The Cold War Goals of the United States
The Cold War was characterized by mutual distrust, suspicion, and
misunderstandings by both the United States and the Soviet Union, and their
allies. At times, these conditions increased the likelihood of a third world
war. The United States accused the Soviet Union of seeking to expand Communism
throughout the world. The Soviets, meanwhile, charged the United States with
practicing imperialism and with attempting to stop revolutionary activity in
other countries. Each bloc's vision of the world also contributed to East-West
tension. The United States wanted a world of independent nations based on
democratic principles. The Soviet Union, however, attempted to tightly control
areas it considered vital to its national interest, including much of Eastern
Europe.
Though the Cold War did not begin until the end of World War II, in 1945,
relations between the United States and the Soviet Union had been strained
since 1917. In that year, a revolution in Russia established a Communist
dictatorship there. During the 1920's and the 1930's, the Soviets called for
world revolution and the destruction of capitalism, which was the economic
system of the United States. The United States did not grant diplomatic
recognition to the Soviet Union until 1933.
The Space Age spawned two outstanding space programs as a result of the hot
competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. Both countries gave
primary emphasis in their space efforts to a combination of national security
and foreign policy objectives, turning space into an area of active competition
for political and military advantage. At first, this charged political
environment accommodated nothing more than symbolic gestures of collaboration.
Only in the late 1980s, with warming political relations, did momentum for major
space cooperation begin to build. As the Soviet Union neared collapse, with its
ideological underpinnings evaporating, the impetus for the arms race and
competition in space declined, allowing both countries to seriously pursue
strategic partnerships in spac
misunderstandings by both the United States and the Soviet Union, and their
allies. At times, these conditions increased the likelihood of a third world
war. The United States accused the Soviet Union of seeking to expand Communism
throughout the world. The Soviets, meanwhile, charged the United States with
practicing imperialism and with attempting to stop revolutionary activity in
other countries. Each bloc's vision of the world also contributed to East-West
tension. The United States wanted a world of independent nations based on
democratic principles. The Soviet Union, however, attempted to tightly control
areas it considered vital to its national interest, including much of Eastern
Europe.
Though the Cold War did not begin until the end of World War II, in 1945,
relations between the United States and the Soviet Union had been strained
since 1917. In that year, a revolution in Russia established a Communist
dictatorship there. During the 1920's and the 1930's, the Soviets called for
world revolution and the destruction of capitalism, which was the economic
system of the United States. The United States did not grant diplomatic
recognition to the Soviet Union until 1933.
The Space Age spawned two outstanding space programs as a result of the hot
competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. Both countries gave
primary emphasis in their space efforts to a combination of national security
and foreign policy objectives, turning space into an area of active competition
for political and military advantage. At first, this charged political
environment accommodated nothing more than symbolic gestures of collaboration.
Only in the late 1980s, with warming political relations, did momentum for major
space cooperation begin to build. As the Soviet Union neared collapse, with its
ideological underpinnings evaporating, the impetus for the arms race and
competition in space declined, allowing both countries to seriously pursue
strategic partnerships in spac