EXPLAIN WHY RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SOVIET UNION AND THE USA CHANGED WITHIN THE YEARS? (1957-69)
*Arms Race
*Prague Spring
During the war the Soviet Union and the USA formed a close alliance due to the shared aim of the defeat of Germany. The Soviet Union became a lot more powerful due to Stalin’s five year plans, and became a contender with the USA for the world’s largest superpower. This sparked conflict between the two nations and a race to see who would be the most powerful, the Cold War.
One of the main factors that that caused the relationship between the Soviet Union and the USA was the arms race, which consisted of both nations building up their military and economic power to more than the other. A large army, navy, air force and weaponry were maintained and each party aspired to be more powerful with the bigger military force. America established the first nuclear bomb in 1945. When Stalin heard of this at the Potsdam conference the race began. By 1949 the USSR also had a nuclear bomb. America then created the Hydrogen bomb. Both countries steadily built their nuclear weaponry in secret which prompted both sides to send spies to collect information of the other country’s progress. This caused a feeling of mistrust and contempt and caused a strong dislike between the two.
The final reason was the Prague spring; on the 20th of August 1968, troops and tanks from the Soviet Union and other members of the Warsaw pact invaded Czechoslovakia. This brought an immediate change in relations between the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia and was due to increasing opposition to communism within Czechoslovakia, leading to reforms under Dubcek, and the reactions of Moscow to these reforms. The first reason for a change. Dubcek wanted to allow more cultural freedom and peace to the citizens of Czechoslovakia. Therefore the relations shown the soviet union as the doves , wanting harmony and peace, for example some of the reforms were ; More power given to the Czech parliament , the legalization of political opposition groups as that but not lease a relaxation of press censorship.
In conclusion the relations changed between 1957-69 the arms race and the Prague spring both increased tensions between the USA and the USSR, the arms race increased tension both physically were preparing for war as well as the Prague spring, it shown Khrushchev’s dictatorship as for when they invaded Czechoslovakia showing the same tension increased and mistrust used as the arms race.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Roosevelt had always tried for the most peaceful agreements with Stalin and the Soviet Union. When he died and Truman succeeded him, Truman immediately demanded free elections throughout Eastern Europe. Stalin refused. “A freely elected government in any of these Eastern European countries would be anti-Soviet,” he said, “and that we cannot allow.” American ideals demanded free elections in Soviet-occupied Eastern Europe and Stalin wanted absolute military security from Germany and its potential Eastern allies. Stalin believed that only communist states could be trusted and that free elections would lead to independent and hostile governments on western borders. Stalin became determined to spread communism throughout Europe and the world. Truman then went on to try to contain communism to areas occupied by the Red Army. Stalin then created soviet style dictatorships throughout Eastern Europe and blocked Berlin from Germany. The United States supported Berlin by dropping food from flyovers and the Soviets finally backed down after about a year. The United States then formed NATO as an anti-Soviet military alliance. Then communism took over China leading to back and forth bloody contests in Korea between the north and south.…
- 2911 Words
- 12 Pages
Good Essays -
After the Second World War, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as superpowers and subsequently a period of tension and hostility arose, known as the Cold War. During this time, a new possibility of complete nuclear destruction that would claim the lives of many emerged, therefore “the easing or relaxing of tensions” on both sides was needed, this period would be known as detente. Both countries had been guaranteed mutually assured destruction as they had both managed to stay ahead in the development of nuclear arsenals. By the late 1960s the Soviets had surpassed the United States in intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) by 1,300 to 1,054. Although the U.S was still ahead in various categories, it no longer enjoyed the immense nuclear advantage as before. However, neither side was prepared for the risk of a full scale war. Apart from the possibility of a disastrous nuclear war, factors in both the U.S and the Soviet Union also motivated the need for a relaxation of tensions.Both countries were in severe economic crisis due to the arms race and needed to diverge the funds to rebuild the economy. In the United States public opinion in America indicated that the Cold War was 'unjustifiable both economically and morally' due to the ongoing war in Vietnam. All these factors would eventually lead to the establishment of detente.…
- 1080 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Both the economic interests of the USA and Soviet Expansionism ideology, arguably catalysed the development of the Cold War between 1945 and 1948 - without both of these contributing factors there would have been no war. However, tension and backhanded rivalry on the economic front severely threatened US/ Soviet relations, fronting a prominence of attack by the USA and provoking the Soviets into retaliation.…
- 1138 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Initially, in the late 1950s, the Soviet Union was stronger than ever. It had a strong military that was just as powered as that of the US and developed and tested a more destructive nuclear bomb that had twice the power as to what the Americans had at the time. But good things don't last forever, Underneath all that power they accumulated, tragedies began to erupt and eventually tore the Soviet Union apart. In 1979 With a newly elected United States President in office whose only mission was to end communism and destroy the Soviets. President Jimmy Carter became extremely vocal on the Soviets and began to fire offensive remarks that increased the tensions between the US and the USSR. Then came his predecessor Ronald Reagan in 1981 who was very vocal about his…
- 669 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Between 1945 and 1950, the tensions increased between the United States and the Soviet Union. Both superpowers, with varying standpoints on global affairs, were brought to the brink of war. As the United States pushed for the containment of communism, and the development of capitalist democracies, the Soviet Union continued to impose communist rule amongst itself and its satellite nations. Eventually, these conflicting views would lead to the start of the Cold War. Fueled by the disagreement of the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., the war would be fought indirectly through propaganda and influence from leaders, the development of alliances, as well as the arms race.…
- 983 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
The existing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union proceeded to spike between 1945 and 1950. The disputes between these two countries pressured them to start a war. Of the post World War II goals that contributed to the Cold War, there were a prominent few, including the “Iron Curtain”, the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and NATO. During the Cold War, competition for methods of weaponry skyrocketed. Some of said tactics were Satellite nations, the Space Race, and the buildup of arms.…
- 495 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
The Cold War was a war not fought directly but indirectly between the US and the USSR. The United States economy had boosted up during World War II and it was continuing to grow after and would continue for many years. There were enough jobs for almost all Americans and they were all living almost comfortably. When the Second World War was over the United States rose as the most “powerful country in the world” [1]. They were also the only ones to have the atomic bomb. After a few years of being the only country with this power the Soviet Union created and tested an atomic bomb. After that moment it became a race of which country could create the most for protection and intimidation. As an American citizen this is when the Cold War started, with the successful test of the atomic bomb in USSR and uneasiness at its highest.…
- 917 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
The mutual suspicion and dislike between the Soviet Union and the United States of America was the most important factor in the Cold War because it created distrust and continuous skepticism between the two world powers and their contrasting beliefs. For instance, when the Allies planned to beat the Axis in World War 2, the Soviet Union fought extremely hard along the Eastern Front, while the US and Great Britain were supposed to be landing in France, during the D-Day attack. But, this attack didn’t take place until almost two years after the Soviet Union had won the Eastern Front. This made Stalin and his troops very suspicious of the US, which continued until after the war. Stalin felt that Churchill and Roosevelt were teaming up on him, and weren’t going to do their part in ending the war.…
- 502 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
After WWII, America and the Soviet Union were the 2 remaining super powers of the world. A rivalry formed between the two and created the Cold War in which both nations tried to be better in any way than the other. This had great effects on the American Society and Foreign Policy.…
- 641 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The wartime alliance forged by the U.S, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union crumbled, giving the birth to a cold war. The Cold War began because there were different visions of the postwar world. The Soviet Union were trying to gain power and their communism was feared by the United Stated and American citizens. During the 1950s, economic productivity increased abundantly. The Cold War shaped the ideals about family life in America, especially the lives of women.…
- 891 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
During the time of World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union fought together being allies against the Axis powers. However they had a tense bond, Americans were aware of Joseph Stalin’s communism and were concerned about his possible motives to completely rule as he does his own country. As for the Soviets, they resented that the Americans did not treat the USSR as a legitimate part of the international community. The Cold War was the name given to the relationship of the USSR and the United States that built after World War II. The Cold War existed in order to dominate international affairs for decades, however many crises occurred such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Berlin Wall being created. For many of the people,…
- 149 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
The Soviet Union and The United States never fought against one another. Nor did they go to war against one another. Instead, they fought through economics and politics. They did not cooperate, and work with each other, but worked against one another. This occurrence between the Soviet Union and the United states is called the cold war. This leads to communism, something the United States was against. Vietnam and Korea were two communist states, that the United States fought two wars against to expand their sphere of influence in order to become a superpower. In Asia, the Cold War created many brutal wars that were supported by the superpowers.…
- 390 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Relations between the Soviet Union and the American Government grew and depleted over the years. Strong ties were formed when political, economic, and ideological factors were shared. Differences in political systems caused tension between the two governments and prevented them from coming to a mutual understanding on critical topics. This often led them to the brink of wars and crises, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviet Union and the American Government were cautiously cooperative and oppositional.…
- 487 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Coming out of a post-World War II the relationship and tensions between America and the Soviet Union lasted for most of the second half of the twentieth century. This so-called war, heightened suspicions, creating a series of international events that brought the world’s two superpowers down to the brink of destruction.…
- 697 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
and The Soviet Union after World War II a time period known as the Cold War began. A year prior to this the U.S. and Soviet Union fought as allies to defeat Germany. But as the war ended both countries wanted different types of government in Germany and were willing to fight for it.…
- 1942 Words
- 8 Pages
Good Essays