Was the world made safe for democracy by the U.S. actions during the Cold War?Historians generally date the Cold War from the end of World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It refers to the intense rivalry for world domination between the United States and its allies on one hand and the Soviet Union and other communist countries on the other. While there were no direct military conflicts between the two superpowers, there were several armed clashes with military support by one side or the other or both. In the early 1950s, the Korean War pitted the South Korea, United States and others under the flag of the United Nations against North Korea and Communist China. Show
Cold War Arms RaceCold War tensions grew ever more grave with the invention of atomic weapons by both sides. Both the U.S. and the Soviets invested in massive nuclear build-ups designed to so threaten the devastation of the other that an attack would be unthinkable. Both countries greatly increased military spending. However, nuclear deterrents did not stop ground wars between other nations and intense economic and diplomatic competition. The arms race even extended into space with programs first of satellites and then of manned space flights. The U.S. adopted the policy of containment first developed by diplomat George Kennan. It did not seek to push back the Soviets from Eastern Europe or Communist Chinese on the theory that their own internal weaknesses would eventually lead to their collapse. It was, however, committed to preventing the spread of communism ("containment") to new territories. In the 1950s, nationalist forces in Vietnam tried to overthrow the French colonial power and drew support from neighboring Communist China. Fearing what was called the "domino effect", the U.S. stepped in when the French were defeated to prevent losing neighboring Southeast Asian nations one by one to communist-aligned forces. Eventually, the North Vietnamese army forced a U.S. withdrawal after staggering losses of soldiers and civilians on both sides. Americans' Response to the Vietnam WarAmerican involvement in Vietnam was very unpopular at home. President Lyndon Johnson, fearing an expansion of communism in Southeast Asia, committed even more troops to the conflict. With political opposition mounting, Johnson refused to seek election in 1968. President Richard Nixon sought a military victory with more and more American troops, provided by a draft of young American men. Colleges proved to be particularly strong staging grounds for protests against U.S. policy, sometimes leading to illegal or even violent demonstrations. Protesters clashed with police at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago, providing an ugly window on a breakdown in the U.S. political process. That led both parties to re-examine their nomination policies to be more inclusive to minorities, women and young voters who felt that they had been frozen out of the top level of decision-making. American economic superiority eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. President Ronald Reagan instituted a major build up of military forces in the 1980s. The Soviet Union attempted to match American commitments but could not sustain the effort, leading the Russians to severe domestic problems. The Soviets could no longer keep in place the troops necessary to keep satellite countries in submission, and Eastern European countries began to throw off Soviet rule. The Soviet Union itself split into Russia and several independent nations. The Cold War was over, leaving the United States as the world's only superpower. However, the Russians retained their nuclear arsenal, and the rise of religious and ethnic tensions in the Middle East and China's dramatic rise as a major economic and military power created new challenges to world peace. Supporting QuestionsWhat ideas influenced US policy during the Cold War?
How did changes in technology impact global cooperation/alliances during the Cold War?
How effective was U.S. diplomacy in creating or eroding safety in the world?
Additional Resources
Iowa Core Social Studies Standards (9th-12th Grade)Listed below are the Iowa Core Social Studies content anchor standards that are best reflected in this source set. The content standards applied to this set are high school-age level and encompass the key disciplines that make up social studies for students 9th through 12th grade.
Which of the following explains why Korea and Vietnam were viewed as Shatterbelts during the Cold War quizlet?Which of the following explains why Korea and Vietnam were viewed as shatterbelts during the Cold War? Korea and Vietnam experienced conflict due to a dispute between global powers.
Which of the following best explains the effect of the DMZ on the Korean Peninsula as a culture region?Which of the following best explains the effect of the DMZ on the Korean Peninsula as a culture region? The Korean people are divided into a multistate nation that has a common heritage and ethnicity.
Which of the following best explains the effect of the French language and culture on the federal state?Which of the following best explains the effect of French language and culture on the federal state of Canada's political power? French language and culture act as a centrifugal force in Canada because independence movements in Quebec have attempted to secede the province from Canada.
Which of the following best describes the boundary that created the province of Nunavut to provide greater autonomy for the First Nations?Which of the following describes an example of a consequent boundary? Canada created the province of Nunavut to provide greater autonomy for the First Nations. The province of Nunavut is a consequent boundary because it was drawn to accommodate the existing cultural landscape.
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Which of the following explains why Korea and Vietnam were viewed as shelterbelts during the Cold War?
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