Skip to main content

What was the relationship between the Cold War and the US Civil Rights Movement?

The major relationship between the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement was that the Cold War caused American leaders to support civil rights more than they might otherwise have done.


The Cold War was, of course, a struggle between the US and the Soviet Union.  Both sides wanted to dominate the world and spread their ideology as widely as possible.  What this meant was that the two sides had to compete to gain the...

The major relationship between the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement was that the Cold War caused American leaders to support civil rights more than they might otherwise have done.


The Cold War was, of course, a struggle between the US and the Soviet Union.  Both sides wanted to dominate the world and spread their ideology as widely as possible.  What this meant was that the two sides had to compete to gain the favor of various countries around the world.  Civil rights was one issue that affected, or could affect, the way the other countries viewed the US.  The Soviet Union was able to criticize the US for talking about democracy and human rights while mistreating racial minorities at home.  This made the US look bad to other countries.  It was particularly problematic when the US and the Soviets were competing for the loyalty of non-white countries.  The Soviets could point out to the people of those countries that American democracy did not include rights and respect for people like them.  This was a strong argument against the US and American leaders naturally wanted to make it impossible for the Soviets to use it against them.


Because the US wanted to look better in the eyes of the international community, many American leaders supported the Civil Rights Movement more than they might have done if it had been purely a domestic issue.

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more