The End of the Cold War.
Kunal Shah Mr. Muratore; MYP World History; Period 5 9 May 2010 Word Count: 1367 The Cold War's Conclusion On Christmas Day 1991, at 7:35 p.m., the Soviet flag flying over the Kremlin was lowered and replaced by the new Russian Federation flag. The USSR officially ceased to exist on December 31, 1991. The fall of the Soviet Union signified the end of the Cold War (Nye 2). Obviously, this was a huge moment in our world's history; a 44-year-old tension between two of the most powerful countries in the world, which almost brought us to a combative war, was destroyed. But how did something that seemed so improbable one decade previously occur so peacefully? The reform by Mikhail Gorbachev, Ronald Reagan's coercion as well as reform, and the failures in the Soviet Union and its fall were factors that led to the end of the Cold War. First, we must analyze the decisions of Mikhail Gorbachev, who dissolved the Soviet Union and ended the Cold War. Gorbachev as a leader contributed by bringing Western ideals to Soviet Russia, ultimately thawing the conflict between the USSR and the United States and ending communism in Russia (Hogan 12). When he came to power, Gorbachev did not want to bring down the Soviet Union; he wanted to reform it while maintaining Communism (Gaddis 67). However his reforms not only made his relationship with the United States better, but his decisions
Why did the Cold War end?
Why did the Cold War end? The Cold War took many twists and turns during the time it went on for, but the ending took many mad twists on both sides. Détente saw the two superpowers meet and discuss peacefully for the first time in years, especially after the hostility of the Cuban Missile Crisis. After Détente, things really took a good turn as neither side wanted a nuclear war, and Cuba came close! The end of the Cold War is broken in to three main sections. The failure of Communism is obviously a main part as it is one of the Superpowers. After the Cuban Missile Crisis, it was made out that the USSR had backed down, and Khrushchev resigned. After Khrushchev followed a series of terrible leaders. This really affected the end of the Cold War, as the Communism side couldn't function with an incompetent leader. Although treaties were signed, many things contributed to the fall of Communism. The whole idea Communism was based on meant the Communist economy was neglected, this meant that they had no means of support, especially when the USA stopped trading with them. The USSR finally decided that they did not have the technological ability to keep up with the USA, and when Reagan announced his laser defence system, the USSR decided to just give up trying and spend the little money on saving themselves from poverty. This shows that the USSR were low on money, showing a not-so
The Causes of the Cold War.
THE CAUSES OF THE COLD WAR The Cold War is the name given to the period from 1945 to 1991 when a high level of distrust existed between two superpowers, the USA and the USSR (otherwise called the Soviet Union). The cold war dominated world events because each of the two superpowers tried to influence the world in ways that suited its own interests. These interests were based on very different ideas about the organisation of society, which led to each side fearing the other. The Cold War led to a series of conflicts in different parts of the word where the two superpowers found themselves in confrontation. In some of these situations, the state of mutual fear led to a dangerous level of tension because each superpower possessed many nuclear weapons. Despite tensions reaching a significantly heightened level, the conflict never developed into a state of direct-armed war between the USA and USSR. Such a direct war would have been a "hot" war and, because this never happened the opposition of the USA and the USSR continued to be called the Cold War. The Cold War lasted for 45 years and over this time it involved conflicts in more parts of the world than WW2. In central and South America, in Africa and the middle east, real wars caused by the cold war led to the deaths of millions of people. The course of world events was shaped by the Cold War and even after it had ended, the
The End of the Cold War and the Emergence of the Post-Cold War World
The End of the Cold War and the Emergence of the Post-Cold War World Group Report In the summer of 1991, just for a week's time, the existence of a Union, made up of fifteen Socialist Republics, remained only a fact in the history books. This dissolution, however, was not a singular event. The following report will attempt to examine the explicit and implicit causes of Soviet's Union break-up, as well as the confusion and disorder it caused, mainly by clarifying the issues surrounding it. The critical discussion provided will also present a useful insight in the formation of the emerged new World after the Cold War, referred to by historians, as the 'Post-Cold War' world, chiefly taking into consideration Gorbachev's 'novoie myslenie' and the concepts of glasnost and perestroika, plus their fundamental impact on Eastern Europe and even on present-day Russian political system (Bisley, 2004, p.75). By virtue of the long lasted era of stagnation and communist ideological values under Brezhnev's government, at the end of the 1980s, the Soviet state was evidently bleak. Moreover, the ever increasing interference of the party, in practically every aspect of people's life, was becoming to a greater extent detrimental for the effectiveness of the state in the course of the years. As a result, by the time Gorbachev acquired the post of General Secretary in 1985, he had a great
Why did the Cold War start
Why did the Cold War start? After the Second World War, a hostile atmosphere developed between the USA and the USSR, which grew into an intense rivalry called the Cold War. The cause of the Cold War has been attributed by some historians, to the invention of nuclear weapons as it led to distrust and fear between the two nations. The Atomic Bomb had been displayed at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending the war and simultaneously alerting the USSR to the power that America now held, as "The Soviets were clearly aware that the weapon existed and rational enough not to tempt the Americans to use them against the Soviet Union."1 However, although the invention of nuclear weapon played a significant part in creating the tension that led to the Cold War, other factors have to be taken into consideration. A key element that has to be taken into consideration is the differing ideological stances of both the USA and the USSR. After the Second World War, America believed that the ideas of fascism were to be replaced with capitalism and democracy, while the USSR believed that it should be replaced with Communism. It has been argued that 'the Cold War is generally regarded as a conflict between the East and West or between communism and capitalism.' 2 The differences in ideological thinking led to the aggressive American policy of Containment and the introduction of the Marshall Aid, which
Origins of the Cold War.
Chapter 29 Cold War Salil Shah Per 3 I. Origins of the Cold War A. Sources of American Soviet Tension Had difference in view of post war world. US supported the view in which nations gave up traditional military alliances, and dealt with each other in a democratic process, with an international org. as mediator. Britain and Soviets favored view where system of traditional European balance of powers would reemerge. B. War time Diplomacy By Jan 1943 a strain in relations with soviets was evident as Stalin refused to meet with Churchill and Roosevelt. The 2 refused Stalins'most immediate demand to have a 2 european fronts, but assured him that they would have unconditional surrender of Axis powers and they would not leave soviets out of peace negotiations. In Teharan Conference relations between Stalin and Roosevelt became better as Stalin agreed to enter Pacific once hotstilities in Europe died down, and US agreed to 2 front western war. However there was tension on who would lead Poland once war was over. They avoided the issue by leaving it unresolved. C. Yalta In Feb. 1945the big three met in Soviet Union. Stalin was promised some territory lost in Jap Soviet war of 1904, in pacific. Also agreed to UN charter with a security council, with members from 5 major powers. Issue of Polish government was compromised. Soviets had occupied Poland and installed the pro
Why did the Cold War End?
Why did the Cold War End? Tauseef Ahmed United States History May 13th 2004 Why did the Cold War End? One of the main events of the war-filled twentieth century was the Cold War - a state of tension between the United States of America and the Soviet Union from nineteen forty five, at the beginning of the Soviet expansion of communism in newly formed countries after Word War II, opposed by the United States to nineteen eighty nine with the fall of the Berlin Wall. The main focus of this research will be to state the reasons as to why this hugely acknowledged war comes to an end. It was the most unexpected event that happened and the credit must be given to the leaders on both sides. The Cold War eventually came to an end in 1989 as a result of Gorbachev's Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (reconstruction) policies; the Soviet's declining communist economy, the costly arms race, and the freedom issues among Baltic Republics, Poland, and East Germany within the Soviet bloc itself. When Mikhail Gorbachev became the General Secretary of the Soviet Union in 1985, he was determined to end corruption in the Soviet economy and get the U.S.S.R. back on its feet. To achieve this goal he announced two new policies Glasnost and Perestroika. Glasnost or openness was the policy that ended the strict censorship, allowed Soviet citizens to speak openly about their society's problems
Causes of the Cold War
Causes of the Cold War There were far reaching ideological, economic and political differences between the United States and the Soviet Union before the start of the Second World War, of which were intensified as a result shared suspicions following the Second World War. . Primary Causes Ideological: The United States and the Soviet Union represent two opposing systems of government. In the United States, the government is elected, and thus influenced by the freedom of elections. The public is able to form political parties in order to express their political positions. Americans also possess the right of assembly, of press, and the right of speech. Now, in the Soviet Union of Russia, the government is fashioned by the hands of the Communist Party. Unlike the United States, the Russian people do not have the right to form their own parties. In addition to this, they are not entitled to the right of assembly, of press, or of speech. These two systems of government are entirely opposed to each other. As a result, there was little room for any compromise whatsoever between Russia and the United States. Economics: The U.S. desired to push for free trade throughout the world; however, Russia desired to defend her own area from international commerce. The fear from the Russian perspective was that trade with the West would involve risking Russia's totalitarian regime at the
In what ways is the post-Cold War international order different from the Cold War international order?
In what ways is the post-Cold War international order different from the Cold War international order? The fall of the Soviet Union in 1989 is viewed by many to be the most important and defining political moment in political history since the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. There can be no doubt that there have been major structural changes in world politics since the death of the Soviet Union. Its successor states generally chose a pro-western, democratic and capitalistic political direction over that of their former communist system. The argument then follows that this is indicative of the new world order's major difference from that of the old cold war order, as it symbolises the transformation from the bipolar old world order split between two super powers and their ideologies, to that of the new world order in which we see a world becoming united behind a new single liberal ideology led by the USA. Hence, the USA with their ascension to the role of single world super power has become the leader of the new world order, and sees its role as bringing countries into a new liberal regime. As demonstrated in former president George Bushes state of the union address in 1991 "It is a big idea: a new world order, where diverse nations are drawn together in common cause to achieve universal aspirations of mankind, peace and security, freedom, and the rule of law."1 These
When did the Cold War Begin?
When did the Cold War Begin? The Term 'Cold War' gained popularity shortly after the Second World War. It describes a state of extreme hostility between the Great Powers (in this case the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (SU)), it is usually associated with arms races, diplomatic conflict, and hostile measures of every kind, short of out right military action between the two Great Powers themselves. They did wage war but usually through proxies, where the conflict was localised and only involved one of the Great Powers. This question has been debated on many occasions, as there is no straightforward answer. Some claim that this all began (Cold War) way back to the Russian revolution of 1917. When the Communists gained power in Russia and made drastic changes to the way in which the country was previously run. This very much angered the West as Capitalism and Communism have much conflicting beliefs, they are incompatible and seek the destruction of each other. So much so that in 1918, when the Russians made a peace with Germany, the West sent armies to destroy the Communist. They failed and the Communist stayed in power. This is the very first time that there is an 'East verses West' scenario. 938 has also been argued as a possible date for the beginning of the Cold War. This is due to the Munich Conference. The US was not directly involved in this, but it did
