Asked by Arleth Estaca on Apr 30, 2024

verifed

Verified

By 1952, the Cold War was cast in terms of a worldwide battle between freedom and slavery. Explain (1) how the Cold War had come to be seen in this way, (2) events that illustrate this view, and (3) the historical consequences of such a view.

Freedom

The state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint; encompasses the ability to act, speak, or think without externally imposed restrictions.

Slavery

A system in which individuals are owned by others as property, deprived of personal freedom and compelled to perform labor or services.

Cold War

The period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies, from the end of World War II until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, characterized by espionage, propaganda, and proxy wars.

  • Understand the historical importance, development, and impact of the Cold War on international and United States politics.
verifed

Verified Answer

ZK
Zybrea KnightMay 03, 2024
Final Answer :
(1) The Cold War came to be seen as a worldwide battle between freedom and slavery due to the ideological differences between the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. The United States championed democracy, individual freedoms, and free-market capitalism, while the Soviet Union promoted communism, state control, and collective ownership of the means of production. This ideological divide led to a global struggle for influence and power, with each side seeking to spread its own ideology and contain the influence of the other.

(2) Events that illustrate this view include the Korean War, where the United States and its allies fought to defend South Korea from communist aggression, and the Cuban Missile Crisis, where the world came to the brink of nuclear war as the United States and the Soviet Union clashed over the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. Additionally, the division of Germany into East and West, the construction of the Berlin Wall, and the proxy wars in Vietnam and Afghanistan all exemplify the global nature of the Cold War as a battle between freedom and slavery.

(3) The historical consequences of viewing the Cold War in terms of a worldwide battle between freedom and slavery were significant. This perspective heightened tensions and led to a series of proxy wars, arms races, and a nuclear standoff between the two superpowers. It also shaped the foreign policies of both the United States and the Soviet Union, as they sought to gain allies and influence in various regions of the world. The Cold War also had a lasting impact on global politics, as it led to the division of the world into two opposing blocs and set the stage for decades of geopolitical competition and conflict.