World War II and Cold War

The external reasons for WWII are usually more commonly referred to the inaction of the British and French, the failures of the League of Nations, appeasement and probably the views of Russia and the way they thought they could form an alliance with Hitler. It is how the actions of those outside of Germany have contributed to the war by allowing Hitler's strength to grow unchecked.

There are many effects that rippled from the fact that Russia and USA were having an extremely strained and distrustful relationship, China becoming communist in 1949 fuelled american fears that the communists would try to take over the world. Russia=big, China=big and therefore there was a very real fear by USA that these countries could try to spread the communist system of government they so dreaded and hated.

This fear led to them taking a more pro-active role to support newly emerging democracies or weaker states that seemed vulnerable to the influences of communism. The Korean War is a result from this aspect of USA's foreign policy.