How was President Truman Important in the Build up to the Cold War? Harry S. Truman was the president of the United States just before and during an early period of the Cold War (1945-1953). Truman's presidency was very eventful in foreign affairs. He was involved in the defeat of Nazi Germany, made the decision to drop the Atomic Bombs in Japan, the founding of the United Nations, the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, the Truman Doctrine to attempt to contain communism and help aid Greece, the beginning of the Cold War, the Berlin Airlift and the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Truman made some decisions that ultimately had a huge effect in the build up to the cold war.
World War II was a disastrous, worldwide conflict that affected all the corners of the earth. Even after VE day in Europe, the war continued for more than 3 months, until VJ day in mid-August of 1945. This war in Japan ended a short time after the atomic bombing of two cities in Japan. However, the decision to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima was a diplomatic measure calculated to intimidate the Soviet Union in the post Second World War era, rather than a strictly military measure designed to force Japan’s unconditional surrender. The US at the time of the bombing of Hiroshima was led by Harry S. Truman, who had been pushed into the position of leadership by the death of Roosevelt.
“It wasn’t necessary to hit them with that awful thing” – Dwight Eisenhower Discuss this quote in relation to historian’s views on the United States decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan. On August 6th and August 9th 1945, atomic weapons were used as weapons for the first and only time in human history. President Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan has since created some of the most controversial debates in history. Historians have been divided since that day, as to whether or not it was necessary to drop the atomic bombs, and what the real reasons for dropping them were. In fact, the debates behind using the atomic bombs against Japan began even before the decision was made.
And the clear solution to this problem and to one to end the war was to drop the bomb on Hiroshima. There were three main participants in the war. America was in a great economical state; after the war, there was a job vacant for every man and woman in America. The USSR were also doing well, they were quickly climbing up the economic and social ladders, they were very close to becoming an economic super power and the USA was beginning to feel weak and threatened by their rapid growth. Those were the better two of the countries.
SALISBURY UNIVERSITY COLD WAR: THE TRUMAN DOCTRINE INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS POSC 210-002 12 APRIL 2011 DANIEL TIMMER The Allied powers victory in World War II was marked by the end of a reign by tyrant Adolf Hitler and the Axis powers. The victory however did not last long because the termination of one evil influence was quickly transformed into a new threat brought on by fear of the spread of communism. The post-World War II strategic interests of the United States, in terms of nation security, was to focus foreign affairs efforts on containment of the Soviet Union and communism throughout what would be termed the Cold War era. On March 12, 1947 the President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, addressed the nation by saying “I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way.
The second option was, an air strike: use the US Air Force to finish off all the nuclear missile locations. The third option was, a blockade: use the US Navy to block any nuclear missile from entering Cuba. The Cuban Missile Crisis reflects the disaster of the Cold War. The Cold War name was given to the affiliations that began between the US and USSR. Even though it was named, “The Cold War” no nation engaged in violence.
Kennedy decided to the blockade. Khrushchev backed down, saying that he would remove the nuclear weapons from Cuba in exchange for a pledge from the U.S to lift the blockade and renounce plans to invade Cuba. Kennedy agreed to remove the missiles in Turkey, but that this part of the agreement was to be kept secret. In 1991 internal problems split the Soviet Union leaving the U.S as the world’s superpower. It ended to cold war.
Cold War Origins Mike Serracino 1 2/26/12 Seay The 1950’s was a time of major change throughout the world. The United States was becoming a world super power, and dominance in Europe was changing. Also, Communism was spreading from Russia to many other countries such as China, Cuba, and Russian controlled countries after WWII. With Communism being a threat to democracy and freedom, the United States had to do something about it. Following WWII, with the death of President Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman became president.
Built in 1961, the Berlin Wall became known as a symbol of communist oppression. [3] In the 1963 "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech, U.S. President John F. Kennedy stated the support of the United States for democratic West Germany shortly after the Soviet-supported Communist state of East Germany erected the Berlin Wall as a barrier to prevent movement from East to West. [4] President Reagan's 1987 visit was his second within five years. It came at a time of heightened East-West tensions, caused in particular by the debate over the stationing of short range American missiles in Europe and the United States' record peacetime defense buildup. [5] Reagan was scheduled to attend the 1987 G-7 summit meeting in Venice, Italy, and later made a brief stop in Berlin.
During the 20th century, the Germans faced an appalling economic depression and during that time, the people lost trust in their government, and taking advantage of this opportunity, Hitler rose to power. Germany became secluded, and to the German people, Hitler was their ultimate savior. In a matter of years, Hitler rapidly rose to power and boosted the economy. Hitler and his Nazi party rise to power was one of chance and circumstance. His alternative views struck chord with the people; he was able to channel Germany’s disgust for the Weimar Republic, Treaty of Versailles and minority groups into support for his National socialist Party.