The Race of Arms

Arms Race. Pretty self explanatory. Pretty much the same concept as the Space Race. This was yet another competition to be the better the superpower...or the most powerful. So we all know about the nukes, correct?? Same thing. The United States and the Soviets were competing to have the best weapons. Fortunately, the two nations didnt blow up each other or the world (duh), but this was in fact one of the most intimidating competitions between the two during the Cold War.

Pointing Fingers

This was all McCarthy. Joseph McCarthy was a U.S. senator who did everything he could to prevent communism, but he pushed it way too far. Showing any single, little, tiny sign of communism was enough for him to declare you a communist. Even war veterans who recently returned from fighting in the Korean War were accused by McCarthy of being a member to the communist party. Of all people!! Men who risk their lives to fight AGAINST communist are being falsely accused of betraying their country. Wow. Well McCarthy was s psycho who made some unfortunate mistakes and has a bad legacy, but some men have to have that reputation to make war a little more interesting ;)

For America, say AY!

Throughout my blog, i have pointed out the tensions of the Cold War, but i havent exactly explained America's stand and intensions for the war. America is a capitalist nation, under the order of President Harry Truman at the beginning of the War, John F. Kennedy trailing Truman, then Lindon B. Johnson towards the end. All of these presidents did a wonderful and important job controlling the country during our most vulnerable times. You know by know that the United States and the Soviet Union were allies during the First and Second World Wars, but once they brought in communisn to their societies, we became enemies while trying to prevent the spread of the lethal political policy. In prevention came the mant tensions, many lives lost, and many unfair complications, but we wre willing to take the risk of losing a little face in order to keep the world at peace. Although i have much respect for the Soviet Union and all that they tried to acomplish, their policy was and still is wrong and unjust. Once America won the war, we knew the tensions wouldnt just stop there, so we documented a treaty in which you read about in the earlier blog, Life Now. From America's standpoint, you could say the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. are at peace for the time being, but nothing can be established so early on. We know from previous events and the past that the Soviet Union can be very sly, hence the ongoing treaty. America is a very strong nation that has made tramendous accomplishments over the years and we will never let our guard down. I believe we are a forgiving nation, but as President Kennedy once said, "Forgive your enemies, but do not forget their name." Everyone in this country does their best and tries their hardest to keep the world under control and to keep everyone safe and frankly, i think we're doing a decent job.

The Notorious Space Race

In summary the Space Race was just another head-to-head competition against the United States and the Soviet Union over who could get into space first. You must know about Sputnik, the little piece of hardware the U.S.S.R. got into space right?? Sputnik I is a basketball-sized, 183 pound, spherical satellite the Soviets sent out into orbit around Earth on October 4, 1957. Sadly, Sputnik I only spent three months in orbit around our planet. Once launched into orbit, Sputnik officially started the Space Race. America wanted to be just as good and technicalogically evolved so every scientist put their heads together to plan up and build Explorer I. Although the world was in craze about having satellites lainched into space, the world also had the apiphany of thinking, "Well if they can launch Sputnik into space, what else could they launch?" And that's when it all began...the next race would be known as the Arms Race.

Lethal Power

Along with the tensions and threats on Berlin, the main threat for 40 years was the existence of nuclear weapons. The Soviets very well knew that we (U.S.) had the power to drop atomic bombs on them if needed, remembering Japan in WWII. But soon making history, there would be enough nuclear power to blow up the whole planet, so the two superpowers were still trying to be cautious and keep this a "cold" war and not a "hot" war. So for a while the threats of nukes lingered, but decided to put them on the backburner for a while. We all know that the U.S. and U.S.S.R. were frivolous with competition so in the meantime came...the Arms and Space Race!!! Dun Dun Dun Dunnnn........

War Within a War

Ah, the Korean War. Fabulous. So. As mentioned in my very first post, the Cold War was legitamently about communism. And you also know that the U.S.S.R. was trying their darndest to spread it all over the world, but of course the U.S. wanted the opposite. We were scared to death. As long as communism didnt spread throughout neighboring countries of the U.S.S.R. it would all be alright...until we lost the battles to China and they also became a communist nation. Next up on the Soviet's list was Korea and we werent going to have any of it. North Korean leader, Kim Il Sung, was trying to spread communism through the tiny country. Democrat Syngman Rhee of South Korea wanted otherwise. Soon enough, war broke out. Southern China decides to help the North Koreans invade South Korea over the 38th Parallel and push them into a corner of the country called Pusan. And now, drumroll please, comes General MacArthur of the United States and, oh, what's that? Yes, he has a plan. The U.S. was going to create an alliance with South Korea in order to prevent the spread of communism over the whole Korean nation. Although Mr. MacArthur's plan was indeed successful, President Truman fired him over terms of disobedience to his orders. Throughout the years of the Cold War (1945-1991), many issues arose for the United States, and in some opinions, the Korean War may have been the most biggest, but not the scariest.

Life Now...

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So recently, as you may know, President Obama signed a treaty, or an extension thereof, with Russia proceeding of the document that kept the threats of nuclear power of the DL. This is very coincidental considering Truman and his following presidents of our country were doing the same thing 50 years ago. As I have posted in other blogs, at the time of the Cold War both the United States and the Soviet Union had enough nuclear power combined to disintegrate that planet. Although both nations threatened one another with their power, we never exposed the world to the nuclear possibilities of ending the world. But because we didnt do this 50 years ago doesnt mean we cant know, hence the treaty to keep arms on the DL. In all things, we dont want another war with the Soviet Union. The Cold War was rough and bloody and scary and America doesnt want that for the new century. I mean, a signed treaty between the two superpowers 50 years ago kept us out of blowing up the world...will it have the same outcome now?? We shall see.

Through America's Looking Glass

The Cold War was definately the war to change America's perspective on things. So many events took place that easily changed the outlook of our country. From everything starting from the A-Bomb on Japan to the to the creation of the H-Bomb, America's advancements were uncontrollable. Former allies, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., couldn't be clashing heads more. It's amazing to think that for decades the two nations were buddy-buddy and now they are pushing threats and destroying each other; everything has to be a competition now. Throughout the years of the Cold War, as said before, tensions were rising, casuality rates were increasing, and threats were being heard everywhere you went. From the beginning of the Korean War, U.S.S.R. was adament on their position of spreading communism to China, Korea, and sister countries who they still wanted control of. Of course, America wanted the world to be at peace, which was code to the U.S.S.R. as NO COMMUNISM. Obviuosly, Krushchev wasn't getting the picture. Both countries were doind everything in their power to get what they wanted and with many lives lost, many threatens surfaced, and many conference meetings, the Cold War was ended with another humongous victory to America.

The Targeted Berlin

Wow, where to begin?! The Cold War was THE war of tensions, no doubt. From the years of 1945 through 1963, war tensions were at their highest between the United States and the U.S.S.R. These two former allies were doing everything they could to threaten each other! One threat that was actually acted out was Berlin, Germany. Berlin is the capitol of Germany that would be the drawing line between East and West Berlin. Britain and the U.S. have been trying to "fix" Western Germany constantly after WWII in order to restore a fair nation, but Stalin of the U.S.S.R. saw this as a direct attack. On June 24, 1948, Soviet soldiers spill into Berlin, attempting to make them surrender. After 318 days, America establishes the Berlin Airlift, supplying fresh food and supplies to citizens of West Berlin. Stalin not wanting a hot war, did not shoot down American planes and admitted defeat. After Berlin, comes the Korean War. This is where the war actually gets a little bloody. The Korean War was a result of communism.

The Jist of It

So...in the beginning there were two nations that were allies through WWII. These two nations were the United States of America and the United Soviet Socialist Republic. Through WWII, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. helped each other with everything in need of war. At the end of the war in 1945, the two nations were still close, but there were signs of drifting apart. With threats of nuclear weapons, the Soviet's siege on West Berlin, and communism, the Unites States and the Soviet Union's relationship couldn't be worse. By 1952, the Soviet Union and the U.S were no longer an allies. The Soviet Union was now officially a communist party and America wanted nothing of communism. President Truman had a plan...containment. Following up on the Korean War comes the many tensions between the most powerful nations of the world. With competitions on the rise and more reasons to want to end contact with each other were becoming evident, from the looks of it, the Cold War wasn't looking so cold.