calls from the U.S citizens and politicians for the president to withdraw the U.S soldiers from Vietnam but he refused to withdraw U.S from Vietnam and instead, he devised a new way to organize U.s military operations around the world. The president aimed at preserving anti-communist governments while t the same time minimizing the costs to the American lives. He proposed the Vietnamization policy that aimed at using local troops to supplant the American troops. This doctrine placed American superiority on litmus test in that they were experiencing and acclimatizing to the limits of their own power. President Nixon application of the proxies seemed to produce a new face of cold war since his predecessors would build upon endorsing freedom fighters. Eleanor Roosevelt Eleanor Roosevelt can be defined as a realist who has never lost her quest to fight for the rights of the people. She is more committed to make the future a reality. Eleanor Roosevelt was committed and dedicate to justice, liberty and compassion for all people. Born in wealth and in powerful position in society, she could easily have neglected the less privileged in society but that was not the case. She fought hard on the behalf of the less privileged in society. When she reached the White house, racial injustice was eating up the American society but by that time, she was already advocating for other groups demands. Eleanor Roosevelt would be helping improving the conditions of the US soldiers fighting in Iraq and other countries in the Middle East. Her value to the society would be undoubted because she would be fighting for equal representation of gender in all public sectors. In addition, her focus would be on fighting for the demands of women by encouraging them to challenge their male counterparts in running for office. Eleanor Roosevelt would have lobbied for one civil right movement after the other. For instance, in her actual life, she fought for legislation against lynching of people and had great support for NAACP’s art. When in Birmingham in 1938, she opposed the segregation ordinance. She would lobby both the government body and take her message to the public through radio broadcast and columns. As America wage on extremis in the Middle East, Mrs. Roosevelt would compare the similar movement in America that s threatening democracy. In addition, as a civil rights activist, she would insist on moral basis of democracy that democracy ought to represent the rights of all individuals. Eleanor Roosevelt opened the way for the fight of equal rights for all since she was awakened on new political level by educating women on their right to vote and run for public office. Roosevelt would be very vibrant in fighting for economic justice especially now when the economy of the world is facing crisis. Her contribution to the United Nations is evaluated from her appointment as US representative in the United Nations in which she championed for equal rights of people. In the end, the United Nations established United Nations Declaration of Human right that has fought against impunity and other forms of oppression such as denial of fir hearing. In addition, she shaped women participation in politics by advocating for women’s rights. Work Cited Allen, Michael. A Patriot’s history of the United States: From Columbus’s Great Discovery to the War on Terror. New York: Sentinel Trade, 2007. Print. Read More