Origins Of The Cold War

The topic that I chose was the Cold War, because I find it fascinating that two superpowers could face off with each other. How did it begin, and why? How did it get resolved and what is the lasting impact? These are the answers that I will find as we delve into the cold War. The Cold War began in London in July of 1945, as American diplomats looked for a way to exist alongside the Soviet Union. The conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States grew immensely over the span of two years. During these two years, the nations tried to negotiate their differences over the division of Europe and the atomic bomb. (Brands, 2015) The main driving point of the Cold War is the division of post-war Europe. In the east, the Red Army had swept

Due to the Cold War, Korea immediately divided in 1948. In the North, Kim Il Sung presided over communist, pro-Soviet Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea) (Heritage, 2010). In the South, Syungman Rhee led the anticommunist, Pro-Western Republic of Korea. (POK, South Korea) (Heritage, 2010). Both leaders share the desire to unite their country. Between the years of 1948-1949, North and South Korea engaged in skirmishes along the 38th parallel. The 38th parallel is the term for the line that cuts the country in half. In 1950, the Soviet Union began to train the North Korean troops and provided significant armor and weapons. With Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong’s promises to support him, Kim prepared to invade South Korea and unify the country as a communist

South Korea, badly outnumbered and outgunned, began to retreat southward. Seoul, South Korea’s capital, fell in a matter of days. (Heritage, 2010). Taken by surprise, America wasted no time in sending reinforcements to help crippled South Korea. This began a costly and bloody three year war. In 1950 china intervened when the United Nations forces are deemed to overthrow North Korean forces. This move prolonged the war and made a wider war possible. It also marked the only time that Western forces directly battled a communist power (Heritage, 2010). At the end of the war in july of 1953, no peace treaty was signed. The conflict between North and South Korea lives on today, showing the impact of the Cold War across the globe even in present day. The Korean War was a huge turning point in the Cold War. It introduced the concept of limited war as a way to prevent an escalation to a nuclear war.