THE COLD WAR
The Cold War refers to a period after World War II to 1991 when there was a very tense relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union. The two nations had been allies in World War II but they had a distrusting, tense relationship. Right after World Warr II, the Unites States was wary of the Soviet communism and were concerned about the tyrannical rule of Joseph Stalin who was the Russian leader at the time. The Soviets resented the U.S. for their refusal to recognize the Soviet Union as a legitimate member of the international community. They also were upset that the U.S. did not join the war until millions of Russians had died.
With the end of World War II, the relationship grew more hostile and tense and the two nations became enemies. The U.S. used a containment strategy to deal with Russia. The policy was explained by diplomat George Kennan in 1947 to Congress as “It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation…by outside pressures.” American foreign policy was defined by this way of thinking for the next four decades.
With the end of World War II, the relationship grew more hostile and tense and the two nations became enemies. The U.S. used a containment strategy to deal with Russia. The policy was explained by diplomat George Kennan in 1947 to Congress as “It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation…by outside pressures.” American foreign policy was defined by this way of thinking for the next four decades.
Miracle on Ice ANd the Cold war
As the Cold War neared its 35th anniversary in the 1980s, the United States and the Soviet Union were going to face off in ice-hockey in the 1980s. The period of tension and hostility between the United States of America and the Soviet Union is known as the Cold War. The unrest lasted from the mid-40s to the early 90s.
The 1980s was a tough period for the United States. The U.S. had finished the Vietnam War in the mid-70s and it was an ugly end to the Vietnam War. There was also uncertainty in the Middle East and the demoralizing Watergate spectacle. Also there were many economic troubles including widespread inflation, unemployment and an energy crisis. Several events continued to spark unrest between the two countries. One of these events was the Soviet Union (later known as Russia) had just invaded Afghanistan. Both nations continued to build up huge stashes of atomic weapons and ballistic missiles.
At the opening of the 1980 Winter Olympics, 52 Americans were held hostage in Iran. American leaders including President Reagan believed that freedom would be threatened if communism spread. After the 1980 Olympics the 52 Americans came back to their families.
All these factors made our nation helpless and also hopeless. The United States needed something to uplift it from all these troubles. No one could have predicted that this was going to come from an ice-hockey game. Not just an ordinary ice-hockey game but a pivotal Olympics final that later became known to the world as "Miracle on Ice". Most Americans who experienced this turbulent time still remember this game. Many even remember where they were and what they were doing.
The rivalry between the two nations made the 1980 Olympic ice-hockey game between the United States and the Soviet Union an important historical event. It was an icon of the unrest during this time period. The result of this game was so important because it gave so much hope to the United States and its citizens. This game did not earn the U.S. a gold medal, they later had to play Finland to win the gold medal. The defeat over Russia and the gold medal gave Americans so much joy and they basked in the glory of the victory as a nation. Even though it was a sports event, it gave the nation and its citizens something to cheer for!
"Miracle on Ice" did not end the Cold War but it did give Americans a renewed optimism. And even though it was not a political event, coupled with other events, it marked a period which started the downfall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. After the 1980 Olympics, the Soviet Union started to go downhill. After that tournament, the Soviet Union started to lose all of their East Europe countries and became Russia.
The 1980s was a tough period for the United States. The U.S. had finished the Vietnam War in the mid-70s and it was an ugly end to the Vietnam War. There was also uncertainty in the Middle East and the demoralizing Watergate spectacle. Also there were many economic troubles including widespread inflation, unemployment and an energy crisis. Several events continued to spark unrest between the two countries. One of these events was the Soviet Union (later known as Russia) had just invaded Afghanistan. Both nations continued to build up huge stashes of atomic weapons and ballistic missiles.
At the opening of the 1980 Winter Olympics, 52 Americans were held hostage in Iran. American leaders including President Reagan believed that freedom would be threatened if communism spread. After the 1980 Olympics the 52 Americans came back to their families.
All these factors made our nation helpless and also hopeless. The United States needed something to uplift it from all these troubles. No one could have predicted that this was going to come from an ice-hockey game. Not just an ordinary ice-hockey game but a pivotal Olympics final that later became known to the world as "Miracle on Ice". Most Americans who experienced this turbulent time still remember this game. Many even remember where they were and what they were doing.
The rivalry between the two nations made the 1980 Olympic ice-hockey game between the United States and the Soviet Union an important historical event. It was an icon of the unrest during this time period. The result of this game was so important because it gave so much hope to the United States and its citizens. This game did not earn the U.S. a gold medal, they later had to play Finland to win the gold medal. The defeat over Russia and the gold medal gave Americans so much joy and they basked in the glory of the victory as a nation. Even though it was a sports event, it gave the nation and its citizens something to cheer for!
"Miracle on Ice" did not end the Cold War but it did give Americans a renewed optimism. And even though it was not a political event, coupled with other events, it marked a period which started the downfall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. After the 1980 Olympics, the Soviet Union started to go downhill. After that tournament, the Soviet Union started to lose all of their East Europe countries and became Russia.