Introduction to Cold War

During the post war period America's reputation as a World Power had escalated and the use of atomic bomb during the Second World War had shown the world her arsenal strength and was during this period had a strategic advantages over other countries in the world. America through treaties had made it impossible for the Axis powers to think of plotting another war. At this time, all their colonized were decolonized and the spirit of nationalism was at the peak. United States allowed Japan and Germany to set up democratic governments on her own .She also provided financial aid to Germany, Japan and Austria for the reconstruction of the war torn economy. Besides, United States also housed the U.N building at New York city and also became one of the five permanent members along with Great Britain, France, Soviet Union and China. All these were indicated the growing power of the America. On the other hand, Soviet Union had also emerged powerful with the spread of Communism in Eastern Europe and with ideologies different from America, their relationship turned sour and they competed with each other in several areas like defense, space technology, industry and foreign affairs.. For forty years America and Soviet Union looked upon each others as bitter enemies but with no actual war between the two. This was termed as the Cold War which had an impact on the Third World countries as well. Different Presidents of the United States worked through the Cold War and finally with the break down of the Berlin Wall in Germany in 1989 during the presidency of Ronald Regan in 1989 and the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the Cold War came to an end.