America Faces the Cold War Essay - 1504 Words

America Faces the Cold War From 1941-1945, the United States, along with numerous other countries throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa, was engaged in World War II. The allied powers bitterly fought against the axis powers on European land and over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. After the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima in Japan, which caused the axis powers to succumb to the allied powers, Americans were very relieved that the many years of fierce conflict had finally come to a halt. It was a good time for American citizens to celebrate the return of the soldiers and to enjoy the peace that had spread throughout the world. The United States was starting to rebuild its standard economy and was ready for everyday life to†¦show more content†¦The United States, as part of a UN police action, sent troops to help South Korea fight off the communist troops of North Korea. Under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, and with aid from Australia, Great Britain, and Turkey, the UN forces were of great assistance in the fight against not only North Korea, but also troops from the Soviet Union and China. The Korean War lasted from 1950-1953. The Korean War had major impacts on the autonomy and responsibility of the United States as a nation, as well as the people of America. Many powerful political authorities of the United States, thought not wanting communism to spread, argued that their nation was not allied to South Korea, and therefore had no responsibility of protecting them. On the contrary, other political figures felt that to ensure freedom as a democratic society, the United States had to assure that communism would not dominate in Asia and other foreign lands. These people believed that it was the duty of the United States to protect South Korea from communist rule. Meanwhile the American citizens were facing the same types of dilemmas, whether they owed allegiance to a foreign country. Their lives were once again in transition, going from living in a peaceful cou ntry to living in a country at war. The most obvious change in responsibility would be the military draft. Many American adult males were shipped to the far-east Asian country to put their lives on the line to stop the spreadShow MoreRelatedThe Cold War And The Soviet Union1139 Words   |  5 PagesThe Cold War is a period following world war II which was marked by political conflict between former allies; the United States and the Soviet Union. It is considered â€Å"a state of conflict that stops just ever so short of direct military combat. Instead, the fighting mainly takes the form of economic competition, political maneuvers, propaganda and, at times, proxy wars between nations allied to one of the more powerful nations.† (Pelz 171). 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