The Cold War Lessons Learned - 938 Words

The Cold War: Lessons Learned After World War II, continuing tensions between the United States of America and primarily, the Soviet Union caused the Cold War. The Cold War lasted from 1945 to 1991, the Cold War is defined as a bitter, typically non-military conflict between the two superpowers, the Soviet Union and America. The Soviet Union and the United States had contrasting views about most things, including political systems, economic systems and societal values. At the end of the Cold War, the U.S was declared victorious but they outcomes were anything but successful. If aspects like the least amount of casualties and who has the most money dictate victory, is it really victory? In fact, millions died due to the cold war and many were harmfully affected on both sides and these outcomes could have easily been avoided if instead of concluding that war was the only option, the two superpowers could promote peace rather than emphasizing on differing values. Lessons that should be learned from the Cold War are that ideological differences are not sufficient enough to declare war and that taking over nations does not make a country stronger or better. In any conflict, differences in ideologies must be respected. America believed that Capitalism, Democracy, Freedom and Individualism was the key to a successful nation, while the Soviet Union believed in Socialism, Totalitarianism, Equality and Collectivism. These differences caused many conflicts such as the division ofShow MoreRelatedLessons Learned From The Cold War2147 Words   |  9 PagesDuring the Cold War, many lessons were learned. The United States had to learn these lessons to survive in a rapidly changing world. It learned lessons from the incident in the Gulf of Tonkin and the resolution that followed that lead to the invasion of Vietnam. It learned lessons from the horrors of war in Vietnam. And it learned lessons from The My Lai massacre in Vietnam, one of those very horrors. One lesson that was l earned from all these incidents is that in uncertain times, restraint shouldRead MoreThe Cold War Is A Time Of Political Tension Between The United States And The Soviet Union1154 Words   |  5 PagesThe Cold War is a time of political tension between the United States and the USSR following World War II and lasting decades. It was a clash of ideology- capitalism versus communism- and a fight for dominance, by utilizing every opportunity for expansion (Trueman 1). The results and lessons learned from the Cold War still remain as reminders and helpful guides for the future. With the War on Terror at hand, the United States could use the lessons learned from the Cold War as a guide. The Cold WarRead MoreThe War Of World War II1586 Words   |  7 Pageshave had a problem with someone, some might refer to it like a war. War by definition is generally characterized by extreme aggression, destruction, and mortality. However, for forty-four years a war that would scare millions around t he world occurred. This war was not all brutality, it was arguments that would change the world forever. This war was known as the Cold War. The end of World War II was just the beginning of this unique war . The former allied forces of the United States and the USSRRead MoreThe Cuban Missile Crisis : The Cold War1323 Words   |  6 PagesWars have been going on since the beginning of time, whether it is fighting for your religions, fighting for land, and fighting for your rights and freedoms. Some wars cause dramatic amounts of deaths, but the Cold War resulted in none. The reason there were no deaths is due to the fact that the Cold War was just that, cold. The conflicts never heated up enough per say to cause a real war. Though the Cold war itself wasn’t a war fought in battle, there were parts caused by it such as the Korean WarRead MoreThe Cold War And The Soviet Union1139 Words   |  5 PagesThe Cold War is a period following world war II which was marked by political conflict between former allies; the United States and the Soviet Union. It is considered â€Å"a state of conflict that stops just ever s o short of direct military combat. Instead, the fighting mainly takes the form of economic competition, political maneuvers, propaganda and, at times, proxy wars between nations allied to one of the more powerful nations.† (Pelz 171). Once allies, the United States and Soviet Union experiencedRead Moreâ€Å"Today It Is Becoming Increasingly Apparent To Thoughtful938 Words   |  4 Pagesapparent to thoughtful Americans that we cannot fight the forces and ideas of imperialism abroad and maintain any form of imperialism at home. The war has done this to our thinking.†(Willkie). After a war, a responsible superpower would provide the ideals of a democracy, such as popular sovereignty and limited government. However after the second world war, the United States acted opposite of its highest standards, instead keeping in mind only of expansionism and corrupted ways to be the best. In itsRead MoreFog of War Essay1310 Words   |  6 PagesRyan McManus Vietnam Film 2/29/12 The Fog of War In the opening scenes of the documentary, The Fog of War, Robert McNamara states, â€Å"Any military commander who is honest admits that he has made mistakes, errors of judgment.† Throughout the documentary, I got the sense that McNamara is asking for forgiveness from the American public and is telling them that he wishes things went differently. There are many times throughout the film that McNamara is a sympathetic figure, but they are mainly towardsRead MoreCuban Missile Crisis Essay1203 Words   |  5 PagesStates and the Soviet Union. It appeared that the Soviet Union was installing nuclear missiles in Cuba, and it was the closest the United States has ever came to a nuclear war. Using the movie, 13 Days, the Cuban Missile Crisis is explained and compared to the actual event. The crisis was led to by the Cold War. The Cold War was a period between 1947 and 1991 of geopolitical tension between the corrupted East and the free West of Europe. It first started off by the Truman Doctrine, which was a foreignRead MoreRonald Reagan s 50th Anniversary Speech1225 Words   |  5 Pages1981 to 1989. Prior to his presidency, he was the 33rd Governor of California from 1967 to 1975, following a career as a Hollywood actor and union leader. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan) Reagan also served in the U.S. Army during World War Two achieving the rank of Lieutenant But due to his eyesight he was stationed stateside, creating training films. I chose this speech because of the topics he touches on. Not only the past but also the future. â€Å"We re here to mark that day in historyRead MoreMarshall Plan Effectiveness1666 Words   |  7 PagesThe most effective Cold War plan was the famous Marshall Plan. Some historians may believe that the most effective plan was Containment, but they are wrong. These plans are considered effective for the lives the protect, the safety the provided, and the money they gave. This the safest, most lucrative, most effective Cold War plan was the Marshall Plan. Generally the Cold War lasted from 1949-1991. But it couldve started earlier, â€Å"In a June 5,1947 speech to the graduating class at Harvard, Secretary