Western Civilization

The 1947 Truman Doctrine is a quintessential example of Cold War confrontation because it typifies how both rivals oftentimes only indirectly confronted each other through their involvement in local conflicts worldwide. In helping Greece and Turkey resist Communist aggression locally, this doctrine made clear America's intention to oppose Communism worldwide through economic aid to countries trying to prevent its spread within their borders.

In 1948 the Marshall Plan followed, which allowed the U.S. To provide financial assistance towards rebuilding Western Europe after WWII. One major reason for this plan was that economically strengthening Western Europe would enable it to not fall prey to Communism. Another Cold War incident known as the Berlin Airlift occurred in 1948. When the U.S.S.R. effectively banned all road, rail, and canal traffic between West Berlin and West Germany, both the U.S. And British air forces responded by flying in relief supplies to the besieged capital's residents.

In 1954 France lost against Vietnamese Communist forces in the battle of Dien Bien Phu, which led to the division of Vietnam into two countries and brought North Vietnam firmly under Communist control. The 1956 Suez Canal Crisis caused an indirect confrontation when America's allies France, Britain, and Israel made an unsuccessful military attempt to take over the Suez Canal from the Soviet Union's ally Egypt. After the U.S.S.R. threatened to become militarily involved in the crisis, the U.S. forced its allies to concede defeat.

The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis occurred after the U.S. discovered that the U.S.S.R. had secretly supplied Cuba with nuclear-armed missiles. This discovery was especially alarming because now the U.S.S.R. could militarily subdue its rival by easily launching missiles against it. After a naval blockade around Cuba and intense negotiations the U.S.S.R. was finally made to remove the missiles in exchange for the U.S. pledge not to overthrow Cuba's Communist regime.

References

The Cold War." (N.D) in the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2005 CD.