After World War II: The Cold War
After World War II, there was a unique kind of conflict called this one. The cold war, which involved intense political, economic, and ideological disagreements between nations without engaging in any military combat, was nonviolent in contrast to the violent and lethal World War II. The main reason for this conflict was the contest for superpower among the participating countries.
The Historical Background
In terms of the war's historical background, it is known that it took place right after World War II between South Korea and North Korea as well as between the US and the Soviet Union. In both cases, one of the countries identified as communist, with the government in charge of all resources and output. The governments also controlled where people to work and stayed. Contrarily, the other nation was a capitalist whereby people and business controlled the production of goods. In addition, the people decided where to live and work rather than government deciding for them.
The Potsdam Conference and the Tension
The cold war between the Soviet Union and the US emanated from a Potsdam conference which was held in 1945. During this conference, the two nations were discussing on how to realign the post-war Europe, but the discussion resulted to threats. Although the two agreed in the division of Berlin, the Soviet Union was selfish and through the revolutionary leadership of Joseph Stalin, it wanted Poland as a buffer against any attacks that would occur in future (Friedman 67). On hearing of the demand by the Soviet Union, President Harry Truman opposed it and said that there is right of self-determination in the case of Poland and went ahead to reveal his atomic bomb demonstrating readiness for a fight. This increased the tension between the two nations. In response, after the realization of the destructive weapon, Stalin structured a program to be initiated to hasten the development of arms in order to counter the atomic bomb.
Strategies and Movements
In order to limit economic protest in Soviet, Truman called off the Lend-Lease Act that was responsible for the military and monetary aid from the US to nations surrounded by troops during World War II in which the Soviet Union was one of the beneficiaries (Leffler 323). However, the plan failed because the Soviet Union alternatively attained satellite states as a way of compensating for the lost funding. Soviet became become powerful and created a lot of menaces. In 1947, Truman doctrine was issued which was synonymous to Marshall Plan encouraging funding to reconstruct the European nation that had been ruined by the Second World War in order to prevent Soviet from penetrating into their governments which were unstable.
The Berlin Blockade
Finally, Soviet was able to control Eastern Europe, which included half of the Germany capital, Berlin. On the other hand, West Berlin, as well as Western Germany, was in control of the US. In 1948, out of Soviet Union's persistence, it blocked railroads and roads heading to West Berlin. This resulted in Berlin, supported by United States, Great Britain, and France to send troops to the Soviet by air which was the final blow and Soviet surrendered to the fight.
The Korean Conflict
The next scenario of the cold war was between North Korea and South Korea which were two countries formed as result of Korea dividing after world war II. While North Korea side was communist, their counterpart was capitalist. After the North Korean army attacked South Korea, the US was provoked to send military to help the South Korea while China sent troops to help North Korea. This war continued and was terminated in 1953, and neither side won. The US and the Soviet Union had engaged in a nuclear race. The Soviet influenced Cuba in 1959 and it became communist. Missiles were secretly put in the nation as a result. However, President Kennedy sent warships to contain Cuba since he was afraid of Soviet's plans. It was his hope that the Soviet would remove the missile in the country after this act. As he hoped, after six days nuclear war seemed possible, and the Soviet was forced to remove the missiles out of fear.
The Impact and Reflection
The cold war significant in that, finally, the US emerged as the superpower nation in the world in terms of ideology. In addition, communism was able to be triumphed over by capitalism. It also enhanced greatly the appeal for democracy. Also as a result of the cold war, many communist states were able to transition to democracy and capitalist based economies.
The US-North Korea Relations
The impact of the cold war was the widening ties between the US and North Korea. This was facilitated by the fact that the Soviet Union laid its impression on North Korean during the nuclear race in Cuba. This made North Korean oppose the US and through Kim II-Sung, and his politics and ideas, it went ahead to preach against outside noncommunist countries. Up to today, North Korean and the United States relations are poor. This has been evidenced recently whereby North Korean has been testing nuclear bombs to engage in the United States.
Conclusion
As per as my reflection on the cold war, a good relationship between all nations is vital and cold war should not be tolerated at all cost. This is because, if two nations are engaged in a cold war, although it may not affect citizens of that particular nation physically, it leads to social problems, stress, and suffering. In addition, when two nations are involved in cold war, the one defeated will always feel intimidated and oppressed and from time to time it will think of revenge as witnessed between the US and North Korea.
Works cited
Friedman,Norman. The Fifty-Year War: Conflict and Strategy in Cold War. Naval Institute Press, 2007.
Leffler, Melvyn. A Preponderance of Power: National Security, the Truman Adminstration, and Cold War. Stanford University Press, 1992.
