The Berlin Airlift Before WWII

Berlin was known as the centerpiece of the Cold War. Being the capital city of Germany, the desire to have power over it was extremely high. Germany was split into two, the East, taken over by the Soviet Union, and the West, taken over by the United States, Britain, and France. Tensions rose between each country on who would be able to have power over Berlin. Since the city was on the east side and up to 100 miles inside Soviet-controlled East Germany, the Soviets had power; However, the West would not allow them to take over the capital city so easily. (Dearden)

Entering WWII brought America out of its depression and into the complicated world of political affairs. The change of U.S. foreign policy from the end of the First World War to the end of the Korean War changed drastically as the U.S. became a stronger world power. From isolationism to encouragement of interventions, it can be said that the U.S. reversed its policy within a few decades. The shift in its policy can be attributed to the international wars that got the U.S. involved with world politics, involvement of U.S. presidents in the world affairs, and the growing power of other foreign powers, such as the Soviet Union.

Did you know that eleven million people died in the holocaust? Six million of those people were Jews. The Jews were captured and taken to concentration camps because the Nazis simply hated them. Concentration camps were made to kill off all of the Jews. They did this because they saw them as a problem to Germany. I am researching about concentration camps. The two things that I am writing about is why concentration camps were established, and what the Nazis did to the inmates in concentration camps.

Truman’s Policy of “Containment” was made in March 1947.Truman’s Policy had economic, cultural, and political aspects. The Political aspect of his policy was the Truman Doctrine which said that the United States of America would support free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside forces or pressures. The cultural aspect of this doctrine was the freedom and choice government versus totalitarian and no choice government, so pretty much, you never got to choose anything and you were forced to do the things that the Soviet Union wanted you to do. Then lastly the economic aspect of this doctrine was the Marshall Plan which said that it would prevent countries from falling to communists and it would aid the Americans. The Marshall Plan also gave $17 billion to 16 countries(not the soviet union).

War is based on fear and threats. The Cold War and The Butter Battle Book have many similarities in people and events and should be exposed to children through children literature books.

After WWII, there was communism fever in the northern part of the world. This domineering outbreak of communism threatened the US and our capitalist allies. Through the outbreaks, the US took things to drastic measures and did everything in their power to stop communism, causing multiple wars and combat.

Simply put, In a Communist system, individual people do not own land, factories, or machinery. Instead, the government or the whole community owns these things. The ultimate goal of communism is to create a classless society and creating a dictatorship (A government in which one ruler has complete control over a country.) For nearly 35 years, the Cold War took place between the Soviet Union and the United States. The war was referred to as cold because there was never any physical fighting between the two countries. The Cold War essentially began due to political and military clashes between the two countries. After WW2, the United States sought for stronger united Germany and independent nations in Eastern Europe. The United States president

The 80 's was a pivotal and controversial decade in American history. It can be characterized by prominent political, religious, military, economic and social aspects. While turbulence was common, it is also noted for being one of the most influential and important periods for America and the rest of the world as well.

Several social changes in the post-war years opened women to feminism's message. P. 2, The demand for a larger and more skilled labor pool generated by the Cold War, and postwar consumer economy were the driving force cause American society to become more open to feminism’s message. No doubt WW II created the demand for expanded women’s roles in the workplace, Document 1. Having proved their equal abilities during the war, they stood ready willing and able to contribute moving forward. Nevertheless attitudes toward women staying in the workforce after World War II were not favorable. Communism, “the red scare” and the mistrust of women's associations with socialist labor movements to gain legal status all combined to keep women held

World War II dramatically changed the United States turning it from an isolationist nation to a superpower, ready to lead the world. However, the war also affected the internal landscape of the country; as tensions increased between the United States and the Soviet Union, so did tensions between democracy and communism. During the 1940s and 1950s, a hysteric fear of communism swept the United States, as many Americans felt that communism was on a path of total take over, threatening the existence of the United States. Fear of the threat of communism filled the United States following World War II due to the planting of the roots of communist fears before the end of the war, the spread of communism throughout the world, and propaganda and internal

Germany has been a nation that had been divided for many centuries, the Germanic tribes had avoided being taken over by the Roman Empire, they had been the seat of the Holy Roman Empire, then after the Holy Roman Empire fall, it became a handful of individual kingdoms and states, with Persia and Austria being the biggest contenders to make a unified Germany. Germany in the early 1860’s was divided mostly because of failed politics and religious divides. One man was the most important driving force behind these Germanic kingdoms becoming the superpower that is Germany. Otto von Bismarck, the Minister President of Prussia and a friend to Persian king, Wilhelm I. Prussia had tried for years to unify the nations, but it wasn’t until Bismarck came along that this began to become a reality.

Some historians believe the Cold War was inevitable because of the hostilities from both America and the Soviet Union after World War II. America believed that the USSR was an expansionist country trying to spread an evil, communistic idea throughout the world. Although the countries never directly fought against each other, as they only fought in proxy wars, there was still extreme conflict. The United States responded to the Soviets actions in Germany, Europe, and their national actions. These responses were justifiable, or so many Americans at the time believed. Many realized that the Soviet Union was a terrible foe to face, as George Kennan, a respected American diplomat, noticed. He said in “The Sources of Soviet Conduct,” “This means

By 1945, those involved in the Second World War were exhausted. There had been millions of casualties, millions were still suffering and countries were in turmoil. After six years of war, those involved were ready for it to be over. By the end of 1944 the Axis had collapsed. Once Germany unconditionally surrendered on May 8, 1945, the Allies were hoping Japan would surrender too. However, Japan was keen on fighting till the very end. As a result, the war was not over. The Allies had to make a decision how to conquer Japan and end the War. The end result was the use of the atomic bomb. Although there is controversy around the use of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the use of the bomb is justified because it ended the Second World War.

The Yalta conference and the Potsdam conference were two sessions or meetings held during the Second World War., These conferences were held for The Big Three to manage their differences and come to several agreements among themselves. The Big Three included the United States (USA), Great Britain and the Soviet Union (USSR/Russia). The Big Three – also referred to as The Grand Alliance – were always known to be enemies and weren’t fond of each other, although had one thing in common and that was their hatred for Germany. They all had this recurring hatred for Germany, and would do anything to watch it burn to the ground, to the point of uniting with one another to help defeat Germany. In 1945, they decided to hold two conferences, this was to help them decide and help one another figure out what to do and how they can organize the world after the war ends. Both these conferences were also held so each of these countries could decide their wants and needs equally and bluntly, so no surprises could be discovered later on. And it was only discovered throughout these conferences how strong the tension between USA and USSR was and how it started to grow rapidly.

The reunification of Germany was the ultimate cause of collapse of the Soviet control over Eastern Europe. Prior to 1990, the Berlin Wall created the divide between the East Bloc and the West Bloc. It was built around West Berlin to stop East Germans fleeing the Communist State. The wall was also viewed as a protective shell around East Berlin while the west presented it as a prison wall.The whole of Communist Europe was swept by revolution in 1989, one by one, all the Communist states were overthrown by democracy, and by 1990, this great divide brought the Eastern European countries solidarity and democracy.