Primarily a war between the United States and the Soviet Union, the Cold War proved a dark mark in international history. With a clear and distinct line drawn, the United States fought for capitalist principles while the Soviet Union for communist goals. Through proxy wars, wars incited by major powers utilizing external strife to attack each others interests, the United States and Soviet Union battled. Two examples of proxy wars during the Cold War include the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The Korean War began in 1950 once North Korea launched a surprise attacked against South Korea. While China supported communist North Korea, the United States backed South Korea, a non-communist country. In 1953, three years after the war began, an armistice
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Both countries were separated at a parallel, a circle of latitude on earths equatorial plane. Korea was separated at the 38th parallel north and Vietnam was separated at the 17th parallel north. As a result of this, the northern sections of the countries were easily accessible to the Soviet Union, subjecting them communist ideology. However, from the Soviet’s perspective and positioning, converting the northern districts not only made common sense but was granted connivence. Thus the southern sections were impacted by the United States and experienced less of the Soviet Union’s influence. At the origin of both the Korean and Vietnam War, the United States’ involvement was motivated with the goal to contain communism. After World War II, when the United States slowly withdrew troops from South Korea, the Soviet Union believed that the United States would not fight back to defend South Korea. Ergo North Korea attacked South Korea, which in turn involved the United States. During the Vietnam war, however, the United States asked the Congress to send troops to South Vietnam because President Johnson claimed that North Vietnam attacked United States destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. The United States was attacked first in both wars, entailing the United States to assault the Soviet Union back. In both cases, the United States was
Both countries were separated at a parallel, a circle of latitude on earths equatorial plane. Korea was separated at the 38th parallel north and Vietnam was separated at the 17th parallel north. As a result of this, the northern sections of the countries were easily accessible to the Soviet Union, subjecting them communist ideology. However, from the Soviet’s perspective and positioning, converting the northern districts not only made common sense but was granted connivence. Thus the southern sections were impacted by the United States and experienced less of the Soviet Union’s influence. At the origin of both the Korean and Vietnam War, the United States’ involvement was motivated with the goal to contain communism. After World War II, when the United States slowly withdrew troops from South Korea, the Soviet Union believed that the United States would not fight back to defend South Korea. Ergo North Korea attacked South Korea, which in turn involved the United States. During the Vietnam war, however, the United States asked the Congress to send troops to South Vietnam because President Johnson claimed that North Vietnam attacked United States destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. The United States was attacked first in both wars, entailing the United States to assault the Soviet Union back. In both cases, the United States was