Wars have been fought throughout the history of America. Some have had great influences on the way America is today. Some wars have had advantages and some disadvantages, but none the less every war America has fought has influenced the way Americans live today. The Revolutionary War gave American colonists the opportunity to create its own country. With opportunities like this, people have the ability to create a future for them self’s and for future generations. Other wars can have disadvantages, such as feuds lasting decades. The Cold War between The United States and The Soviet Union lasted from the end of World War 2 to the early ‘90s. With wars lasting as long as the Cold War, there will be other conflicts or wars that are triggered. The Korean and Vietnam Wars were triggered from communism spreading from the Soviet Union to other countries. The United States was preventing communism from spreading, so declaring war on these countries would be deemed essential. Throughout history America has fought in wars, having advantages and disadvantages, the advantages have outweighed the disadvantages.
Wars have had advantages and disadvantages throughout history. Some wars have been used to prevent communism from spreading to the rest of the world. These wars would include the Korean and the Vietnam War. The Korean War was the first action in the Cold War, between the Soviet Union and the United States. North Korea started by invading South Korea, and the United States backed South Korea. One disadvantage of the Korean War was the number of lives lost. Five million soldiers and civilians would eventually lose their lives in the Korean War. After General MacArthur took over allied forces, the North Koreans were pushed back, and South Korea would remain communist free (“Korean War”, 1996-2012).
The Cold War has had positive and negative effects on the world. The space race and technology advances have had great benefits. We can now go into space; communications have been beneficial in any aspect, and the capabilities of airplanes were greatly increased. The technology advances have also had negative effects in the world. Satellites and planes have been used to spy on other countries, and nuclear technology has been sought after by all the powers of the world.
The only benefit that could construed from the Vietnam War, was preventing communism from spreading. The United States would announce alliance with the South Vietnamese, primarily Diem’s Regime, in 1955. In eight years of warfare, an estimated 2 million Vietnamese died, while 3 million were wounded and another 12 million became refugees (“Vietnam War”, 1996-2012).
After the war ended an estimated 58,200 Americans were killed or missing and $120 billion dollars were spent in only eight years of the war (“Vietnam War”, 1996-2012).
Depending on a person’s perspective, the advantages may or may not outweigh the disadvantages. If communism had spread the way it was going to during the Cold War, the United States may not be what it is today.
The United States could be a communist controlled country, or may not be country today, if the Soviet Union had successfully spread communism. Other disadvantages of war can be the lasting effects on the veterans. According to “Vietnam War” (1996-2012), According to a survey by the Veterans Administration, some 500,000 of the 3 million troops who served in Vietnam suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and rates of divorce, suicide, and alcoholism and drug addiction were markedly higher among veterans. Most veterans will say the things they have lost and sacrifices they’ve made is worth preserving the American way of life and American values.
World War 2 would have more negative outcomes than positive. An estimated 55 million people were killed and a lot of them were civilians. The war has been considered the most destructive in history (“World War 2 in Europe”, 2012).
The discovery of nuclear power can be an advantage or disadvantage. The United States made the atomic bomb with research from the Manhattan Project. After using two atomic bombs on Japan, Japan surrendered. This could be an advantage to having nuclear technology. Today countries such as Iran and North Korea, threaten the use of nuclear power on the United States. This would be a disadvantage of discovering nuclear power and atomic bombs. Atomic matter could also altar the environment and causes it to be uninhabitable for years. The amount of nuclear testing that has been done throughout the world may contribute to the demise of the world. The advantage or benefit of entering World War 2 can be dismissing Hitler and Mussolini from office. Dictators such as these generally try to conquer or occupy as much of the world as possible. Although the United States occupies a lot of countries, these countries have declared war on the United States or its allies.
America has fought in wars throughout history, some with advantages and some with disadvantages, but the advantages have outweighed the disadvantages. The United States prevented, or tried to prevent communism from spreading throughout the cold war. As a result the Korean and Vietnam wars were fought dividing both countries into North and South. The money spent and lives lost during the wars have help preserve the American way of life and American values. Without entering into wars, The United States would not be the country it is today. The Civil War shaped what America is today. Civil Rights movements have occurred since the Civil War ended. African Americans and women have the same rights and freedoms as white males, due to events stemming from the Civil War. The disadvantage to this is the time spent to create equality for everyone in America. Vietnam War. (1996-2012).
Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war Korean War. (1996-2012).
Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/korean-war World War 2 in Europe. (2012).
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