The Soviet Union’s takeover of Eastern Europe was interpreted by the United States as an attempt to spread communism around the world. The United States was highly against communism. The U.S., being a capitalistic run nation, felt worried for other nations who possibly could not afford fighting against the Soviet Union. Concerned that Greece and Turkey might be the next countries to fall to Stalin, President Truman announced the Truman Doctrine. This stated that the United States would give support to any free peoples struggling to avoid a communist takeover. In fear of Europe facing economic collapse from the debuts of WWII, George Marshall, United States Secretary of State, worried that European nations were vulnerable to a communist takeover.
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Stalin, strongly disliked the Marshall Plan, as he felt it tried to “buy” a friendship with European nations and the United States, resulting in the forbiddance of any Soviet Bloc country to accept it. In just four years, (1948-1952) the United States gave 13 billion dollars in foreign aid against communism to 16 countries. Furious, Stalin attempted to counterbalance the effects of the Marshall Plan. Stalin set up Cominform in 1947, to strengthen cooperation between communists from all countries, and Comecon, in 1949, to develop economic cooperation between communist countries. Here is just the start to a competitive rivalry of Communist vs. Capitalism and the Soviet Union vs. the United States of America. (McDougal 531-557). The Arms Race also justified support in defense against any nation that the U.S. government considered to be threatened by Soviet expansionism (“The Cold War”). Thus, the build up of powerful weapons helped maintain peace between the Soviet Union and the U.S. The financial help from the U.S. also promoted less conflict amongst the rise of Soviet …show more content…
“The Evil Empire”-- Ronald Reagan used these words to describe the Soviet Union at the peak of the Arms Race. The Soviet Union was a serious threat to the United States during this time period of “hot turmoil” due to different ideological, political, and economic factors causing a bittersweet rivalry, resulting to a brinkmanship of war. (McDougal 556). Reagan’s term of presidency was driven with a strong caution in foreign policy. (McDougal 557). The United States was given an immense advantage against the Soviet Union in 1983 with the idea of “Strategic Defence Initiative.” This missile shield brought threatening thoughts to the U.S. to eliminate all Soviet arsenals, due to weaknesses in the Soviet economy. The United States was also ahead in the arms race due to the Soviet Union’s lack of research and development in technology. Since the Soviet Union’s financing was tremendously behind the United States, there was no way to “compete” without endangering Soviet citizens from great depressions. (Kevin Crowley “The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI): Star Wars”). Without the Soviet Union's poor economical factors, the U.S. was able to have a significant edge to change the U.S.S.R.’s stance on arms-control. It also, perhaps, may have aided in Gorbachev’s western-friendly approach in tearing down the iron curtain. Without Reagan's power to negotiate with the U.S.’s strength of
Stalin, strongly disliked the Marshall Plan, as he felt it tried to “buy” a friendship with European nations and the United States, resulting in the forbiddance of any Soviet Bloc country to accept it. In just four years, (1948-1952) the United States gave 13 billion dollars in foreign aid against communism to 16 countries. Furious, Stalin attempted to counterbalance the effects of the Marshall Plan. Stalin set up Cominform in 1947, to strengthen cooperation between communists from all countries, and Comecon, in 1949, to develop economic cooperation between communist countries. Here is just the start to a competitive rivalry of Communist vs. Capitalism and the Soviet Union vs. the United States of America. (McDougal 531-557). The Arms Race also justified support in defense against any nation that the U.S. government considered to be threatened by Soviet expansionism (“The Cold War”). Thus, the build up of powerful weapons helped maintain peace between the Soviet Union and the U.S. The financial help from the U.S. also promoted less conflict amongst the rise of Soviet …show more content…
“The Evil Empire”-- Ronald Reagan used these words to describe the Soviet Union at the peak of the Arms Race. The Soviet Union was a serious threat to the United States during this time period of “hot turmoil” due to different ideological, political, and economic factors causing a bittersweet rivalry, resulting to a brinkmanship of war. (McDougal 556). Reagan’s term of presidency was driven with a strong caution in foreign policy. (McDougal 557). The United States was given an immense advantage against the Soviet Union in 1983 with the idea of “Strategic Defence Initiative.” This missile shield brought threatening thoughts to the U.S. to eliminate all Soviet arsenals, due to weaknesses in the Soviet economy. The United States was also ahead in the arms race due to the Soviet Union’s lack of research and development in technology. Since the Soviet Union’s financing was tremendously behind the United States, there was no way to “compete” without endangering Soviet citizens from great depressions. (Kevin Crowley “The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI): Star Wars”). Without the Soviet Union's poor economical factors, the U.S. was able to have a significant edge to change the U.S.S.R.’s stance on arms-control. It also, perhaps, may have aided in Gorbachev’s western-friendly approach in tearing down the iron curtain. Without Reagan's power to negotiate with the U.S.’s strength of