The American Involvement in the Cold War

The role of the States at the end of solid ground struggle II was where the origins of policing the world originate. the States had been engaged in a very costly war in terms of dollars as thoroughly as lives. But, despite the expense the unite States came out of domain of a function fight II better than any other nation that was involved. The Second World state of war was a battle between the associate and axis Powers. The Allied Powers consisted of the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet compact, China, and France. This war was seen as the fight against subject area socialist Germany, and therefore resulted in a majority of the battles fought on German and Russian soil.The aftermath left the Soviet Union in bad hammer. rigorous to twenty million Russians had died fighting the war, which accounted for about eight percent of their population. Conversely, n superstar of the fighting was done on American soil, and while the United States suffered in terms of casualtie s it was nothing compared to the loss Russia had endured. Because the war would not end until the Axis Powers fully surrendered to the Allied Powers, the United States was forced to use the first atomic warfare in history. The atom bomb would later serve as Americas greatest possession.Stalin, the Premier of the Soviet Union had always distrusted the American and frame intentions. Because of Stalins aggression and attitude pertaining to Soviet influence on Europe, the postwar side on Russia had turned into a stand come to. This became the origin of the algid War. The Cold War, seen as a battle between communism and capitalism, was in reality a more complex struggle over a broad move of ideological, economic, and strategic issues. Over the side by side(p) several years the United States would turn over more money on military and defense than ever before. some(prenominal) measures were taken to ensure that the same mistakes at the end of World War I would not be repeated. T he first in a serial of measures was a postwar conference involving President Truman and the Soviet Foreign Minister, V. M. Molokov, where Truman controlled the holy meeting and basically scolded the Soviets for not honoring agreements on Poland. Truman told the Russians just where the got off and generally bossed the whole meeting. This symbolized Americas strong-arm stance against communism and signified the position we would hold throughout the Cold War.The next quantity in Trumans agenda was to work with Congress to pass the subject Security Act of 1947, which was intentional to strengthen defense operations. This act created a single Department of Defense, and created the interchange Intelligence Agency, or CIA. These two new agencies acted as the first step in atomic warfare management. Continuing to act as police force of the world and leader of capitalism, Truman drafted the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan, which complemented the Truman Doctrine, was a program of p rominent scale economic and military aid to Europe.Considered by some, this was the most innovative piece of foreign policy in American History. Where over the next four years the United States contributed over $12 billion to a highly successful recovery effort. The Soviet Union stilled commanded a quit on highway, rail, and river traffic to West Berlin. As a result, the United States responded by entering into a peace duration military alliance this being the first time since the American Revolution.The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) a have costing $1. billion, enabled the basing of all four United States Army divisions into Western Europe. twelve nations agreed to sign this pact that stated an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all. Consequently, a few months later, Stalin lifted the blockade which had do the city a symbol of resistance to communism. Between the creation of NATO, the Nati onal Security Act and CIA, and the Marshall Plan, America was dictating their position with Russia and communism.These measures made it practical for Americans to become more comfortable with the Cold War. While all of these political policies were being put into action, Americans were settling back into the ideology of family and free enterp ascending. The post-war diaphragm became one of the most exciting in American history. With the rising thriftiness and feeling of consumerism, Americans were rebounding from their efforts in World War II. Capitalism was on the rise and the Apple Pie portrait of middle class suburban families was shaping the country.America was now the wealthiest country in the world and Americans had accumulated savings of $one hundred forty billion in 1945. Over the next two decades the gross national product more than tripled, signifying prosperity. Between 1945 and 1960, the gross national product would adopt from $213 billion to more than $500 billion, while real income would rise 25 percent. Included in these figures was the percent of American families owning homes, which grew from 43 percent to over 60 percent in this same time period this created the suburban explosion.This suburban lifestyle was intended to symbolize the superiority of capitalism over communism and imply that the American way of life would win the Cold War. Americans were again beginning to see the capitalist society they fought for, and the confidence aim of the country continued to rise throughout the 1960s. The people cannot create a great nation themselves great leaders must direct them. anyways the three Presidents who led America throughout the end of World War II and through the Cold War, there were many influential voices that helped to shape the views of the public.Among these influential people was a man named George F. Kennan. He was a process of the United States embassy to the Soviet Union and author of the long telegram which was send to the heads of state in Washington D. C. In his telegram, Kennan described the Soviets as insecure, inferior, and less(prenominal) advanced than Americans. As Russia came into contact with the economically advanced West, fear of more competent, more powerful, more highly organized societies, was the general message Kennan was severe to get across.Because he saw the country from the inside Kennan also believed the United Sates should pursue a policy of firm containment at every efflorescence where the Soviets show signs of encroaching upon the interest of a peaceful and stable world. This sentiment and idea of the relationship between the United States and Russia should have been widely recognised by Americans. They backed this idea of aggressive behavior, rather than a supine approach to the Cold War.Conversely, postwar liberal such as total heat Wallace, a Progressive Party leader, continued to seek cooperation with the Soviet Union and defended the participation of Communists in their organizations. These ideals were quickly silenced. The American majority, being extremely anti-communist, matte up relations with the Soviet Union should be harsh and firm. This period introduced American dominance in foreign policy. The ideals of personal freedom and opportunity were the crusade forces behind Western philosophy throughout the Cold War. Not but were these principles showcased, they were set as the benchmark of equality for the human race.