The Cold War On American Politics - 947 Words

When one U.S. historian wrote, â€Å"the Cold War was undoubtedly the most significant factor shaping the American experience during the second half of the twentieth century†, they were likely referring to the Cold War’s colossal influence on American economics, military buildup, and social climate. The Cold War’s effect on these three topics resulted in a back and forth between the United States and its citizens, leaving the nation completely different than it had been at the midpoint of the century. In addition, the Cold War’s widespread effects were heightened by the fact that it also happened to span decades, officially ending in nineteen ninety-one. The arms race was a large portion of the Cold War and was characterized by the military build up in both the Soviet Union and in the United States. The United States military placed a tremendous amount of funds into elevating our weapons capabilities. In fact, â€Å"over the entire period 1948-86, real m ilitary purchases cumulated to a total of $6,316 billion, averaging about $162 billion per year ( U.S. Military Spending In The Cold War Era: Opportunity Costs, Foreign Crises, and Domestic Constraints. U.S. Military Spending In The Cold War Era: Opportunity Costs, Foreign Crises, and Domestic Constraints. Web. 3 June 2015.).† The increase in government and militant spending within the United States was done to prepare for the possibility of war with the Soviet Union. Ultimately, many of the manufactured weapons were unnecessaryShow MoreRelatedCold War Influences on American Culture, Politics, and Economics2221 Words   |  9 PagesFollowing World War II, Europe was in ruins. Between bomb damage, economic downturn, and natural disasters such as droughts and blizzards it seemed nearly impossible to restore Europe to its prior greatness. America facilitated the recovery of Europe with military and financial aid and helped prevent the spread of communism. This aid crushed the So viet dream of a communist Europe and started the Cold War. Over the next 45 years, the United States and the Soviet Union would resemble two angry womenRead MoreRichard Byrd s The Cold War1340 Words   |  6 PagesThe Cold War, spanning almost half a century, was a conflict that accelerated the production of nuclear weapons and forced the United States and the other belligerent, the Soviet Union, to make scientific advances at a rate unseen in any other time in human history. The Cold War Comes to Main Street: America in 1950, written by Lisle A. Rose, thoroughly examines the year 1950 in the United States and the effect that the Cold War had on the American populous. Rose examines communism and the militaryRead MoreChanges That Shaped American Politics in the 70’s and 80’s765 Words   |  4 Pages Changes that Shaped American Politics in the 70’s and 80’s Loraine J Jackson Everest University Abstract For many individuals in the United States, the late 1970s were a troubled and disturbing time. The Watergate scandal, the Vietnam War, ambiguity in the Middle East and the economic crisis in the Nation had weakened the confidence of Americans in their government and in their fellow residents as well. Many Americans supported a new conservatism in social, economic and political life during theRead MoreThe War Of World War II1638 Words   |  7 PagesWorld War II was the most widespread war in history and it directly involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. This war lasted from 1939 to 1945. The war pinned the Axis nations which were Germany, Italy, Japan versus the Allied nations which were led by Britain and its Commonwealth nation, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States. The Allies were victorious in the War. It was one of the most significant periods of time in the 20th century. The war resultedRead MoreThe Cold War On American Cultur e Essay1489 Words   |  6 PagesThe Cold War was a pivotal time in American history. To a greater degree than most other wars, the Cold War affected American society in unfathomable and profound ways. More specifically, American culture transformed immensely during this time. From a constant state of anxiety, to changes in media and the arts, to McCarthyism; the Cold War fervently affected the quality of life, personal expression, and American politics. Predominantly, the Cold War inflicted fear and apprehension within the AmericanRead MoreTo What Extent Were the Moscow Olympic Games of 1980 Affected by Cold War Tensions?1624 Words   |  7 PagesA: Plan of investigation The purpose of this study is to analyze extensively the role that Cold War tensions played in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. The analysis seeks to understand the effect that politics, have on the organization, implementation and eventually success of sporting events such as the Olympics. In order to do so, the analysis will address the events leading up to, during and after the Moscow Olympic Games of 1980. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 will be addressed toRead MoreHow One Remembers An Event994 Words   |  4 Pagesexception to this theory, but a prime example of it. The Sochi games come, at least in this author’s mind as a dud. Yes, women were for the first time allowed to participate in the ski jump, and other athletes fulfilled their Olympic dream, but the Cold War â€Å"magic† was not there. The Western and Russian Media played their share, the United States and Russia are currently opposed in several significant international conflicts, but we did not witness a Miracle on Ice, or any geopolitical sparks in theRead MoreU.s. Foreign Policy Approaches1424 Words   |  6 Pagesinstitutions. Realism and idealism provides an explanation to how U.S. foreign policy has developed since World War Two (WWII), identifies which influential factors play a role in both foreign policy approaches, and determines which view has best served the pursuit of national interests. The realist and idealist approaches are important in explaining the swinging pendulum path American foreign policy took since WWII. Over the past seventy years, U.S. foreign policy switches between these twoRead MoreRealism Is The Most Convincing Paradigm For International Relations? Essay1579 Words   |  7 Pagesthe end of the cold war in 1947, proved the perfect hostile environment to fit the largely pessimistic view of world politics. While many aspects of realism are still alive in International Relations today; including the dominant presence of states, intrinsic of war and the decentralised government. However, realism only reaches so far in explaining and creating a structure for international relations. Whilst the strengths of the theory lie in its pragmatic approach to power politics and conflict.Read MoreOrigins of the Cold War Essay1179 Words   |  5 PagesOrigins of the Cold War Revisionist historians tend to regard the outbreak of the Cold War as a result of American hostility or, at least , diplomatic incompetence, while the more traditional view lays the responsibility squarely at the feet of the Soviet Union. Assess the validity of each view. The Cold War,said to have lasted from the end of World War II to the dismantling of the Soviet Union in 1991, was one of the most significant political events of the 20th century. For nearly