Geography of the Cold War - What Was Containment?

The year 1945 was a time of relief for America and its people. That year was the end of World War II. Germany had lost and the time for rebuilding was near. However the peace did not last long between the U.S.S.R. and the United States. A difference in political and economic views caused a rift in the Soviet Union and United States relationship of convenience. The Soviet Union was run on a system of government called communism. Communism's theory of a government run by the economy was the complete opposite of America's dedication to independence. This difference caused great tension between the two nations and became a Cold War. The Soviet Union believed that communism was going to overcome capitalism and that they will win the Cold War. America's retaliation to the U.S.S.R.'s spreading of communism was containment. Containment is the attempt to stop the spread of communism. The Cold War split the world into two large groups, those who were under communist rule and those who were against it. The United States was dedicated in their fight against communism with instances like the Truman Doctrine, which vowed to support anyone who was being threatened by communist rule, and The Marshall Plan, which gave over 10 billion dollars to European countries in the effort to rebuild the damage done during World War II. (BGE) By 1947, the United States and U.S.S.R. were constantly on their toes and pushing boundaries to see who would gain the upper hand in the Cold War.

By the end of World War II Germany was occupied by the four major powers and divided into two territories. The three allied forces became West Germany and East Germany was communist. The capital of Berlin was also divided between communism and independence. In an effort to test the United States' commitment to containment Joseph Stalin decided to put up a blockade around West Germany. (Doc B) The blockade prevented any and all supplies, including food, from being brought into Western Berlin. Because the U.S. was already sending billions of dollars into Europe the Soviet Union felt that they wouldn't get involved in the small confrontation going on. However, the United Sates honored their commitment to the Truman Doctrine and along with help from their allies; America flew in supplies and food to West Berliners for over a year. The Berlin Airlift was a success and on May 12, 1949, Stalin removed the blockade. (Doc B) This act of containment proved that the States kept their word when it came to preventing the spread of communism.

Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union had their sights set on another territory that they felt could be overthrown, South Korea. North Korea was supported by the Soviet Union while South Korea was supported by the U.S. which meant there was a stand-off between the two territories. In 1950, South Korea was invaded