Brief History
"The Cold War isn't thawing; it is burning with a deadly heat. Communism isn't sleeping; it is, as always, plotting, scheming, working, fighting." |
The United States and the Soviet Union threatened each other with nuclear weapons.
In 1946, the first General Assembly of the United Nations met in London to establish the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission. The plan was to eliminate all weapons of mass destruction, that included the atomic bomb. The U.S. proposed the Baruch Plan that called for the establishment of an international authority to control potentially dangerous atomic activities, licensed all atomic activities and carry out inspections. The Soviets rejected the plan because it would leave the US with a decisive nuclear superiority and it would stop Soviets nuclear program. The Soviets proposed by calling for universal nuclear disarmament. Of course, that left the UN to not accept either proposals. On July 1, 1946, US conducted the world's first postwar nuclear test. |
Rise As Super Powers
To be a super power, a nation needs to have a strong economy, overpowering military, and strong national ideology. Russia and the United States rose as super powers after World War II.
The United States gained its strength in world affairs from its economic power status. Also, America became the world's largest producer. At the same time, USSR was implementing Stalin's Five Year Plans to modernized the Soviet economy. They mobilized their vast resources for maximum effect, building more weapons and arming citizens than ever before. Both of the countries also expanded their territory and influenced beyond their limits. The United States President, Harry Truman and Soviet General Secretary Josef Stalin recognized each other as rivals for domination over Europe and Asia. Both sides feared that the other would win the "war of ideas"; convincing the devastated populations of Europe and Asia that liberal communism or capitalism was the way to go. The US were Capitalist while USSR were Communist. |
-First World: Capitalist
-Second World: Communist -Third World: Developing Countries |