The Failure Of Communism During The Cold War

The beginning of the Cold War occurred roughly near the end of World War II, where the Soviet Union divided occupied territory with the U.S. and the other Allied Powers. Desires among the emerging great powers caused relations to freeze over, causing little progress being made to maintain peace in the coming era. These failures were a result of the Yalta Conference, and the Korean War, with McCarthyism being a small factor. The Yalta Conference was the second meeting of the most influential figures in the Allied nations, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States, and Stalin of the Soviet Union. The state of government in Poland was among the most pressing issues discussed, especially for President Roosevelt and Churchill who supported the democratic, pro-Western “London” Poles’ return. However, Soviet troops had already occupied Poland and instituted a government operated by pro-Communist “Lublin” Poles. At the conference, Stalin merely promised “free and unfettered elections” in Poland, which was a promise unfulfilled for almost 45 years. The state of Germany was another hot topic at the conference as it was occupied by all four major Allied Powers. Roughly half of Germany, occupied by the Soviet Union, formed the Eastern portion, and the other allies formed the Western portion. The split country was to be united in the near future, but the Soviet blockade of Berlin seemed to confirm that a peaceful reformation was far from the present. American and Soviet relations greatly deteriorated after this incident, with President Harry S. Truman literally going over Stalin’s commands, and Stalin being greatly angered by President Truman’s apathy in the situation. Very little was also accomplished concerning the status of countries in Europe and Asia during the Yalta Conference, and it set a precedent for future Cold War proceedings. The chilled mood, chilled atmosphere, and frozen progress of this historic second meeting greatly influenced the attitude of future Cold War meetings. The Korean War was America’s first major military engagement with Communism, with South Korean and mostly American U.N. forces against North Korean and Chinese forces. Korea split into the two countries following Soviet forces occupying the Northern portion and U.S. forces occupying the South. Neither nation was …show more content…
However, many foreign correspondents, especially the early Cold War Presidents, President Roosevelt and President Truman, were unimpressed with Joseph McCarthy’s claims of insurrection, infiltration, and treason within the veins of the American government. McCarthy’s domestic aims did not extend to the diplomatic stage, where the beginnings of the Cold War were prevalent. The Cold War was highlighted by, as previously mentioned, chilled moods and frozen progress, where McCarthy’s Communist policy would have certainly caused a great stir in the future American-Soviet meetings. This is nowhere near the established precedent of the Cold War. The era was marked by frosty diplomatic tensions, and wars of “containment” with nothing to show for. President Truman even attempted to “get tough” with Stalin and demand concessions, but quickly realized it was fruitless, as the United States had nothing to offer or exchange to persuade Stalin to change his mind. McCarthyism did little abroad, and only spread hysteria in domestic America and among the American populace during the Cold War