Introduction to the Cold WarThe reasons as to why the Cold War began, revolve around the rivalry between both superpowers of the Soviet Union and the United States. Soon after World War Two came to a end, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave what is known as the Iron Curtain Speech. In which he provided a warning that described the influence of Communism taking over parts of Europe. What followed next, is that of the US introducing the Truman Doctrine. Which had been a policy that stated the United States were to fight off the spread of Communism wherever it went, especially in Greece and Turkey. Another political play made by the US, was that of the Marshall Plan. To where it was a strategy that gave 13 billion dollars to Western Europe, in order to help the economic recovery of Europe. At the time, this caused tensions with the Soviets, believing that the Marshall plan was only for the sole reason of interfering with internal affairs of Europe. All these actions made by both sides correlated to form the pacts of NATO and Warsaw. Alliances that were formed to protect one another in case of an invasion, as well as to unify and strengthen one another.
Revolutions-Czechoslovakia |
The revolution in Czechslovakia took place during the later stages of the Cold War. To where it had only lasted from November 17 to December 29, 1989. This particular stage in the Cold War had been referred to as the "Velvet Revolution", due it being a non-violent transition of power, not a single life was lost during the process. Once the revolution came to an end, it had resulted in the end of Communism, and the joining of of NATO. Four years later however, a Velvet Divorce took place, to where it had been the splitting of Czechoslovakia into different countries. The two new nations that were created from the divorce, were of Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Revolutions-Cuba
Due to the belief that the United States were exploiting Latin American countries, a man by the name of Fidel Castro used his intelligence in order to make a change within his country. For many years, a tyrannical dictator named Fulgencio Batista had been leading the country into economical ruin, ignorance, and a increase in deaths among children. This all changed in the late 1950s, where Castro finally was able to rise to power, due to corruption within the government. During this time of revolution, US officials had been supporting Batista, and immensely disapproved of what was going on within the nation. Later on, it would appear that Castro had been leaning toward the fact of becoming communist, seeing it as the best fit for Cuba. Because of this, tensions rose between the United States and Cuba, in which it almost even led to the end of the world. Such as that of the Cuban Missile Crisis, being that the US had nuclear weapons in Turkey, the Soviet Union retaliated by entrusting Cuba with nukes as well. This frightened the US, and so therefor, negotiations were made in order to stop future bloodshed.
Revolutions-China
During the years 1966-1976, a cultural revolution took place where a Chinese man named Mao Zedong led a movement with one goal in mind, to overthrow the government using the nation's youth. From the very beginning, Mao had been a Communist Party leader and truly believed that the other Communist leaders of China were leading the nation into the wrong direction. Prior to this revolution, Mao had led what is known as the Great Leap Forward, in which it was a complete failed attempt to improve China's economic situation. By using the influence of a Little Red Book, Mao was able to influence the Chinese youth into obeying anything he pleased. By successfully maintaining the cultural revolution, it had resulted in a total of thirty million deaths, as well as the full-on transition to a Communist based country.
The Vietnam War
Prior to the start of the Vietnam War, the French Government had controlled Vietnam. Resulting in a revolution that made France depart from Vietnam. The leader of the revolts was known as Ho Chi Minh, someone who would later on lead the fight against the US. As time went on, North of Vietnam transitioned to Communism, forcing the United States to take action by declaring war against North Vietnam. This particular war had been brutal, resulting in a long time of 1955-1975 which would then give a loss to the United States.
Soviet-Afghan War
The war in Afghanistan had been a conflict in which the Soviet Union entered it only for the reason of spreading Communism to countries surrounding them. While in Afghanistan, the Soviets had encountered freedom fighters known as Mujahideen. People who had been given highly effective weapons by the military of the United States. The Soviet-Afghan war is known as one of the last major events within the Cold War, making the conflict last from the years of 1979-1989. Because of the fighting between the two, it had resulted in the Soviet failure to end the Mujahideen insurgency, even after one million Afghans were killed, compared to that of only 13 thousand Soviets that were killed in action.
Korean War
The Korean War is known as the conflict to where North Korea invaded South Korea by penetrating the 38th parallel, being that the Soviet Union controlled the north and the United States controlled the south. When the war broke out, both American and Soviet troops departed from Korea. However, the Soviet Union was continuing to give North Korea weapons, tanks, airplanes, and money in order to take over all of Korea. Soon after, the United Nations got involved, resulting in the leadership of Douglas MacArthur in order to push back North Korean forces all the way back to the 38th parallel. On July 27, 1953, an armistice was signed, resulting in the agreement to stop fighting for a certain time. Which technically means that the war is still going on today, but there is just no bloodshed going on between North and South Korea.
End to the Cold War
In the year 1991, the long and eventful conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union finally came to an end. At this time, the leader of the Soviet Union had been of Mikhail Gorbachev, and the president of the United States had been of Ronald Reagan. Both leaders went back and forth with policies that they believed would give them an edge in the Cold War. Ultimately though, it was the intelligence of Ronald Reagan that eventually won the war and led to the termination of the Soviet Union. In many logical ways, Ronald Reagan arranged the policies of increasing the spending of budget on military. Which would then later on result in the Soviet Union increasing their budget to an even higher percentage. By playing political games with the Soviets, Reagan led them into an economic collapse, as well as to the complete end to the USSR.
Reason to start of the Cold War
Joseph Stalin had been the Communist leader from 1922 till his death by heart-attack in 1953. For thirty years he had lived as dictator and even managed to lead the Soviet Union into victory against the Nazi party. Believing that the Soviet Union would be attacked again by Eastern Europe, Stalin had gone against his promise to Churchill and Roosevelt by refusing to keep Communism within the USSR only. In doing so, Stalin had set up control over parts of Europe, making the Soviet Union surrounded by countries that would delay any enemy. Because of this, the United States had no choice but to intervene with European affairs, such as the strong threat of Communist influence taking over Europe. Thus meaning, that Stalin is the true reason as to why tensions rose, which ultimately led to to the beginning of the Cold War that would last over forty years.