Korea in the Cold War - Essay Example

Unit V Exam # 2 In June 1950, Korea experienced a new and more disturbing phase of the Cold War. Following the collapse of Japan in 1945, Soviet troops had acknowledged the Japanese capitulation on the Korean Peninsula, north of the thirty-eighth parallel, and the U.S. troops had done the same south of that line. Both superpowers admitted their desire of reunification of Korea, but as in Germany, each nation facilitated the formation of rival regimes below and above the parallel. When the Americans and the Soviet Union withdrew their forces, by 1949, the entire Peninsula was a bristling armed camp, with two antagonistic regimes eyeing each other in suspicion (Kennedy et al. 883). The war broke in June 25, 1950; led by the Soviet made tanks, the North Korean military rumbled across the thirty-eighth parallel. South Korea was caught unprepared, and their forces were pushed back southward to a treacherously tiny defensive region around Pusan. In the process of restoring peace between these two regimes, General MacArthur was the U.N. commander in the entire operation. Instead of fighting his way out of the southern Pusan perimeter, MacArthur launched a bold amphibious landing behind the rival’s lines at Inchon. This action succeeded, and the North Koreans scrambled back behind the asylum of the thirty-eighth parallel. MacArthur received authorization to cross the border to North Korea by the U.N. Assembly; President Truman ordered him northward. MacArthur insisted there was no substitute for victory, and his comments against Truman led to his removal from command (Kennedy et al. 884). The Korean War provided the occasion for a vast expansion of the American army. President Truman gave orders to MacArthur, and this shows that America was extensively involved in the war. Through the National Security Council Memorandum Number 68 (NSC-68), President Truman ordered enormous military buildup which was beyond what was essential for the instant purposes of the Korean War (Kennedy et al. 883). Truman took advantage of the temporary absence of the Soviet Union from the U.N. Security Council, to obtain an undisputed condemnation of North Korea as the assailant. Without consulting the Congress, Truman ordered U.S. naval and air units to support South Korea. When America realized there was no intervention from China or the Soviet Union, they raised their stakes in Korea. The Chinese communists counter attacked North Korea when hostile troops approached the Yalu River border between China and Korea. The effects of the Korean War later led to disintegration of North Korea and South Korea. In July 1951, peace discussions started in a rude meadow tent close to the firing line, but these talks were also immediately hitched on the issue of prisoner exchange. Talks hauled unproductively for almost two years (Kennedy et al. 885). The events of this war led to hilarious welcome of MacArthur’s actions whereas Truman was condemned as an appeaser of Communist China and Communist Russia. These two countries up until now involve themselves in the blame game, in relation to nuclear weapons. # 3 The cold war began in 1945 after the end of the World War II. After Americans celebrated their nation’s victories in Asia and Europe, they started ending relations with their wartime ally after the Soviet Union threatened a new and more terrible international conflict (Kennedy et al. 858). According to historical relations of United States and the Soviet Union, there was little hope that these two nations would reach pleasant understandings about the form of the postwar world. Mutual suspicions were antique, abiding, and abundant. Communism in the Soviet Union and capitalism in America facilitated the cold war. The delays of opening up a second front against Germany by America and Britain nourished the skepticism of the Soviet towards the West. America and Britain had also frozen their Soviet ally out of the project of developing atomic weapons, further adding the mistrust. The Washington authorities deteriorated the relationship between the Soviet Union and America when it abruptly terminated essential lending to USSR in 1945 and rejected Moscow’s plea for a reconstruction loan. In the process of those events, America approved a reconstruction loan to Britain in 1946 (Kennedy et al. 870). America and the Soviet Union directed their resources in defense to guarantee their security measures and their international influence. In my opinion, America had the best advantage during the cold war. After the World War II, Americans feared a deteriorating economy, and in response, the Democratic administration took some steps to forestall an economic downturn. War factories and other government installations were sold to private businesses. The Employment Act of 1946 made it a government policy to promote maximum production, employment, and purchasing power. The GI Bill of Rights enabled eight million veterans to advance their education. The GI Bill also enabled the Administration to promise about $16 billion for veterans to buy farms, homes, and small businesses. Through stimulating the construction industry and raising educational levels, the GI Bill impressively nurtured the strong and prolonged economic expansion in the late 1940s and this overwhelmingly shaped the entire history of the postwar era (Kennedy et al. 859). The Second World War granted a powerful stimulus to American economy. While other countries were devastated by years of fighting, U.S. used the war crisis in reviving factories and rebuilding its depression-plagued economy. The source of the American economic prosperity of 1950s and 1960s rested on the strengthening of colossal military budgets. Internationally, the American economy had competitive advantages in high technology industries such as electronics, plastics and aerospace. Most scientific research and development activities received finance from the military budget (Kennedy et al 861). These research programs helped to unleash the economic growth. European and American companies controlled the flow of plentiful petroleum from the Middle East, and they kept prices low. While the Soviet Union directed its finance to the military and its efforts to extend its influence in Central and Eastern Europe, America used its military and other resources in building its economy. # 5 The main objectives of President Reagan in his first term (1981-1984) included reducing taxes and shrinking the federal government. During the first term, Reagan minimized the federal budget with an aim of reducing government expenditure, and also slashed taxes. During his campaigns, Reagan preached a political philosophy that denounced federal interference with local affairs, the elitism of arrogant bureaucrats, and favoritism for minorities (Kennedy et al. 977). Reduction of federal budgets involved cuts in social programs budgets, for example, food programs and job training centers. Reagan’s popularity influenced the Congress to approve his budget proposals and tax cut bills. In his eight years in office, Reagan added nearly $2 trillion to the state debt, which was greater than all of his predecessors combined. The tax reforms lowered individual tax rates, reduced estate taxes and created new tax-free savings plans for small investors. Reduction of the federal budget and tax reduction did not yield expected results; the economy had experienced worse economic recession than in the 1930s. The recession resulted in closure of businesses and an unemployment rate of 11 percent. Reagan eased many regulations, pushed for tax reforms bills, but he was not able to have a balanced budget (Kennedy et al. 978). In his second term, Reagan concentrated on the foreign policy issues where he renewed the cold war. He criticized the Soviet Union’s actions and embarked on enhancing the capabilities of the U.S. army. In 1985, Reagan together with Soviet leader Gorbachev initiated the process of ending the cold war. Reagan faced a serious setback following revelations that the majority of his top administrators had taken part in an Iran-Contra scandal, and they were alleged to be displaying unethical behavior. Courts were the principal instrument of Reagan in cultural wars involving the religious rights. The religious movements raised issues relating to affirmative action and abortion; the courts ruled against the will of the religious movements. The 1988 meeting in Moscow between President Reagan and Gorbachev brought the cold war to a conclusion (Kennedy et al. 984). Reagan’s administration had a positive impact on America. Reagan’s economic policies led to new thinking for policy makers, since the reduction of taxes, government spending, and easing regulations stimulated investments. Today we still feel his impact especially on his economic policies (Reaganomics) and foreign policies. The economic policy makers still refer to Reaganomics while formulating same. While making fiscal and monetary policies, policy makers address both the supply and demand sides. Policy makers look into the supply side of the economy with relation to what happened during the tax cuts and reduction in government spending during Reagan’s presidency. Reagan’s economic policies led to the budget deficit and international trade deficit which were as a result of foreign loans. Tax cuts and increase in defense expenditure resulted in the budget deficit. These policies led to closure of many businesses including banks and savings institutions. Regardless of the damaging revelation in respect of his administration, Reagan is amongst the beloved and most popular presidents in American history (Kennedy et al. 990). He changed the views of most Americans on international relations, through his concerns on various foreign issues. For example, the signing of the INF treaty between President Reagan and Soviet leader Gorbachev in Washington, D.C., in December 1987; the treaty banned all intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe. # 6 Bill Clinton’s tenure as the president of America lasted for two terms from 1993 to 2000. In his first term, Clinton appointed several racial and ethnic minorities in his cabinet including Henry Cisneros at Housing and Urban Development, among others. He also appointed women in his cabinet including first female attorney general Janet Reno among others. On taking office, one of his first initiatives stirred controversy by advocating the end of the ban on gays and lesbians in the armed forces. His decision faced fierce opposition, and the president had to adopt a do not tell; do not ask policy that quietly allowed lesbian and gay sailors and soldiers without admitting their presence in the army (Kennedy et al. 1000). In his first attempt to reform the health-care system, in a dramatic but politically and personally risk innovation, the president appointed his wife Hillary Clinton as the director of the task force with the mandate of redesigning the medical-service industry. After its work, the task force unveiled its plan, which received criticism earlier before it arrived in the Congress (Kennedy et al. 1000). Later Clinton carried out significant reforms in the health care in the form of a patients’ bill of rights. The deficit reduction bill and the buoyant economy enabled the shrinking of the deficit to its lowest level in over 10 years. The passage of the gun control law Brady Bill and the anticrime bill helped in containing the violence that rocked America in the 1990s. The anticrime bill enclosed a ban on numerous types of assault arms. Among other causes of violence among the young Americans, guns sustained most of the political attention. The laws restricted the guns abundance and accessibility (Kennedy et al. 1001). The majority of Republicans in the Congress compelled Clinton to sign the Welfare Reform Bill, which deeply reduced welfare grants. Investigations revealed that the funds for Clinton’s second term campaigns were from questionable sources. In 1998, soaring tax revenues generated by the prosperous economy produced a balanced federal budget for the first time in 30 years. The greatest political advantage was continued economic growth, and in 2000, the economy experienced the longest period of growth in American history. The unemployment rates declined to 4 percent, inflation rates were low, and the Asian financial turmoil had minimal impacts on the American economy (Kennedy et al. 1003). The end of the Cold War necessitated Clinton to come up with a diplomatic formula to replace anticommunism in the conduct of U.S. foreign affairs. Like his predecessors, with no clear goal, he dispatched American troops as part of the peacekeeping mission in various war torn countries including Somalia, Rwanda, and Haiti among others. Clinton facilitated the trade relations between U.S. and China especially through the passage of the China trade bill. During his presidency, his administration focused on the Middle East in international peacemaking and the fight against terrorism (Kennedy et al. 1006). One of the scandals that faced Clinton included the allegations about his sexual affair with Monica Lewinsky. In December 1998, this scandal led to the passage of the two articles of impeachment against the president; perjury before a grand jury and obstruction of justice (Kennedy et al. 1008). President Clinton had a positive impact on America, especially on foreign issues, economic issues, and security issues. In economic terms, he facilitated international trade through strengthening trade relations with China and supported the formation of the World Trade Organization. He also supported the formation of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993, which created a free trade zone encompassing America, Canada, and Mexico. Foreign issues comprised peacekeeping and war against terrorism. Works Cited Kennedy, David, Lizabeth, Cohen, and Thomas Bailey. The American Pageant: A History of the Republic, 14th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2008. Print. Read More