During the Cold War, America was in a persistent stalemate with the U.S.S.R. Each country would indirectly attack the other’s interests, without actually starting a war. American policy during the Cold War helped cement America as a world power, a force for democracy, and an economic giant.
America’s ascent to power can be seen in many ways during the Cold War. The Interstate Highway System, as Document 6 says, “Literally dwarf[s] any previous work of man.” The massive scope of the highway system illustrates how prestigious and progressive America was, while its construction generated thousands of jobs to bolster America’s economy. President Truman believed the same thing at the time, as Document 3 says, “But when history says that my term …show more content…
The two nations competed for influence over the world, in a much less peaceful fashion. Even before the Cold War began, America and Russia were not on good terms. Document 1, written in 1941, puts Russia on even terms with Nazi Germany: “If we see that Germany is winning, we ought to help Russia and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany and that way let them kill as many as possible.” Senator Truman, in 1941, considered Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s Russia to be equally disposable. Truman wasn’t alone in his sentiments, as George Kennan (Document 4) implies that the Soviets are completely beyond reason: “I don’t think that we can influence them [the Soviets] by reasoning with them, by arguing with them by going to them and saying, ‘Look here, this is the way things are.’” Stalin’s iron curtain across Europe did not go unnoticed by the media, as Document 2 shows Stalin keeping everyone inside the iron curtain and insulting the so-called ‘capitalist pigs’. Meanwhile, the others are looking at plans for the new world. This political cartoon shows that it was not just the politicians who disliked Russia, almost every common man shared in the sentiment.
A similar situation came to light in the Korean War. The Korean War was indirectly caused by the Cold War and WW2. The Allies supported South Korea, while communist Russia and China supported North Korea. The major powers in the world fought each other by supporting opposing sides
America’s ascent to power can be seen in many ways during the Cold War. The Interstate Highway System, as Document 6 says, “Literally dwarf[s] any previous work of man.” The massive scope of the highway system illustrates how prestigious and progressive America was, while its construction generated thousands of jobs to bolster America’s economy. President Truman believed the same thing at the time, as Document 3 says, “But when history says that my term …show more content…
The two nations competed for influence over the world, in a much less peaceful fashion. Even before the Cold War began, America and Russia were not on good terms. Document 1, written in 1941, puts Russia on even terms with Nazi Germany: “If we see that Germany is winning, we ought to help Russia and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany and that way let them kill as many as possible.” Senator Truman, in 1941, considered Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s Russia to be equally disposable. Truman wasn’t alone in his sentiments, as George Kennan (Document 4) implies that the Soviets are completely beyond reason: “I don’t think that we can influence them [the Soviets] by reasoning with them, by arguing with them by going to them and saying, ‘Look here, this is the way things are.’” Stalin’s iron curtain across Europe did not go unnoticed by the media, as Document 2 shows Stalin keeping everyone inside the iron curtain and insulting the so-called ‘capitalist pigs’. Meanwhile, the others are looking at plans for the new world. This political cartoon shows that it was not just the politicians who disliked Russia, almost every common man shared in the sentiment.
A similar situation came to light in the Korean War. The Korean War was indirectly caused by the Cold War and WW2. The Allies supported South Korea, while communist Russia and China supported North Korea. The major powers in the world fought each other by supporting opposing sides