Friday, May 24, 2013

Is America a better place as a result of the Cold War?


How does America manage its role as a Superpower? How does the Cold War influence American foreign diplomatic actions, elections, and domestic policy? Be specific in your comment on this topic and let's really think through the legacy of the Post WWII-1990.

21 comments:

Pauline Li said...

America manages its role as a Superpower by keeping itself involved. America has been involved in a lot of wars and has grown a lot over the years. From being a world power and slowly growing to becoming a superpower, America has done this be keeping itself stable. The Cold War influences American foreign diplomatic actions, elections, and domestic policy in many ways. The Cold War helped shape the foreign policies such as containment, where they tried to prevent communism from spreading. This led to support of foreign governments that opposed communism, which led to the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The Cold War influenced American Domestic Policy by supporting businesses and the middle class was expanding. There was also a rise in popularity in the suburbs and a growth in the white-collar work force.

April Balobalo said...

How does America manage its role as a Superpower? How does the Cold War influence American foreign diplomatic actions, elections, and domestic policy?

America manages its role as a Superpower with all the wars that they got involved in. WWII helped show America's strength by obtaining land as well as helping other nations. During WWII America made new warfare items such as the atomic bomb, which led the feeling of America being strong, and a nation that other nations shouldn't mess with.
But it was not until the Cold War did America officially hold the name of a "Super Power." The Cold War helped prove again to other nations that America was strong, and shouldn't be messed with. But the Cold War also helped foreign affairs such as the Truman Doctrine, and the forming of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization.) The Truman Doctrine helped aid nations such as Turkey and Greece economically as well as military. This helped protect Turkey and Greece strengthening Americans foreign affairs. NATO also helped because America with European nations formed together and align. NATO's purpose was to fight together, and protect each other. Since the Soviet and America was competing for the title "Superpower," America's domestic policy was changed. The schooling was financed, as well as business markets and industries.

Ketie Chen said...

How does America manage its role as a Superpower? How does the Cold War influence American foreign diplomatic actions, elections, and domestic policy? Be specific in your comment on this topic and let's really think through the legacy of the Post WWII-1990.

America manages its role as a superpower by realizing that was happening in the world around them. After the World Wars with the rise of dictators such as Hitler and Stalin fear arises of another World War so with the treaty of Versailles it settled some problems the unsolved issues resulted in the Cold War. When communism Russia decides to take over countries in Asia, America does its part as a world power to contain communism as best was it could. This theory of was called Containment. Some examples would be of when America enters the Korean War, when North Korea was invaded by the Communism and America joined the war to protect South Korea from becoming a communism country. Another example would be when President Kennedy decides to help South Vietnam from being invaded by North Vietnam, which was communism. Even though they did not win the war America took the chance to show what they were capable of and show the world that they were a superpower and not to mess with them. America took part in any decisions that could have a positive impact on themselves so they were able to manage their role as a superpower.
I think their foreign affairs made an extraordinary impact on America keeping its role as a superpower because keeping peace with their neighbors they were able to avoid any possible wars and have allies instead of enemies. So I believe with all these factors America was able to manage its role as a superpower, such as when America involves itself into the world wars and issues such as the spread of communism.

Tina Giang said...

America manages its role as a Superpower by maintaining its position through foreign affairs. U.S. tried to keep the idea of Communism by undermining the government of countries under the Soviet Union, preventing Communism from expanding and lessening the power of Communist forces. Also, the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki frightened many nations because it leads to numerous of deaths and rigorous destructions. The threatening bomb demonstrated America's power within the world. Therefore, it delivered a message to other nations that if they want to go against the U.S., they might end up in the same situation with devastating structures. The tenacious Japanese surrendered after the great damnation. In addition, President Truman believed that it was his duty to use every weapon available to 'save American lives' and to end the World War II. Throughout the Cold War, the U.S. acted as a barrier to socialist revolutions and targeted populist and nationalist governments that were aided by the communists. The Marshall Plan is an U.S. program that provides economic aid to the Europeans countries for reconstruction after WWII. The implantation of economic aid created more alliances and international relations. Reaganomics is a trickle down economic strategy that cuts taxation from the corporations and hoping that it will trickle down to the middle and lower classes by the businessmen creating more employment opportunities. This implies a goodness of human nature of the corporate level. Reaganomics increasingly benefit the rich, but not as much to the middle and lower class. In contrast, Reaganomics worsen the employment rate for certain companies and to the lower classes because it didn't benefit from Reaganomics, but instead the people from the lower class deteriorated.

Jenna Zhao said...

America manages its role as a superpower by being involved in foreign affairs and wars. Before America became a superpower, america was an isolationist. However, WWII left us as the only one standing and other nations turned to us for protection from emerging totalitarian countries like Russia. America ended up becoming the international role when that really wasn't our best interest. By becoming more involved in foreign affairs, we began making food and money grants to smaller countries, influenced France and England and other European countries to free their colonies, and signed treaties with smaller countries NATO and SEATO that used our military industrial might as the trump card to guarantee sovereignty to whole areas. The Cold War influenced America in many ways such as it brought up fear, people were afraid of a preemptive strike being made against the US, particularly during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. As a result of this, a fear of communism was introduced which led to our involvement with Vietnam. The Cold War helped the middle class expand and supported businesses.
Overall, the unexpected foreign affairs allowed Americans to have more allies instead of enemies.

Princess Garrett said...

America manages it's role as a superpower by being aware of their surroundings and being involved with affair like Pauline said. The United States did not grow in power until after WWII. Since the Cold War was not fought in the United States, it did not suffer from causalities or industrial destruction. This was helped the United States gain status of "the world's largest long-term creditor nation", by being a supplier of goods. Through this was, the United States was able to strengthen their military an build up their industrial and technological infrastructure. America was growing in many aspects, economically, scientifically. We had strong ties with Latin America, Eastern Asia and Western Europe. The cold war influenced America because it helped them become a better country by being involved.

Christa Rivers said...

How does America manage its role as a Superpower? How does the Cold War influence American foreign diplomatic actions, elections, and domestic policy? Be specific in your comment on this topic and let's really think through the legacy of the Post WWII-1990.

America manages its roles as a Superpower by spending. They gave and gave to other countries and fought wars to prevent communism from spreading. The Cold War influenced America in the "space race" and the fighting against communism. With the launch of the Sputnik 1 in 1957, America scrambled to compete with the Soviets in the field of space exploration. America's involvement in the Vietnamese war was an indication of how desperate the country was to keep communism from spreading. They wanted to "contain" it so that it would not be a threat to democracy. The way America interacted with other countries changed in response to the growing power of the Soviets. America signed the NATO treaty to stop communism expansion from spreading in to Europe. America became more involved with the rest of the world, which contrasts with how it was before the cold war.
The economic effects of the cold war can be seen in the 1980s during Ronald Reagan's presidency. He cut taxes in order to stimulate economic growth. Reagan also spent more on the military. As a result, the Soviets put more money in to their military as well, but this only weakened them.
Overall America managed its role as a super power by fighting communism and spending money.

Christina Penh said...

World War II strengthen the position of the United States as a superpower. The war helped the US build up a strong industrical and technological system that greatly put the military system into a primarly position on a global stage. During the cold war, the US was able to maintain consituatuional rights for freedom of speech and freedom of press. Military wise they were able to have bases around the world, particularly bordering the Warsaw Pact to the West, South and East. Also, the largest nuclear arsenal in the world with powerful military allies in the Western Europe (NATO). The Marshall Plan--a massive plan to aid in rebuilding Europe after World War II. Western allied nations, as well as neutral nations, and even the Soviet Union were offered economic assistance. The Soviet Union saw this as a threat to their attempt to gain influence in Europe and Asia.

Unknown said...

When analyzing America's management as a superpower I would agree with everyone that it had a lot to do with its foreign affairs and involvement but I also think America that since America was known as the biggest borrowers, especially in the 80's, they were able to control what they did in a economically functional way that worked best for them. By America creating 'Reaganomics' it was a way to keep America economically stable, evidently it did not work out that way. As America became involved in foreign policies and making that their main focus it created a platform, or stage, for America to stand on and exemplify its power. Even if at home, in reality, we were just getting back on our feet after The Great Depression, going on to deal with Reaganomics in the 1980's and the increasing gap between the rich and the poor.
The Cold War influenced American foreign diplomatic actions, elections and domestic policies. The Cold War was in a way a test for America if they were truly going to demolish the spread of communism and whether or not they had that control or power to do so. Once America truly believed that they had this control, they were able to create NATO, United Nations and other international organizations to help build communication between nations. The Cold War also influenced domestic policy by, again Reaganomics which was a huge deal to the future of America because the effect of Reaganomics is still being felt in 2013. The economic and political gap has expanded even though the gap may have become smaller since the the mid-1900's it is still part of today's society. Therefore, the effects of the Cold War are arguably still being felt today.

Ashani Scales said...

the U.S. manages its role as a superpower well, because in its efforts to become that superpower, they were sure to stay involved in foreign affairs, because they wanted to spread democracy, so that every nation could become democratized. they would usually stick to helping the smaller and somewhat helpless countries because they knew that those countries were, for the most part, easy to persuade. by serving as this "superhero" to other countries, America became stronger, and better at managing this superpower. The Cold war influenced their foreign interactions because political campaigns, electoral speeches, and ads all were centralized around the Cold War. we've been warned, though, as a nation before by George Washington to not get into foreign affairs, and alliances because they are dangerous. things like the Neutrality Act of 1935 which stated there would be no U.S. involvement in the war went with this idea, but it backfired.

Anonymous said...

Being a superpower nation means that thy nation has to have a strong economy, an overpowering military force, great international political power or foreign affairs , and the leaders have to be able I make rational decisions . The U.S. economy was furnishing more compared to Stalin. The U.S was always a step ahead of the U.S.S.R. , an example would be Stalins "five year plan" bu by this time the U.S. had already established a secure economic network. It's all about being bigger and better than the next and making better decisions for your country to being peace and prosperity. While some countries were fighting war like France in WW1, the U.S explored all possible options and outcomes. Thy built themselves up while the others were asleep, as I like to say.

Imani Bey said...

America manages it role as a Superpower by getting involved into foreign affairs. They aren't isolationist or appeasers anymore, they are stepping in, and challenging or helping foreign nations. After the Cold War influenced America's diplomatic policy by either isolating and or focusing on nations with dictators and militarist.This new American diplomatic policy of opposing communism,and dictatorship, led America into the Vietnam War or the Bay Pigs. With America getting more involved in more foreign policy, and undermining communism cause conflicts, and wars, stirs up a lot of objection at home, and their domestic policy becomes more supportive encouraging more domestic progress, financing more businesses, industries, and schools.

Breanne Olsen said...

America was able to manage its role as a superpower by keeping a steady and noticed role in foreign affairs. Foreign affairs meaning wars, aiding other countries, and settling disputes between fighting countries. The Cold War created Containment, which many people have already brought up. Containment was the theory to stop the spread of communism in Europe and Asia. This obviously got the U.S. involved with more countries to prevent communism from taking over them. The cold war influenced elections because the people wanted an anti-communist president who would lead them to win the "Race" against Soviet Russia, which also influenced our domestic policy. To become better than people in Soviet Russia there were higher funds and programs made for schools, and new jobs opened as well. This helped out economy greatly even if the Reaganomics killed it.

Annaya Frazier said...

America manages its role as a Superpower, by forming alliances and pairing with countries who needed their aid and or benefited America in some way. America stepped into countless wars and battles that had nothing to do with them, but they felt needed them. Places like the Philippines, and Turkey, counted on America to guide them in their time of need,when their government and policies backfired. Many times America wanted to stay neutral but found themselves either getting pulled into the war through attacks, or felt that they were abandoning the people they promised to help. So, to keep their reputation and trade partners, America was forced to do what was right. Or what they felt was right. The Cold War influenced American foreign diplomatic actions by forcing them to see what was right for the world. When the Cold War broke out America was determined to end Stalin's plot to take over the world. The war also influenced elections by effecting the presidential turnout for the elections. During the Cold War, America was now concerned with who was best suited for handling the war measures. Lastly, the Cold war influenced domestic policy by opening new strategies and opportunities. Such as the civil right's act that banned discrimination.

Amaya said...

America manages its superpower role by keeping itself involved in foreign affairs. As Imani said, America quit appeasing and isolating themselves from foreign nations' problems. I agree that in order for a nation to be a super power, it must have a strong military and political power, but,I disagree with Amber when she says that the nation must have a strong economy because throughout history, the U.S. has had an inconsistent economy with the many depressions and the occasional economic "roars". I think what economically helped America was their relationships with other countries which gained them allies. The Cold War influences Americas diplomatic actions, elections and domestic policy by pushing America to be greater and think ahead of the Soviet Union. As Ketie said, America took this chance to show the world what they were capable of. Diplomatically, through domestic policies and through elections, America wanted everything having to do with anticommunism due to the fact that that was the cause they were fighting against.

Unknown said...

America manages its role as a Superpower by trying to be number 1 in everything. for example, all the money spent on having the best well funded military out there, getting involed in almost every war, keeping democray at the top by doing their best by contaiment, even try to better themselves and be the best education wise, along with being the best at new concepts like the whole space race and the atomic bomb. The Cold War influences American foreign diplomatic actions, elections, and domestic policy by making America focus on things they deam more important such as their military, democracy, money spending, and being involved. The conpect Containment caused foreign affairs such as bay of pigs, Cuban missile crisis, Korean War as well as the Vietam war. America almost tried to prove that their were the best and number 1 at everything. Most of the presidents during this time especially Reagan spendt the most on military advancement, others focused on education, in an apmept into top the ussr Americans better their education and rushed into the space race along with being the first to make the a amtoic bomb showing that their the best and not to be messed with. The creation of NATO and the Truman doctrine added to the foeign affairs.

Alex Shuster said...

America manages its role as a super power by becoming more involved in foreign affairs. For example, U.s attends the Yalta conference which consists of Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin and they decussed the postwar world. During the Cold War the U.S. helps Greece and Turkey by sending them money to try and stop communism from spreading. Also the U.S. gets involved with Korea. North Korea, communist, invaded South Korea, who were being supported by the U.S. because they did not want communism to spread, and even though the U.S. could not prevent the invasion their involvement showed the world the power the U.S. had.
The Cold War influenced American foreign diplomatic actions, elections, and domestic policy. The Cold War influenced the foreign policies such as the Truman Docturine, NATO and containment.All of these in some way result in stopping the spread of communism.The Cold War also influenced the domestic party. The Cold War provided an economic boom. The postwar agriculture and cheap energy led some of the economic boom. In time came the rush to the suburbs and then the baby boom. The baby boom led to more economic change because as those babies became children, then young adults, and so on, new products were being made, more money was being spent, and the middle class was expanding. The Cold War also led to even more policies the FHA(Federal Housing Authority), the Department of Defence, Economic opportunity Act, Equal rights Amendment, Civil Rights Act, and Reaganomics. All of these have affected and still are affecting the U.S. today.

Unknown said...

By being a superpower, a country may possess great influence to the world. America managed its role as a superpower mainly through the interference in foreign events. For example, as many people mentioned above, America's main policy in foreign relations during the Cold War era was the containment of communism. Through out many wars such as the Korean War ad the Veitnam War, America attempts to contain communism within the countries by aiding and fighting for the non-communist sides, which in this case would be South Korea and South Veitnam. America's foreign actions, influenced by the Cold War, was the firm stand against communism. In the Cold War, America's opponent was the Soviet Union, which was a communist country. This tension was the partial contributor to America's dislike of communism. Thus, during the Cold War era, America attempts to prevent the spread of communism in whatever ways it can.

Unknown said...

America manages it's role as a super power by constantly being in foreign affairs. By constantly being in foreign affairs, America holds its stance as a super power in exemplifying its or power and money when involving itself in wars and loaning money to countries.
Ex) Korean War

The Cold War influences American foreign diplomatic actions, elections and domestic policy. The Cold War was caused because of the differences of the kind of world the two super powers wanted. Because of this, America wanted to contain communism. To do this, America involved itself in affairs such as the Korean war and the Vietnam war. Also, in being involved in foreign affairs helped form NATO and the Truman doctrine. It affected elections because people were now putting the factor of who can effectively handle war measures. All in all, America handled itself as a world power by forming foreign bonds.

mariah medina said...

America manages its role as a superpower by being involved in foreign affairs. they show their dominance in who they ally themselves with and their tactics and strategies in winning wars, no only in war but also in the aid of other countries are they skillful. they help other countries but at the same time put fear in them showing other countries they can be nice but they will not be pushed around. also, the cold war like any other war that America was involved in helped America grow and atrengthen as a unit in more ways than one. America wouldnt be where it is today without enduring what it did.

Sageda Elabed said...

America manages its role as a super power through its actions with foreign countries. America won the war against Britain in 1776 and 1812, where we began gaining power. Then, America came to the French's rescue and defeated the Germans in WW1. America also won WW2. The last war that gave America control as a super power was the war with the Iraqis in 1991. During the super power, America kept itself stable. The Cold War prevented communism from spreading, which allowed America to stay a super power. Much money was spent by our government on the Cold War, which came from the citizen in the form of taxes. The military was constantly on guard and various new weapons and means of combating the enemy were developed.