Long Term Effects Of The Cold War

The Cold War was long, tense conflicts between the Soviet Union and the United States even though they were technically at peace. Both states had a political and ideological rivalry that would result in a decade long struggle for supremacy. When talking about the Cold War the impact it had on our nation starts with the onset of the war, the influence of the U.S. foreign policy, and the effect of the expansion. When World War two ended Germany had to get divided by the big four nations which included France, Soviet Union, United States, and Britain. The U.S. and soviet could have shared but the United States wanted to build Germany into a democracy but Stalin who oversaw the Soviet Union didn’t want this, so they had to be separated. George

because there would be a rise in prosperity. This was known as the “Golden Age” because the economy expanded, prices stabilized, unemployment was low, and standards of living rose. This led to a major increase in segregation, by making it hard for colored people to find homes and schools for their children. The biggest movement in education was The Little Rock Nine, nine black students decide that instead of having to walk miles to go to a black school they will desegregate a white school that was just down the street. The students enrolled ahead of time which got the attention of white citizens leading to major backlash. Governor Orval Faubus speaks to pro-segregation supporters on the steps of the Arkansas Capital Building riling up the crowd about the situation. The Governor set up the national guard in front of school to tell these nine students that they couldn’t enter but each day they would come back and try again. This got the attention of the news and got the word back to President Eisenhower which was embarrassed because he knew the Soviet Union would see this, so he calls off the national guard and lets the students into the school. This was when Civil Rights activists realize that if they make their movements huge the soviets will see, and the U.S. will have no choice but to give in. Another effect that damaged the U.S. was the war in Vietnam. It was a long, costly war that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam which was an ally to the United States. The overall goal of this war was to limit Soviet power in Southwest Asia and halt the spread of communism. That’s why U.S. became big allies to South Vietnam, supplying them guns, routes, and resources. The fear of the Soviet Union expanding led the U.S. to stop them at all costs causing the economy and the trust Americans had in the government to