World Wars and The Cold War Essay examples - 1312 Words

Introduction The twentieth century saw two lengthy and costly wars, which were then followed by a Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States. World War I was deemed the â€Å"Great War† but many did not anticipate another war after it just a mere twenty years later†¦a war that was even more intense than the previous one. The Cold War that began in 1947 and lasted until 1991 but had the term â€Å"zero-sum game† tethered to it. Two differing political systems, communist and capitalist, were at odds with one another on multiple platforms. Many feared that a win for the Soviets would create a domino effect, where one country after another would fall to communism in Europe. The idea of the domino effect is typically associated with George†¦show more content†¦111). Because the realists central examination of historical events is on the struggles and shifts in power; and, geography at the core, there were several prominent aspects that might support this perspective. The unification of Germany, the inflexibility of alliances (between German and Britain for example); the sheer power of Britain; and, the fact that because Germany was geographically closer to Britain and therefore by proximity was more of a direct threat. All these factors formed queues that may have led to the war based on this perspective. Forsberg (n.d.) details the realist explanations for World War I as follows: †¢ Rise of German power: following German reunification in 1871, a disruption in the balance of power in one part of Europe was more likely to trigger a wider war. †¢ In addition to political unification, Germany was growing economically and had strong power conversions. †¢ The Triple Entente and Triple Alliance offered a near-perfect offset of each other, but some believe it failed because it was so rigid. †¢ Although power was balanced for the time being, Germany feared future imbalances, particularly from the growing power of Russia. †¢ Britain, the previous hegemon, had seen its power decline at the turn of the twentieth century; thus it could no longer guarantee the security of Europe. †¢ A domestic-level relist explanation holds that German domestic politics were unduly aggressive, causing the countryShow MoreRelatedThe World War And The Cold War2435 Words   |  10 Pagesthe Second World War and the cold war. The Capitalist and the Communist stood amidst tussle under the umbrella of super powers- USSR and the USA, focused only on its military and domestic power. The inception of UN Charter developed out of need for regulated peaceful international order after the Second World War didn’t gain much momentum till the end of Cold War. Initially, it was USA and the USSR regulating the limited economic and political interaction. However, the end of Cold war in the 1990sRead MoreThe Cold War On The World1695 Words   |  7 PagesThe Cold War had a major effect on the world that is still felt today in the 21st century. The Cold War (1945-1991) was a time of conflict between the western democracies and the communist governments of the world. Jimmy Carter onc e said â€Å"When I was in the White House, I was confronted with the challenge of the Cold War. Both the Soviet Union and I had 30,000 nuclear weapons that could destroy the entire earth and I had to maintain the peace.† Though no direct conflict ensued with the United StatesRead MoreThe Cold War On The World948 Words   |  4 PagesCivilizations 10B Period 5 May 17 2016 The Cold War’s Effects on the World The Cold War brought lots of mistrust, fear, and the very real threat of mutually assured destruction(M.A.D), but it also lead to the human race developing the ability to travel to space. The USSR was the first to sent a man in space,then the U.S. had to out do the USSR to prove we are a greater superpower so we put a man on the moon. This was one of the of the many beneficial outcomes of Cold War. Although there were many good andRead MoreThe Cold War On The World906 Words   |  4 Pages Looking back in history you can point out several vicious dictators and leaders that really made a negative impact on the world. These included Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Mao Zedong, and several others. The idea of absolute power to one person is a dangerous concept and can destroy a country in a short amount of time. The Cold War was a time of determination to stop communism in the eyes of the United States. It also was a time for America to better itself and finding the flaws within their Read MoreThe World Of The Cold War980 Words   |  4 PagesWhen the second world war ended in 1945, the U.S. emerged as a world power. Even though America was already a major player, the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as the defeat of Germany, made sure that America stayed on top. However, when the Cold War started in 1947, the race between the Soviet Union and the U.S. for top nation was on. In the last few months of the war, the world leaders would meet and decide on how to take care of Germany and the rest of Europe whenRead MoreWorld War II And The Cold War902 Words   |  4 Pagesinfluenced by some form of ideas and ideologies, or the desire for power, wealth, and land. The events that lead up to and occurred during World War II and the Cold War have been affected by both influences. Throughout both events, the strongest influence both events faced was the desire for land, power and wealth. World War II was a major conflict that affected the world, leaving behind several casualties, broken cities, and death. Under Adolf Hitler’s control, Nazi Germany sought to conquer and controlRead MoreThe Cold War On World War II1264 Words   |  6 PagesFrom numerous points of view, the Cold War started even before the weapons fell quiet in Germany and in the Pacific in 1945. Suspicion and doubt had characterized U.S. - Soviet relations for a considerable length of time and reemerged when the cooperation against Adolf Hitler who was chancellor of Germany during World War 2, was no more. The belief system and dreams of the after war world anticipated U.S. president Harry S Truman and Soviet Dictator Joseph Stalin from cooperating. Stalin expectedRead MoreThe Cold War On The World War II1171 Words   |  5 Pagesgentlemen I ______ am pleased to be presenting here today at the Cold War symposium. The cold war was a defining ideological conflict of the 20th century that has left a legacy into the 21st century. A critical event in the Cold War was the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. It presented a situation where both the United States and Soviet Union wielded the power of nuclear weapons, with the potential to descend the world into its first nuclear war. The Cuban Missile Crisis was initiated by the Soviet UnionRead MoreWorld War II : The Cold War1087 Words   |  5 PagesWorld War II was devastating to all powers involved, but especially to the countries of Europe who had a war raging in their backyard. After the war ended, the world was a disaster, with economic and political policies destroyed. However, the tension that encompassed the world did not pass with the ending of the war; instead, it grew under th e surface, strengthening animosity between countries with differing views, particularly the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the United StatesRead MoreWorld War II : The Cold War978 Words   |  4 PagesAfter World War II came to a stop in the mid-20th century, a new rivalry began known as the Cold War. This battle sorrowed the world’s two great powers the democratic, capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union against each other. Beginning in the late 1950s, space would become another tense stage for this competition, as each side wanted to prove the superiority of its technology, its military firepower and by extension its political-economic system. There were a lot that led up prior