Cold War and Decolonization: Global Conflicts and Independence

Posted on Nov 28, 2024 in History

The Cold War was a 20th-century confrontation, lasting from 1945 (end of World War II) until the USSR’s collapse and communism’s fall between 1989 (Berlin Wall) and 1991 (USSR coup). It involved the Western-capitalist bloc led by the United States and the Eastern-communist bloc led by the Soviet Union.

This confrontation unfolded politically, ideologically, economically, technologically, militarily, and informatively.

Neither bloc took direct action against the other, hence the term “Cold War.” These two superpowers acted as influential power “hubs” internationally, cooperating economically and militarily with allies or satellite states against the opposing bloc. While these clashes didn’t trigger a world war, the economic, political, and ideological conflict significantly marked the latter half of the 20th century. Both superpowers aimed to implement their governmental models globally.

The Cold War’s timeframe spans from 1945-1947 (end of WWII and the postwar order) to 1985 (start of Perestroika) and 1991 (Soviet Union dissolution).

The Axis Powers were Italy, Germany, and Japan. They formed the Tripartite Pact, resulting in the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo bloc, united by similar governance, economic, and ideological systems. They were also the least benefited by the Treaty of Versailles.

Allies of World War II

When World War II began, the Republic of China had been fighting against the Empire of Japan since 1937.

During the 1920s, the Kuomintang government received Soviet assistance, reorganizing along the Leninist model of party, state, and army unification. However, after unifying China, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek purged leftists and refused to ally with the Communist Party of China against Japan, opting to fight both simultaneously. This continued even after the Mukden Incident and the establishment of the puppet regime of Manchuria by Japanese troops in 1931. Chiang’s anti-communist campaigns persisted alongside small, continuous conflicts against Japan throughout the 1930s. China gradually lost territories to Japan during this period.

The United Nations Organization (UNO) is the largest international organization, a global association of governments facilitating cooperation in international law, peace, security, social and economic development, humanitarian affairs, and human rights.

The UN was founded on October 24, 1945, in San Francisco, California, by 51 countries after WWII, with the signing of the UN Charter. 1

From its New York headquarters, UN Member States and agencies provide advice and decide on significant issues and administrative matters at regular meetings. The UN’s administrative bodies include the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, General Secretariat, Trusteeship Council, and the International Court of Justice. The Secretary-General is the UN’s main public figure. Ban Ki-moon of South Korea took office on January 1, 2007, succeeding Kofi Annan. 2

Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries

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Year Colonizer Event
1776 Great Britain The 13 original colonies of the United States declared its independence a year after they begin their armed revolt.
1783 Great Britain The British Crown recognized the independence of the United States.
1803 France With the purchase of Louisiana, the last French territories in North America (with the exception of St. Pierre and Miquelon) are delivered to the United States.
1804 France Haiti declares independence, the first black majority nation free itself from European rule.
1808 Portugal Brazil, the largest Portuguese colony, gained independence after establishing residence there of the exiled king of Portugal. After returning home in 1815, his son and regent declares an independent empire in 1822.
1810 Spain Gran Colombia first step to independence. Mexico declares its independence. Chile through the National Governing Board presents the basis of their independence.
1810 Spain Argentina declares independence.
1811 Spain Paraguay achieved independence, Venezuela declares its independence.
1818 Spain Chile declares formal independence.
1819 Spain New Granada became independent as Gran Colombia (which later would result in the independent states of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela).
1821 Spain The Dominican Republic (then Santo Domingo), Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Venezuela, El Salvador and Costa Rica declared its independence, Mexico ended its fight against Spain.
1822 Spain Ecuador became independent from Spain).
1824 Spain Peru and Bolivia get independence.
1828 Uruguay, achieved independence in 1828, after periods of occupation and Brazilian federation with Argentina.
1847 United States Liberia becomes a free and independent state in Africa.
1865 Spain The Dominican Republic finally gets its independence after four years as a colony restored.