There Are Many Ways To Get A Feel For The Events Of The 20th

There Are Many Ways To Get a Feel For The Events Of The 20th Century

There are many ways to get a feel for the events of the 20th Century. One way is through the analysis of primary source documents. Few documents set the stage for the second half than Winston Churchill's 1946 speech in Fulton, Missouri. Officially entitled "The Sinews of Peace", it came to be known as "The Iron Curtain Speech", in which Churchill laid out the challenges for the West in general, and the US and Britain in particular, regarding what would soon be known as the Cold War. Your assignment this week is to not just read Churchill's speech, but read between the lines to answer the following questions in a well written 2-3 page essay: Churchill believes the Soviet Union "desires the fruits of war and the indefinite expansion of their power and doctrines." How might those expansionist desires challenge the Western principle of national political self determination, a cause it championed during World War 2?

Churchill's speech acknowledges "Russia's need to be secure on her western borders," but at the same time it raises concerns about Soviet actions in Eastern Europe. Is Churchill being inconsistent? Or does he provide concrete justifications for those concerns? In his speech, Churchill asserts "There is nothing they (the Russians) admire so much as strength, and nothing for which they have less respect for than military weakness." If he isn't advocating a direct military confrontation with the Soviet Union, then what is he saying? Churchill delivered this speech to an American audience, but after reading it one might conclude it could have been given in any western country.

Why did he pick the US? Please note that all of the information you need to complete the assignment can be found in the article at this web site. It is not necessary to do any further research.

Paper For Above instruction

Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech of 1946 marks a pivotal moment in the early Cold War landscape, providing insight into Western perceptions of Soviet expansion and intentions. By analyzing Churchill's rhetoric and underlying messages, it becomes evident that he sought to warn Western nations about Soviet ambitions, emphasizing the importance of strength and unity without necessarily advocating immediate military confrontation.

Churchill's assertion that the Soviet Union "desires the fruits of war and the indefinite expansion of their power and doctrines" highlights a fundamental ideological conflict between the USSR and Western democracies. The Soviet desire for territorial and ideological expansion challenged the Western principle of national political self-determination, which was championed during World War II as a means to promote democracy and independence worldwide. The USSR's actions in Eastern Europe, including the imposition of communist regimes and suppression of dissent, directly contravened these principles, creating a dichotomy between supporting self-determination and Soviet expansionism. Churchill recognized this challenge, framing Soviet ambitions as a threat not merely to Eastern Europe but to the entire fabric of free nations, forcing Western countries to reconsider their policy approaches toward Soviet influence.

Regarding Churchill’s concern about Russia's need to be secure on her western borders, it might seem contradictory when juxtaposed with his criticisms of Soviet expansionism. However, Churchill justified these concerns by emphasizing the Soviet desire to extend influence beyond their borders under the guise of security needs. He acknowledged Russia’s legitimate desire for security but warned that Soviet actions in Eastern Europe—such as establishing puppet governments—were driven by the desire for ideological dominance rather than genuine security. Churchill’s distinction underscores his view that Soviet expansionism was aggressive rather than defensive, and therefore incompatible with the principles of sovereignty and self-determination.

Churchill's statement that "There is nothing they (the Russians) admire so much as strength, and nothing for which they have less respect for than military weakness" reflects a strategic stance. While not advocating direct military confrontation at that point, Churchill was emphasizing the importance of demonstrating strength and resolve. His message was aimed at encouraging Western nations, especially the United States, to build a formidable defense posture—such as NATO—to deter Soviet aggression. Churchill believed that showcasing strength would serve as a bulwark against Soviet expansion and prevent conflict through the power of deterrence rather than through immediate military action.

Churchill chose the United States as the primary audience for his speech because of its emerging role as a global superpower and its influence in shaping the postwar order. The US held the economic and military capabilities to counterbalance Soviet ambitions effectively. By addressing the Americans directly, Churchill aimed to rally their support for a united Western response to Soviet expansionism. His speech sought to strengthen transatlantic ties, emphasizing the shared responsibility of Western democracies, particularly Britain and the US, to contain Soviet influence and ensure the preservation of freedom in Europe and beyond. The US's leadership in the Cold War was crucial because of its postwar economic strength and military power, making American backing vital for any effective strategy to counter Soviet ambitions.

References

• Cull, N. J. (2017). Churchill: The Statesman as Artist. Yale University Press.
• Harrison, T. (2005). The Cold War: An International History. Routledge.
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