During the war, the United States and Soviet Union were allies for the primary goal of defeating Germany, making decisions and battle …show more content…
The relations between the United States and Soviet Union prompted their involvement in the clashes of these nations, between communism and independence. In Iran, their “crisis… revolved [around] whether the Soviet Union would withdraw its troops from northern Iran as it had agreed to do… in 1942 and 1943” (Doc F). The Soviet Union influenced Iran with a separatist revolt against the Shah, and the troop withdrawal never occurred. The United States helped Iran defend against the Soviet movement in Iran, responding to the Soviet approach to the nation. Similarly, communist forces in China led by Mao Zedong defeated the nationalist forces led by Chiang Kai-shek, and a quarter of the world population went under Communist rule, starting to burn out the hope for independence (Doc G). The Soviets also exploded their first atomic bomb in 1949, catching up to the United States, and becoming more treacherous for dominating the world through communism. Additionally, Soviet build-up of troops, or “using the two-to-three years at our disposal in order to create a modern and powerful military force” (Doc I). This brought another red scare, prompting the Smith Act as an anti-sedition law, the Committee on Un-American Activities, and Joseph R McCarthy suspecting communist influence in the State Department. The Cold War had a climax at Korea, with communist forces in the North fighting the democrats in the South. Truman decided to intervene, labeling North Korea as an enemy, and requesting UN troops to fight against them. With MacArthur on the Southern side, he successfully drove the North Koreans past the 38th parallel, but was pushed back and humiliated. The general wanted to use atomic weapons, but Truman knew that the war should not be stretched too far. Truman became seen as