A look at US Policy during the Cold War

Why and how did the United States chose to “fight” the Cold War and how did this strategy play out internationally and with what effects?

                The Cold War was the result of competing interest between America and the Soviet Union toward the end of the Second World War. The initial issue which brought the tension came about with deciding what to do with Poland after Germany had fallen. Truman had a problem with the Soviet Union creating a powerful communist government in Poland; ultimately Truman lost the issue at the Potsdam meeting (UN 701). Resulting from the Second World War, both countries had vast military might and with the research of nuclear weapons, which would have devastated the world if a direct conflict occurred.  As a result of this fear, rather than fight directly, a competition between America and the Soviet Union leading to a race to create spheres of influence became the battleground. American policy was adapted to help combat and ‘contain’ communism as a result.

                After World War Two, another war would have not been the best option, especially amongst two superpowers. As a result, Truman adopted a strategy of beating the Soviet Union at their own game, and contain them from expanding influence. The ‘war’ then changed to become about places of influence rather than a direct American/Soviet conflict. Expanding from this, Truman pushed for the idea to support regions in defense of communism expansion. Using this idea, the Truman Doctrine was enacted, to help send financial aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent communism from taking over in 1947 (UN 703). Further adding to the containment solution, the Marshal Plan became a essential part of United States foreign policy (Un 704). This ultimately aided in strengthening pro-western European government from being pushed over by a wave of communist influence. This allowed America to maintain a hold of support in Western Europe while the Soviet Union imposed its will in the East. Adding to the competing spheres of influence, the United States sought to make a military alliance with Western European countries to help defend from possible future threat resulting in the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance which included twelve nations in 1949 (Un 707). NATO seemed to serve as a safeguard against a possible armed conflict with the Soviets. Similar to the Marshal Plan, and Truman Doctrine, NATO was a political move used by the United States to indirectly strengthen its position in the world against the Soviet Union.

                Along with the diplomatic measures to contain communism, the United States intervened in an effort to prevent communist expansion. Although tensions were high, the United States never fought the Soviet Union, instead fighting Soviet backed movements and aiding pro western governments, keeping up the idea expanding influence which helped America. The first of these conflicts occurred in Korea, where the communists north invaded the pro-western south in 1950 (Un 713). To support the idea of containing the spread of communism, the United States intervened on the side of the South. In essence America was able to save South Korea from being consumed by communist North Korea, but the involvement of China on the North’s behalf left the war as a stalemate. Surprisingly the Soviet Union never became involved in the conflict directly, but rather supported communist expansion indirectly. The next zone where influence became fought over came in Cuba.  Fidel Castro, a communist was able to take control of the Cuban government in 1959, America did not support the idea of a Soviet backed leader so close to its borders (UN 754). America continued its support of anti-communist forces with its backing of the Bay of Pigs incident which actually ended in complete failure. The situation in Cuba eventually escalated into the Cuban Missile Crisis which neither side moved the conflict to direct war.  Tensions were high, but America continued its support of containing communism.

                Vietnam became a test of how involved America would get in preventing the spread of communism. America put its support behind the south, “The United States helped establish a pro-American government in the south, headed by Ngo Dinh Diem” (UN 752). Continuing the idea of keeping a Soviet free world, America changed from financial support to military support of Vietnam in 1964 (UN 775). Again like in Korea, the American military was used in an attempt to stop communist expansion in a conflict between supportive nations rather than direct war the Soviet Union. After years of harsh fighting, American opinion shifted on the war, South Vietnam found itself alone in 1975 (UN 807). Despite a huge military effort, America actually failed to stop communism to spread in Vietnam, after American withdrawal, the communist north took control of the south.

                The overall stance America took in its confirmation with the Soviet Union during the Cold War followed the idea to contain communism and protect western spheres of influence. Truman set the stage of creating spheres of influence with the enacting of the Truman Doctrine and Marshal Plan, following along with the idea that communism can be stopped if anti-communist governments are supported properly. The containment even expanded to a more military containment, with America intervening in both Korea and Vietnam, one being a success, the other a failure. Ultimately America was able to compete with the Soviet Union for influence while avoiding a direct military conflict that could have been catastrophic because of the presence of nuclear weapons. Perhaps the biggest success of American containment policy was the prevention of Western Europe from being dragged into Soviet influence immediately following World War Two. America was able to ensure a strong position in Europe by not standing by and letting communism spread, resulting in the creation of NATO which kept the Soviet Union in check. Although it was an unorthodox approach, consisting of both successes and failures, America was able to compete with the Soviet Union and fight the Cold War though diplomacy and influence in the world.