War Is Beneficial
Beyond declaring a winner or a loser, war can prove beneficial in seemingly disconnected matters. One million African-Americans served in World War II and returned home with the desire to possess the full rights of citizenship that their country had denied to them for so long. Many blacks had fought in the war to demonstrate their firm belief in democracy and to defend the rights of others. The Cold War was a battle of words between the Soviet Union and American leaders; each trying to prove that their system of government was superior. The unpopular war in Vietnam coincided with the protests for civil rights and the rise of Black Power in the 1960s, sparking further evidence of unrest and unhappiness over individual rights. While many attribute the growth of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement to the strong rhetoric of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X and the extraordinary bravery of both Rosa Parks and the Little Rock Nine, it was actually the awareness raised during World War II, the propaganda of the Cold War and the anger surrounding the Vietnam War that created widespread unrest prompting changes in the laws and behaviors regarding …show more content…
The two countries, in competition with each other, tried to influence third world countries to form allies. This political tension created a lot of international pressure to stop the Civil Rights movement; the U.S had to face criticism for not providing equal rights for all its citizens. The Soviets spread propaganda to further embarrass Americans and strengthen their communist agenda. In order to maintain its reputation as a superpower, the U.S. had to reform its segregation and discrimination laws. Many civil rights activists took advantage of the situation and used the opportunity to voice their opinions and their concerns to the
Beyond declaring a winner or a loser, war can prove beneficial in seemingly disconnected matters. One million African-Americans served in World War II and returned home with the desire to possess the full rights of citizenship that their country had denied to them for so long. Many blacks had fought in the war to demonstrate their firm belief in democracy and to defend the rights of others. The Cold War was a battle of words between the Soviet Union and American leaders; each trying to prove that their system of government was superior. The unpopular war in Vietnam coincided with the protests for civil rights and the rise of Black Power in the 1960s, sparking further evidence of unrest and unhappiness over individual rights. While many attribute the growth of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement to the strong rhetoric of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X and the extraordinary bravery of both Rosa Parks and the Little Rock Nine, it was actually the awareness raised during World War II, the propaganda of the Cold War and the anger surrounding the Vietnam War that created widespread unrest prompting changes in the laws and behaviors regarding …show more content…
The two countries, in competition with each other, tried to influence third world countries to form allies. This political tension created a lot of international pressure to stop the Civil Rights movement; the U.S had to face criticism for not providing equal rights for all its citizens. The Soviets spread propaganda to further embarrass Americans and strengthen their communist agenda. In order to maintain its reputation as a superpower, the U.S. had to reform its segregation and discrimination laws. Many civil rights activists took advantage of the situation and used the opportunity to voice their opinions and their concerns to the