Cold War Summary

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From the end of the Second World War to the disbandment of the Soviet Union (USSR) in 1991, the shadow of the Cold War enveloped the world under the potential of nuclear destruction. Following World War II Europe was divided into a U.S. led pro Democratic West, and a Soviet controlled Communist East. Under the Truman Doctrine, the Americans implemented foreign policy focused on containing the spread of Communism. Germany was the most disputed country in Europe, with both the country and the city of Berlin being divided between the Soviets and the Allies. The Soviet blockade of Berlin in 1947 led to escalated tensions and the U.S. led Berlin airlift. Similarly in 1945, the Korean peninsula was occupied in the north by Soviet forces, while Americans liberated the southern part. Armed conflict did result on the Korean peninsula, with the end result being North Korea and South Korea remained separated at the 38th parallel. The tensest time of the Cold war was the 13 day Cuban missile crisis between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Cold War was the result of the pro-democracy United States and the Communist Soviet …show more content…

The North Koreans successfully drove back South Korean military forces until they occupied most of South Korea. However, a United States led United Nations (UN) force landed at the Port of Inchon and pushed the North Koreans back out of the south and almost to the Chinese border. As the armed conflict approached its border China, feeling threatened by a possible invasion by UN forces, joined the war on behalf of North Korea. The Chinese poured hundreds of thousands of troops into North Korea. The UN forces were pushed back and the front stabilized at the 38 parallel. Fighting ended on July 27th, 1953 with an armistice that approximately restored the original boundaries (notes). Those boundaries exist to this day. In contrast, no war developed in Europe during the Cold

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