Iron Curtain

The Cold War began from mistrust, misunderstandings, and misconceptions between both the United States and the Soviet Union. While World War II was happening the Soviet Union, the United States, and Britan formed allies to take down the Nazis. After the war, the Soviet Union had different goals for the future of Europe than the rest of the Western Allies creating tension. The death of President Roosevelt, who was a supporter of Stalin and replaced with Truman, who agreed heavily with Britain,…

The fall of the Berlin Wall not only symbolized the end of the Cold War, communism, and dictatorship in Eastern Germany, but it was also a great impact on European history. The Berlin Wall, despite its monstrous purpose, brought some positive consequences to the people of Germany. During the twenty-eight years the wall stood, many friendships and families were torn apart due to a physical separation, as well as metaphorical due to stigmas, controversies, and stereotypes. As the wall was built up…

World War II left devastation and human turmoil in its wake. However, not long after the last shot was fired in one war a new kind of war was born. One that had no bombs surging down from the skies, yet still instilled fear into citizens of several countries. A war with undeniable boundaries made up of barbwire and guards. Each side professing the other’s weakness and oppression; neither willing to act on their threats in fear of retaliation. This was the Cold War. A political war between the…

From 1750 CE until the present day (2015), Eastern Europe underwent numerous changes and few continuities. Some of the changes: the mini-ice age, rise of communism, spread of the potato, decline of serfdom, an ideological desire for militarism, nationalism, alliances, and imperialism, and new weapons/warfare create new avenues for political, economic, social, and intellectual reform. While the reliance on agriculture and ever-lasting ethnic conflict remained largely consistent throughout the…

Following World War II, all of Europe was left in a clutter of disarray. Instead of watching Europe endure the hardships left from the war, the United States went to Europe’s aid. From 1947 to 1952, European nations experienced a time of massive growth. The Plan aimed to repair the economic and political damages from the war. The plan was a response to American concerns that communist parties were growing stronger across Europe and that the Soviets might intervene. The Marshall Plan also…

Comparing Individuality and Conformity in Fahrenheit 451 Individuality is celebrated in modern day society, but during the Cold War, the world seemed as though there was little hope for self-expression to live another day. In the novel, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, there is a prominent theme of conformity found various times throughout the dystopian society. Conformity was a common theme in the real world during the Cold War, when this novel was written. In this society, books have all been…

Atkins 1 As the dust of the second world war began to settle, reparations of civilizations and relationships were on the rise. Countless people had lost everything because of this bloodbath, and sadly the road to a life of normality was long and arduous for the citizens of post-war Germany. Although the war had ended, peace was not plentiful. Even before the end of World War II, a new struggle was developing between the United States and the Soviet Union (Schmemann 23). The U.S. and Soviet…

Introduction The Marshall plan has been largely considered the greatest instance of foreign aid ever created by the United States of, but to what extent was the Marshall plan employed to contain communism? The Marshall plan was passed in 1948 and it’s publicly known main purpose was to help rebuild Europe’s economy and landscape during the post world war two crisis that many countries were dealing with following the war. Europe had spent tremendous amounts of money and used many resources on…

Throughout history, it has been shown how political systems around the world differ from country to country. With that comes their own way of living, thinking and growing as a nation. How a country is shaped depends greatly on its views of absolute monarchy, Democracy, Communism, and fascism, which are only some systems helping to shape the nations we know today. All these political systems are formed in each region according on the needs of people, exposure they have, and their type of…

“ Iron Curtain” When Winston Churchill spoke of an iron curtain that was descending on Europe he suggested that while it was not a physical iron curtain dividing Europe,. He spoke metaphorically referencing Soviet domination in Eastern Europe and the obvious divide between Western and Eastern ideologies. Churchill coined the term “Iron Curtain” while giving a speech in Missouri. In 1947 Bernard Baruch created the term the “Cold War” is an attempt to describe post WWII relations between Western…