Dec
4
Expanding the Cold War
December 4, 2009 | Comments Off on Expanding the Cold War
In the rising Cold War conflict, the Western European democracies played a huge role. France and Britain relied on America for economic assistance and weapons while simultaneously were building up their own military budget. America’s nuclear “umbrella” seemed to be the only reassurance against Soviet attack. Countries such as Switzerland, Ireland, Sweden and Finland managed […]
Dec
4
The Eclipse of Postwar Optimism (part 2)
December 4, 2009 | Comments Off on The Eclipse of Postwar Optimism (part 2)
In 1945, 51 nations established the United Nations in San Francisco- reigning in a new era of international cooperation. Germany played virtually no role in the reconstruction of Europe. Soviet and Western forces held the most power. Rise of the Labour Party. (Communists enjoy freedoms and some popularity briefly after 1945) New Divide- East vs. […]
Dec
4
The Eclipse of Postwar Optimism
December 4, 2009 | Comments Off on The Eclipse of Postwar Optimism
The Marshall Plan was the main part to rebuilding Europe. Named after Secretary of State George Marshall, the Plan was to give a massive amount of add to Europe. A little know fact about the plan is that the USA offered relief to USSR and its satellite states. Because of the strings attached to getting […]
Dec
3
The Eclipse of Postwar Optimism
December 3, 2009 | 2 Comments
After the destruction and numerous deaths of World War II, Europeans began to question their Enlightenment roots. They began to doubt fundamental “truths.” They recognized that everything, from their very existence to government power, was fragile and relative. Because of this, a new philosophy developed that reflected the moods and questions of the time– existentialism. […]
Dec
3
The End of European Empire
December 3, 2009 | 1 Comment
As the end of the war in 1945 was coming close to an end, nearly a third of the worlds population was under the rule of some foreign power, most of which were European(750 million). Britain Departs from South Asia For the first time on August 15, 1947 India gained its independence, and was the […]
Dec
2
The Cold War and Nuclear Threat
December 2, 2009 | 1 Comment
Cuban Missile Crisis The story of the Cuban Missile Crisis begins with Castro’s overthrow of Fulgencio Baptista’s regime in Cuba. Batista had established a dictatorship in Cuba with close economic ties to the United States and while tourism and sales of sugar cane provided a robust economy little of the wealth made it down to […]