Argumentative Essay On The Cold War

During the second World War, the United States and the Soviet Union fought together as allies against the Axis powers. However, the relationship between the two nations was a tense one. Soon after the Germans’ defeat, Soviet expansionism in Eastern Europe fueled many Americans’ fears of a Russian plan to control the world. In addition, President Reagan believed that the spread of communism anywhere threatened freedom everywhere. In such a hostile atmosphere, it almost seemed like the Cold War was inevitable.

He believed that if he did contact them it would divert German troops eastwards. This obviously was proven to be incorrect since Hitler was already planning on focusing his troops towards the East in an attempt to take Russia. Stalin also made the mistake in putting too much faith the in the diplomatic aspect of the pact, believing that if tensions were to rise between both nations, Hitler would inform Stalin the breaking of the pact before war, in which Stalin would be able to take the appropriate methods to prepare for war. Finally, Stalin remained fairly ignorant to the warning signs given to him by Russian spies about the Nazi plans as well as the deteriorating relations between both nations. According to Churchill Stalin proved to be “the most completely outwitted bungler of the Second World

In the aftermath of World War II, growing tensions and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union resulted in the Cold War. Having lasted for much of the second half of the 20th century, this state of economical, political and propaganda-based confront, with a lack of military conflict and open hostility, is considered a turning point in modern history. The root cause of the conflict was fundamentally the belief in completely opposing ideologies. The confrontation between capitalism and communism led to an international power struggle that left the world on the brink of disaster.

“The Middle East, which has been converted by Russia ,Would today be prized more than ever by international communism.” Thesis: While all Cold War presidents wanted to stop communism,they all had different ideas on how to accomplish that issue. President truman used economic aid. President Eisenhower focused on military aid. President Kennedy used military use.

Contextualization and introduction The Vietnam War served as a major turning point of the Cold War, during which the American public split in its support of the conflict. As a proxy in the superpower conflict between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR), the US entered to support the South Vietnamese who were at war against the communist North. To support the South and its Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), the United States sent military advisory, conducted airstrikes, and committed ground forces with the hope of curbing the growth of communist ideology in the Asian sphere of influence through a communist defeat.

The Cold War soon begins after the end of WW2 when Truman, the successor of Roosevelt became president in 1945 due to ideological differences between the two superpowers, United States and the Soviet Union. The Cold War had a massive impact on US politics as could be seen through the creation of political consensus between the Republican and Democrats in relation to the policy of containment that includes the Marshall plan, the establishment of the NATO, the NSC-68 report and also the Truman Doctrine as the response of George Kennan’s containment theory, which caused US politics to be specifically targeted at the Soviet Union. While there are political consensus to contain Communism, the Cold War had primarily polarised politics when McCarthy

Stanley Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove satirises the cold war and the actions of politicians during times of worldwide fear. The characters General Jack Ripper and Buck Turgidson reflect the drastically absurd political mindset of America in the 1950’s and 60’s. Strangelove satirises the idea of Mutually Assured Destruction- the notion that a country having more nuclear weapons than their enemy and being able to cataclysmically destroy them, brings peace and safety.

Many Americans post-world war II were afraid of the spread of communism because of their belief in the domino theory, if one country falls then the rest will too. Under external and internal pressures such as the failure of the Potsdam conference Harry Truman adopted a foreign policy during the early years of the cold war ( the late 40’s) called containment. The objective was to stop the spread of communism around the world by creating military alliances such as NATO ,and providing aid to unstable/weak countries through the Marshall Plan. Unfortunately, like many other U.S foreign policies it was effective at times, but also dreadfully ineffective. In order to combat the continuous spread of communism, Truman passed the Truman doctrine, which allowed for foreign intervention in countries affected by Communism.

Germany and its allies responded and when peace negotiations were finally spoken of, Trotsky turned the meeting into a propaganda forum. Between Lenin’s position and Bukharin’s call for war Trotsky proposed the formula “No war, No peace.” The Germans resumed their offensive attack in mid-February. Following this Trotsky resigned and was made commissar of war, with the task of rebuilding the Red Army from its ashes. Though his army was small it was a formidable force, however Trotsky was criticized for dropping his beliefs and recruiting previously tsarist officers and putting them to work under communist military supervision.

In a time when the United States started to the assistance of the Allies through the Cash and Carry Policy to the begging of the long and harsh Cold War, the United States attempted to practice isolationism. It is in this context that America's policy of isolationism would be put to the test and America ultimately would be tossed into another world conflict. The two significant causes that lead to the failure of American isolationism were pressure from abroad and popular opinion in favor of the war. One significant cause for America’s policy of isolationism failing was pressure from abroad.(A) Pressure from abroad ended American isolationism because America was angered by Japan's direct attack and the fear of the Allies losing the war.(R)

"The Cold War was an ideological contest between the western democracies especially the United States and the Communist countries that emerged after the Second World War" (Tindall 972). The United States and the Soviet Union had differences over issues such as human rights, individual liberties, economic freedom, and religious belief. "Mutal suspicion and a race to gain influence and control over the so called nonaligned or third world countries further polarized" (Tindall 945). After the WWII Soviets dominate European countries and thought the U.S. had the same motives.

Many essayists, scholars, economists, and political leaders have argued the causes of the Cold War. They all have different interpretations, which are unique in their own nature. In chapter two of “Major Problems in American History Since 1945,” essayists Arnold A. Offner and John Lewis Gaddis disagree over the causes of the cold war. Offner argues that President Truman was primarily responsible and gives nothing more than the interpretation of a single personal ideology (Offner, 55-63). However, John Lewis Gaddis argues that Joseph Stalin was primarily responsible for the cold war and was uncompromising with policies.

Truman denounced Soviet actions over a continued occupation of Iran, as well as aggressive intentions in Turkish Dardanelles where Stalin was hoping to achieve access to the Mediterranean, and a battle for control of ideological influence during the

Kennan proposed that the United States aid in the development of democratic countries by giving them economic and political support, military equipment and training, and also waging war against communist regimes if necessary. Rebels would be given support so that they could overthrow the ruling communist governments. Kennan 's ideas were heavily criticized by newspapers, but his idea of blocking the expansion of Soviet influence remained a key interest and main strategy of the United States throughout the Cold War. Containment was first used during the Korean War in which NATO forces intervened and fought off North Korean and Chinese forces from taking over all of Korea and creating a communist government. The Korean War ended

Truman was in favor of containment, simply keeping North Korea north of the 38th parallel. Seeing this, MacArthur overstepped his bounds and openly criticized the President. Truman promptly had him removed. During this time there were other alternatives preferred by different politicians in Washington. Isolationism, detente(a form of friendliness that just ignores the problem), and rollback, which was what MacArthur favored.