The cold war began when WWII ended and because of Russia’s suspicion for the West; followed by the atomic bombs dropped against the two Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Russia felt that it had an interest in maintaining a neutral territory in Eastern Europe that would protect them from attacks from the West. While, The United States was committed to free and democratic elections in Eastern Europe. In the aftermath of the Second WWII power blocs were formed in Europe, in which one of them was dominated by America and capitalist democracy, while the other was dominated by the Soviet Union and communism.
America was fearful of communism dominating the continent, but Russia wanted the opposite. They wanted a communist Europe that they could dominate, because they feared, a united capitalist Europe. To these differences were added the fear of Soviet invasion in the West and Russian fear of the atomic bomb; fear of economic collapse in the west …show more content…
Eisenhower came into the presidency in 1952 unusually well prepared to lead the nation at the height of the Cold War. His long years of military service had exposed him to a wide variety of international issues, both in Asia and in Europe. Eisenhower was determined to bring the Cold War under control. Ideally, he wanted to end it, but as a realist, he would settle for a relaxation of tensions with the Soviet Union. Eisenhower’s record as a cold warrior was thus mixed. Eisenhower hoped to ease Cold War tensions by ending the nuclear arms race.
In April 1953, shortly after Stalin’s death, he gave a speech in which he called on the Russians to join him in a new effort at disarmament. When the Soviets ignored this appeal, the president tried again in December 1953. The breakup of the Paris summit marked the end of Eisenhower’s attempts to moderate the Cold War. Eisenhower had succeeded in keeping the peace for eight years, but he had failed to halt the momentum of the Cold War he had inherited from Harry
America was fearful of communism dominating the continent, but Russia wanted the opposite. They wanted a communist Europe that they could dominate, because they feared, a united capitalist Europe. To these differences were added the fear of Soviet invasion in the West and Russian fear of the atomic bomb; fear of economic collapse in the west …show more content…
Eisenhower came into the presidency in 1952 unusually well prepared to lead the nation at the height of the Cold War. His long years of military service had exposed him to a wide variety of international issues, both in Asia and in Europe. Eisenhower was determined to bring the Cold War under control. Ideally, he wanted to end it, but as a realist, he would settle for a relaxation of tensions with the Soviet Union. Eisenhower’s record as a cold warrior was thus mixed. Eisenhower hoped to ease Cold War tensions by ending the nuclear arms race.
In April 1953, shortly after Stalin’s death, he gave a speech in which he called on the Russians to join him in a new effort at disarmament. When the Soviets ignored this appeal, the president tried again in December 1953. The breakup of the Paris summit marked the end of Eisenhower’s attempts to moderate the Cold War. Eisenhower had succeeded in keeping the peace for eight years, but he had failed to halt the momentum of the Cold War he had inherited from Harry