The United States, the USSR, and the Cold War essays

The United States, the USSR, and the Cold War essays Post-Second World War Canadian life was one of fear and suspense due to the threat of impending war. The close of World War Two left a sharp contrast between opposing communist and democratic governments, which escalated and became the Cold War. Emerging superpowers the US and the USSR's frigid relationship in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Space Race, and the Korean War left the world on edge during the fifties and sixties. The Cuban Missile Crisis saw the superpowers on the brink of nuclear war; repercussions of which are still felt today. What became known as the "Space Race" brought forth technological competition between the Soviet Union and the United States. The Cold War encompasses not only nuclear and technological warfare but also hand-to-hand combat, as when the US and USSR fought in Korea. IN the previous World War, Canada established herself as a mediator in world affairs. In the Cold War, Canada upheld her reputation as a middle-power and acted accordingly in The Cuban M issile Crisis, the Space Race and the Korean War. Tensions between the US and the USSR had been on the rise since the dropping on the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. This event initiated the 'arms race' between the superpowers, in which they competed in nuclear arms buildup. The Cuban Missile Crisis resulted in a suspenseful staredown between the Soviets and Americans until Premier Krushchev pulled arms out of Cuba on the 29th of October 1962. The threat of nuclear war had passed, but repercussions are still felt today as the U.S. refuses Cuba trade. The crisis was an expression if the soviets mass of nuclear weapons which were made to overpower the U.S. The Cuban Missile Crisis showed the world the severity of pre-existing frigid relations, and in doing this, greatly increased tensions between the superpowers. This crisis was the closest the world has ever come to nuclear war. Canada acted firm internationally as an Organization of A...