Question

Write a paper - 3 pages min - answering ONE of the following prompts: Prompts: 1. Describe the evolution of American Cold War policy towards the Soviet Union from WWII to 1991. Who were the American and Soviet leaders, national security advisors, their foreign policy doctrines and approaches to the Cold War? 2. Analyze the growth, development, and results of the African-American Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1980. 3. Identify the key groups and the agendas that combined to create the new conservative base in the 1950s to 1980s. 4. Compare and contrast the 1890's with the 1980's politically, socially, economically, diplomatically and culturally.

Answer 1

The Evolution of American Cold War Policy towards the Soviet Union (WWII to 1991)

The Cold War, a geopolitical struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union, defined much of the post-World War II era. This paper examines the evolution of American Cold War policy towards the Soviet Union from the end of World War II in 1945 to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

I. Post-World War II Era (1945-1953): At the end of World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the two superpowers, but ideological differences and conflicting geopolitical interests fueled tensions. American leaders such as President Harry S. Truman and his Secretary of State, George C. Marshall, initiated the containment policy to curb Soviet expansionism.

Soviet leaders during this period included Joseph Stalin, who consolidated power after the death of Vladimir Lenin. The emergence of the Eastern Bloc and the Berlin Blockade heightened Cold War tensions, setting the stage for a prolonged ideological struggle.

II. The Eisenhower and Kennedy Administrations (1953-1963): Under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the United States adopted a policy of "massive retaliation," relying on nuclear deterrence to counter Soviet threats. The concept of brinkmanship characterized this period. John F. Kennedy, who succeeded Eisenhower, faced the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, a defining moment in the Cold War, showcasing the perils of nuclear brinkmanship.

III. The Johnson and Nixon Administrations (1963-1974): Lyndon B. Johnson continued the policy of containment and escalated American involvement in Vietnam to prevent the spread of communism. The Nixon administration, however, pursued a policy of détente, emphasizing negotiation and arms control agreements.

IV. The Carter and Reagan Administrations (1977-1991): President Jimmy Carter focused on human rights and pursued a moralistic foreign policy. However, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 strained US-Soviet relations. The Reagan administration, with its assertive anti-communist stance, escalated the arms race with the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) and increased support for anti-Soviet forces in Afghanistan.

The end of the Cold War was marked by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms and a shift in US policy under President Ronald Reagan, who engaged in summit meetings to ease tensions. The Cold War officially concluded with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Conclusion: The evolution of American Cold War policy towards the Soviet Union was marked by dynamic shifts in strategy and approach. From containment to détente and eventually the end of the Cold War, the policies reflected the changing global landscape and the efforts of leaders from Truman to Reagan. Understanding this evolution provides crucial insights into the complexities of international relations during the second half of the 20th century.