1. What major ideological conflicts, security interests, and events brought about the Cold War?
The United States and the Soviet Union were destined to face conflict, for they were “Born of a common foe rather than common long-term interest, values, or history…” (Foner 887). One of the main influences of this conflict was the differences in ideologies, for both the Soviet Union and the United States “…claimed to be promoting freedom and social justice…and each offered its social system as a model the rest of the world should follow” (Foner 888). However, the Communist ideology supported the spread of communism around the world, at any cost. This included a plan to expand their power through occupying other territories, which is something that …show more content…
Many nationalists from various colonies had a glimpse of hope when the Philippines was released from American control in 1946, but the hope quickly died out. With the Cold War intensifying, the United States had little concern over persuading its European counterparts to grant colonies their freedom. The United States and its foreign policies, despite being very freedom-oriented, was equally shaped by “…geopolitical and economic interests” (Foner 896), especially during the Cold War. It was not in a country’s best interest to relinquish control over their colonies during the Cold War, specifically due to the fact that if a nation possessed colonies, there were all the more people joining the anti-communist crusade. The United States and the Free World needed as much help as they could get, and “…if a nation joined the worldwide anticommunist alliance led by the United States, it was counted as a member” (Foner 896). This is why the United States did not support movements for colonial independence around the world, for if colonies gained independence, there was a chance they would side with the Soviet …show more content…
Realizing this, the United States tasked the Central Intelligence Agency to fund various programs in an attempt to dismiss the popular opinion that the United States was a “cultural backwater” (Foner 897). Programs secretly funded by the CIA included “…overseas publications, conferences, publishing houses, concerts, and art exhibits” (Foner 897), and even sent jazz musicians abroad in an attempt to improve the image of American rage relations. The New York School of Painters and the Museum of Modern Art were results of this attempt to shape public opinion, for the work of non-political artists and painters became weaponized by the CIA. Various works, such as the “abstract expressionism” work of Jackson Pollock, were sent overseas, in the hopes of persuading Europeans that the paintings “…demonstrated that the United States represented artistic leadership as well as military power” (Foner 879). Showing Europe the art produced by Americans not only aimed to convince that such works “…embodied the free, individual expression denied to artists in communist countries” (Foner 897), but also challenged the popular opinion that the United States lacked culture. The paintings by Jackson Pollock, compositions by John Cage, and choreography by George Balanchine sent abroad by CIA funded programs all embodied the “essence of American life” (Foner
The United States and the Soviet Union were destined to face conflict, for they were “Born of a common foe rather than common long-term interest, values, or history…” (Foner 887). One of the main influences of this conflict was the differences in ideologies, for both the Soviet Union and the United States “…claimed to be promoting freedom and social justice…and each offered its social system as a model the rest of the world should follow” (Foner 888). However, the Communist ideology supported the spread of communism around the world, at any cost. This included a plan to expand their power through occupying other territories, which is something that …show more content…
Many nationalists from various colonies had a glimpse of hope when the Philippines was released from American control in 1946, but the hope quickly died out. With the Cold War intensifying, the United States had little concern over persuading its European counterparts to grant colonies their freedom. The United States and its foreign policies, despite being very freedom-oriented, was equally shaped by “…geopolitical and economic interests” (Foner 896), especially during the Cold War. It was not in a country’s best interest to relinquish control over their colonies during the Cold War, specifically due to the fact that if a nation possessed colonies, there were all the more people joining the anti-communist crusade. The United States and the Free World needed as much help as they could get, and “…if a nation joined the worldwide anticommunist alliance led by the United States, it was counted as a member” (Foner 896). This is why the United States did not support movements for colonial independence around the world, for if colonies gained independence, there was a chance they would side with the Soviet …show more content…
Realizing this, the United States tasked the Central Intelligence Agency to fund various programs in an attempt to dismiss the popular opinion that the United States was a “cultural backwater” (Foner 897). Programs secretly funded by the CIA included “…overseas publications, conferences, publishing houses, concerts, and art exhibits” (Foner 897), and even sent jazz musicians abroad in an attempt to improve the image of American rage relations. The New York School of Painters and the Museum of Modern Art were results of this attempt to shape public opinion, for the work of non-political artists and painters became weaponized by the CIA. Various works, such as the “abstract expressionism” work of Jackson Pollock, were sent overseas, in the hopes of persuading Europeans that the paintings “…demonstrated that the United States represented artistic leadership as well as military power” (Foner 879). Showing Europe the art produced by Americans not only aimed to convince that such works “…embodied the free, individual expression denied to artists in communist countries” (Foner 897), but also challenged the popular opinion that the United States lacked culture. The paintings by Jackson Pollock, compositions by John Cage, and choreography by George Balanchine sent abroad by CIA funded programs all embodied the “essence of American life” (Foner