Competition between the Two World Powers

               World War 2 proved to be one of the worst conflicts of all time, with an estimate of 6 million deaths of Jewish prisoners in Nazi camps and civilians' deaths totaling to about 55 million. After the defeat of Germany in WW2, the world power shifted from Europe to the Soviet Union and America and led to constant competition between the two countries, not only because of capitalism versus communism, but because of the fight for nuclear warfare as well.

               During the Cold War, an atomic age developed in which President Truman declared that military force was necessary in order to oppress the Soviets and contain communist expansion. This sparked the US to create more atomic bombs like that of which was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in WW2. As a result, the Soviets followed with their pursuit. This led the Americans to construct the hydrogen bomb, which was tested in the Marshall Islands and created a power strong enough to destroy half of Manhattan. This bomb demonstrated the threat nuclear warfare had on the world. As a result of the development of these bombs, domestic life transformed; this meant people began building bomb shelters and practiced drills in public places.

               This competitive atmosphere continued abroad when the Soviets backed North Korea in invading the South in an effort to unify Korea under a communist regime. Because President Truman believed the Soviet Union was attempting to take over the world through communism, he sent American troops to Korea. As the fighting continued, Americans backed South Korea and were working with North Korea to try and develop an armistice in an effort to avoid the threat of WW3. Eventually, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed which returned prisoners of war (POWs), and separated North and South Korea.

               Overall, the competition between the Soviet Union and America was a threat to foreign countries as well, as communism expanded and Americans continued to fight against it. The belief that a world where communism exists was a world without freedom was very common and was a core belief that ignited the cold war, however, free elections soon dissipated many communist regimes in Europe.

Hydrogen bomb - Marshall Islands
Sources - https://www.history.com/topics/korea/korean-war
https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cold-war-history#section_2