The Effects Of The Vietnam War From 1945-1980

The time period from 1945-1980 extends from the end of WWII to the years before the Reagan era. The end of the war, the most deadly in history, brought about a period of reconstruction and change in America. This can be seen in efforts to revitalize the failing economy and a greater push for civil rights. Despite these efforts to lift up the nation, this time period was shadowed by the effects of the Cold War, which lasted from 1947 to 1991 (Britannica). The United States’ attempt to control the spread of communism led to competition between the US and the USSR in almost every aspect of life. It began between US President Harry Truman and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev but would last until the Soviet Union disbanded.

With minimal fighting, the Cold War was fought instead with political and economic propaganda. Both countries contained a large arsenal of weaponry, so an all out war would most definitely mean the destruction of both nations. That doesn’t mean that battles weren’t fought though. The Korean War and the Vietnam War were two deadly conflicts that took place during this time and affected millions (Britannica). Closer to the United States, conflict erupted in Central America as Khrushchev attempted to provide Cuba military weapons. This “was the moment when the two

The extent of this competition can be seen with the space race. The space race consisted of several iconic moments such as the Soviet Union launching Sputnik I, the first satellite in space. The most significant moment of this technological contest would occur at the end of the race when the United States put the first men on the moon. The 1969 photo, simply titled “The Apollo 11 Photograph” shows this moment as Buzz Aldrin stands on the moon with the black void of space behind him. The significance can clearly be seen in the fact that this mission was the first time anybody had stepped foot on the