History of the United States After 1865
Introduction
The world war began at the mid-40s up to late 80s, and the reason it was referred to as cold war is that at the moment there existed no war between United States of America and Soviet Union. The reason being the two nation feared nuclear escalation. What causes the cold war to begin right after world war ll is the Soviet Union that wanted people to embrace the ideology which was against the Americans who believed in democracy. Both the countries feared clash of war given that America had atomic weapons which made Soviets fear. Also, the United States questioned why the Soviet get involved and controlled Eastern Europe region[1].
The America president did not like the leader of Soviet who was called Josef Stalin and Soviets had the fear that Western Europe will be used by America as a reason to attack them. The ideological difference causes the cold world war between the two countries. The two nations had two different kinds of system government, for instance, United States individuals were elected through free election compared to Soviet[2]. The political parties were establishment by people to address their political grievances. Economic was also another reason where the United States motivated people to do trading all over the world while the Soviet Union advocated having its market in the international commerce. These translated to lousy relationship and hatred between the two countries.
Also, there was power rivalry after the Second World War when Europe declined. There was sharing of power between the two countries and conflict started because both wanted to take Control of the other. The immediate cause of Cold war after the second war was caused by the dispute between the United States and Soviet Union which started during the time of peace-time conferences. The conflict began when President Truman advocated for Truman Doctrine and launched the Marshall Plan in the year 1947. Also Russian extended its influence in Europe and even before the decline of war Soviet started influencing Europe. At the end of the war in the year 1945, Soviet quickly takes control over Europe. The army of Soviet began by changing the post-war elections, however, the non- communists still have fewer followers though most people voted for communist. Therefore the communist became more popular and power in Italy and France in the year 1946 since they were voted in by many people.
Truman doctrine was issued by President Harry S. Truman in the year 1947 to help fight self-communism. Greece and Turkey were the two countries which were affected by communism during the Second World War, and the United States provided aid to them. Communism is referred to where a one-party controls production to create classes in the community. President Truman wanted to stop communism before it spread all over and he believed that it is essential to advocate for the Truman doctrine. Truman viewed that with no time communism will spread even to the third world countries and it will equalize individuals making them have a permanent government. The goal of Truman Doctrine was to help Turkey and Greece since they were the most affected by communism during the war period. The containment policy is defined as a process of preventing the spread of hostile power or ideology. This policy was introduced by the United States with the aim of stopping communism and controlling the Soviet Union by using several strategies such as economic, military and diplomatic[3]. The policy was put in place in the year 1946 and George Kennan who was a diplomat conceived for it after the Second World War. The Second World War led to changes in the government system policies, and these changes were influenced by George Marshall, Dean Acheson, and John Foster Dulles. The primary role of this containment policy was to combat the spread of hostile ideas of communists to other countries.
The containment policy was used in the Korean by the United States during the war. The United States assisted South Korea not to be invaded by North Korea who was communist. The US viewed that by using a rollback it will stop communist from attacking and it used its army to go to the 38th parallel. This translated to Chinese to come in and assist North Koreans to fight UN army in since they have crossed the 38th parallel. The United States did not like the idea of Korea becoming a communist since it will affect its interest in Japan and Philippines. The success of rollback used by the US will indicate that the Soviet Union is not active in East countries while the failure of Korea will have a contrary impact in countries like Japan. Also, the policy was used in Cuba during the decline of Batista dictatorial regime. Cuba was under communism power led by Fidel Castrol. The United States forced a naval blockade and said that if there will be any missile issued by Cuba, then they will fight them back. The Vietnam War which occurred in 1953 to 1975 is an example where the containment policy was employed by the United States. The US helped Southern Vietnamese against being attacked by North Vietnamese. The United States believed that being involved in the war, it will stop North Vietnam from invading the South and hinder communist rule in Indochina. The battle led the communist to take control over the Vietnam and US departure from the nation. It translated that the communist started influencing their immediate neighbors like Cambodia and Laos.
The role of Americans according to the comments of former CIA Station Chief John Stockwell is that they believed that they must assist the third countries and help them with arms and also get involved in battles. They supported states not to be invaded by communism countries such as the Soviet Union. Also, it was American role to fight communism and attacks those countries with ideologies of communism. According to John Stockwell, the CIA was working for national security which is known as a secret war which only benefited the United States. They did not gather intelligence as CIA but they funded terrorists, mercenaries with weapons and it was illegal. John reported that they disrupted the daily activities of the victim countries such as democratic functioning. In my opinion, it was evil of war because so many people lost their lives in the process[4].
Powerful nations such as the United States wants to take control over weak countries in order prove that they have the authority, power and to gain control over these weak nations. Such nations believe that the vulnerable countries are not able to handle their issues. Therefore, they bring their ideologies on them. If a fragile state tries to go against their will, the United States will attack them back. Stephen Kinzer who is the author tells how Americans used various means to overthrow the foreign government. Kinzer said that the campaign and ideology against communism made the people of America to believe that it is right and their obligation to influence and use forces against those who are of injustice[5] .The foreign government was also overthrown when their interest in economic matches with that of their ideologies. The United States applied various means to influence other countries to perform its binding. For instances, it uses time-honored tactics of diplomacy by rewarding the nations that support their ideologies and threatening the nations that go against their will. Other time it supports regimes which are friendly against those that are the uprising. For example, in the world war, it helped to do away with old authority and advocated for new ones.
In conclusion, the containment policy was successful for the Americans. The decline of communism and the USSR made United State to be the only global superpower. However being successful created new issues. For instance, United States was left the only superpower and it becomes more committed to matters of democratic nations of Eastern Europe and other countries. The United States continued to assist anti-communists army in Afghanistan which caused the establishment of Taliban and Qaeda. Due to this establishment, United State was more committed to international affairs, and these new issues made the United States be in debt. China and India are emerging powers who are involved in more international relations compared to the US. It will be of critical if United State will change the long-standing containment and replace it with a new one that is focused more in world affairs to keep its status as a global superpower.
REFERENCES
Kinzer, Stephen. 2007. Overthrow / America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq. New York: Henry Holt & Company.
Leffler, Melvyn P., and Odd Arne Westad. 2010. The Cambridge history of the Cold War. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Masuda, Hajimu. 2015. Cold War crucible: the Korean Conflict and the postwar world.
Stockwell, John. 1997. In search of enimies [sic]: a CIA story. Bridgewater, NJ: Replica Books.
Zarembka, Paul. 2008. The Hidden History of 9-11. New York: Seven Stories Press. http://www.myilibrary.com?id=264843.
[1] Masuda, Hajimu. 2015. Cold War crucible: the Korean Conflict and the postwar world.
[2] Leffler, Melvyn P., and Odd Arne Westad. 2010. The Cambridge history of the Cold War. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[3] Zarembka, Paul. 2008. The Hidden History of 9-11. New York: Seven Stories Press. http://www.myilibrary.com?id=264843.
[4] Stockwell, John. 1997. In search of enimies [sic]: a CIA story. Bridgewater, NJ: Replica Books.
[5] Kinzer, Stephen. 2007. Overthrow / America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq. New York: Henry Holt & Company.
