Cold War Influences on American Culture, Politics, and Economics

After the Second World War, Europe became ruined. It seems almost impossible to recover Europe to its former great state during natural disasters such as bomb damage, economic downturn and droughts and snowstorms. The United States promoted the recovery of Europe through military and economic aid and helped to prevent the spread of communism. This aid suppressed the dream of Soviet communist Europe and started the cold war. For the next 45 years, the US and the Soviet Union will be like two angry women.

The Cold War has had an important influence on almost every aspect of American society. Cultural confrontation between America and the Soviet Union has both good and bad sides. Mutual fear between the two countries caused political conflict, and some of them caused almost world war. Different economic philosophies brought opposition to freedom, economic competition brought about large military expenditure in both countries. Because of its widespread impact, the Cold War was a decisive event in the second half of the 20th century and influenced nearly all American diplomacy and domestic policy decisions, to some extent.

In most of the latter part of the 20th century, the Cold War had dominant influence in many aspects of American society. It is increasing with the hostile value between America representing capitalism and democracy and the Soviet Union that represents communism and authoritarianism. Discussions between Americans and the Soviets became a global conflict as the power of the two world powers after the Second World War. Cold war is different from most wars because it is an advertising war like military. The Korean War and the Vietnam War are important examples of American military intervention in the sense of blocking the expansionism of Communism. However, these wars have not influenced domestic and foreign policies, the Cold War culture, political and economic wars for decades.