The Lasting Impacts of the Cold War
After WWII, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the two world superpowers. The two nations held great influence, “restructuring the international system into a bipolar world” (Kaufman, 2010, #77). The United States offered democracy and capitalism, while the Soviet Union represented the new economic system of communism. The two conflicting ideologies represented different international world orders. The United States and the Soviet Union’s strive to be the dominant, ideology led to the Cold War. In reaction to the great economic, political, and military strain the United States and the Soviet Union were forced to make great domestic changes which would have lasting consequences.
Drawing from lecture, Kaufman (2010), and the Council of Foreign Relations (2014), I argue that the Cold War greatly influenced the internal politics of both the United States and Soviet Union. Section I argues that the Cold War arose from the ideological rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union. Section II discusses how the presence of nuclear weapons prevented the Cold War from escalating. Section III …show more content…
In response to the building Cold War, Congress passed the 1947 National Security Act. This created huge domestic changes for the government, placing greater importance on foreign affairs. The act established the Department of Defense which “unified the military services” (Datta, Lecture #7). The Central Intelligence Agency was created to gather intelligence and perform covert operations. The act also formed the National Security Council, a cabinet to advise the President on national security matters. All three changes directly linked the military with the diplomatic sectors of the government, giving foreign policy makers greater power. The changes equipped the United States’ military and policy makers to take action in the Cold
After WWII, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the two world superpowers. The two nations held great influence, “restructuring the international system into a bipolar world” (Kaufman, 2010, #77). The United States offered democracy and capitalism, while the Soviet Union represented the new economic system of communism. The two conflicting ideologies represented different international world orders. The United States and the Soviet Union’s strive to be the dominant, ideology led to the Cold War. In reaction to the great economic, political, and military strain the United States and the Soviet Union were forced to make great domestic changes which would have lasting consequences.
Drawing from lecture, Kaufman (2010), and the Council of Foreign Relations (2014), I argue that the Cold War greatly influenced the internal politics of both the United States and Soviet Union. Section I argues that the Cold War arose from the ideological rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union. Section II discusses how the presence of nuclear weapons prevented the Cold War from escalating. Section III …show more content…
In response to the building Cold War, Congress passed the 1947 National Security Act. This created huge domestic changes for the government, placing greater importance on foreign affairs. The act established the Department of Defense which “unified the military services” (Datta, Lecture #7). The Central Intelligence Agency was created to gather intelligence and perform covert operations. The act also formed the National Security Council, a cabinet to advise the President on national security matters. All three changes directly linked the military with the diplomatic sectors of the government, giving foreign policy makers greater power. The changes equipped the United States’ military and policy makers to take action in the Cold