Cold War crises and two Cold war policies from 1945 to 1956
Describe in detail two Cold War crises and two Cold war policies from 1945 to 1956 that are covered in the book. What missteps did the Soviet Union make during this time?
Examine the outbreak and course of the great revolutions of 1848 and their impact on Europe and the world. Why did revolution break out across the continent in 1848? Evaluate and analyze the following: Were these truly ‘European’ upheavals, sustained by trans-national networks and communications, or parallel tumults generated by the same continent-wide socio-economic pressures? Who were the revolutionaries of 1848 and what did they want to achieve? Why did the traditional regimes cave in so fast to their demands?
Two Cold War Crises from 1945 to 1956
The Berlin Blockade (1948-1949)
In June 1948, the Soviet Union blocked all land and water access to West Berlin, which was located deep within the Soviet-occupied zone of Germany. The blockade was an attempt to force the Western powers to withdraw from Berlin and to give the Soviet Union control of the entire city.
The Western powers responded to the blockade by airlifting food, fuel, and other supplies into West Berlin. The airlift was a success, and the Soviet Union eventually lifted the blockade in May 1949.
The Korean War (1950-1953)
In June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. The North Korean invasion was supported by the Soviet Union and China. The United States and other Western powers intervened on the side of South Korea.
The Korean War was a bloody and costly conflict that ended in a stalemate in 1953. The war resulted in the deaths of millions of people and the displacement of millions more.
Two Cold War Policies from 1945 to 1956
The Truman Doctrine (1947)
The Truman Doctrine was a United States foreign policy that provided economic and military aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent them from falling under communist control. The Truman Doctrine was the first major foreign policy initiative of the Cold War.
The Marshall Plan (1948)
The Marshall Plan was a United States foreign policy that provided economic aid to Western European countries to help them rebuild their economies after World War II. The Marshall Plan was designed to prevent the spread of communism in Western Europe.
Soviet Missteps
The Soviet Union made a number of missteps during the Cold War. These missteps included:
- The Berlin Blockade: The Berlin Blockade was a failure that failed to achieve its objectives. It also led to the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which was a major blow to the Soviet Union.
- The Korean War: The Korean War was a costly and bloody conflict that ended in a stalemate. The war also damaged the Soviet Union's reputation and led to a loss of prestige.
- The Hungarian Revolution (1956): The Soviet Union crushed the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. This action damaged the Soviet Union's reputation and led to a loss of support for communism in Eastern Europe.
- Political reform: The revolutionaries wanted to establish democratic governments.
- Economic reform: The revolutionaries wanted to improve the lives of the working class.
- National unification: The revolutionaries wanted to create unified nation-states.