5-6.1- How did the collapse of the Soviet Union impact the U.S. and the rest of the world?
Post World War II
In the years following World War II, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union required that the United States take an increasingly more active role in world affairs in order to contain communism. In order to carry out this policy of containment, the United States assisted in the rebuilding of Europe through the Marshall Plan and its defense through the North American Treaty Organization (NATO). The U.S. provided military protection and supported the economic development of its World War II enemies, Germany and Japan, in order to contain the USSR.
In the years following World War II, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union required that the United States take an increasingly more active role in world affairs in order to contain communism. In order to carry out this policy of containment, the United States assisted in the rebuilding of Europe through the Marshall Plan and its defense through the North American Treaty Organization (NATO). The U.S. provided military protection and supported the economic development of its World War II enemies, Germany and Japan, in order to contain the USSR.
Containing Communism
The United States fought wars in Asia to prevent the spread of communism as part of the policy of containment. The Korean War resulted in a stalemate, while the Vietnam War ended in the communist takeover of that nation. In Latin America, the United States attempted to contain the spread of communism by isolating Cuba and supporting dictators who were pro-American. In the Middle East, the United States guaranteed the right of Israel to exist and warned the Soviet Union not to become involved [Eisenhower Doctrine] in disputes in the region. Both the United States and the Soviet Union developed nuclear weapons and space technology in order to protect themselves from each other and became the world’s military “superpowers.” with the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the United States was left as the sole economic, diplomatic, and military superpower. However, today the United States’ economic position is being called into question by changes due to globalization of trade. Diplomatically, other countries are questioning the United States’ unilateral decisions that have global implications such as the war in the Middle East, energy policy and global warming. The military resources of the United States are being stretched to their capacity as a result of the continuing commitments of the Cold War and commitments of the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The United States fought wars in Asia to prevent the spread of communism as part of the policy of containment. The Korean War resulted in a stalemate, while the Vietnam War ended in the communist takeover of that nation. In Latin America, the United States attempted to contain the spread of communism by isolating Cuba and supporting dictators who were pro-American. In the Middle East, the United States guaranteed the right of Israel to exist and warned the Soviet Union not to become involved [Eisenhower Doctrine] in disputes in the region. Both the United States and the Soviet Union developed nuclear weapons and space technology in order to protect themselves from each other and became the world’s military “superpowers.” with the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the United States was left as the sole economic, diplomatic, and military superpower. However, today the United States’ economic position is being called into question by changes due to globalization of trade. Diplomatically, other countries are questioning the United States’ unilateral decisions that have global implications such as the war in the Middle East, energy policy and global warming. The military resources of the United States are being stretched to their capacity as a result of the continuing commitments of the Cold War and commitments of the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Marshall Plan
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Challenges for Our Century
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Fall of the Soviet Union
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Analyzing the Eisenhower Doctrine Partner Activity
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Watch the video above first and then Analysis of the Political Cartoon "Then and Now".
- Complete the Document Analysis steps on the political cartoon.
- With your group, discuss how the cartoon displays the world after the Fall of the Soviet Union. How are the United States resources being stretched differently. Answer the questions at the bottom with your group members.