World War 2 was a major global conflict that pitted the Allied nations (USA, Britain, France) against Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan). At it’s end, most countries were left with massive casualties and weakened economies. But the US emerged stronger than ever. As a result, following WW2, the US saw itself as an anti-communist crusader and an international police bound to help other countries.
Due to conflicting ideologies between the US and the USSR, the US saw itself as a beacon of democracy pitted against communism. Following WW2, the US and the Soviet Union rose to become the 2 most prominent superpowers. Whereas the USSR was a communist nation, US government symbolized democracy and to Americans, freedom. According to NSC-68, a secret government document outlining foreign policy, freedom posed a threat to communist regimes, and not the contrary (Doc F). This document highlights the key political conflict at the time, communist vs democratic governments. It is also important because it shows how the US viewed itself as an enemy to communist regimes. According to George Kennan, a US diplomat in USSR, the US could not expect to be allies with the USSR but rather political enemies (Doc #). Collectively, these two documents highlight how the US viewed itself as a threat to communism and as a result, a worldwide crusader against communism. This paranoid sentiment was reflected domestically with affairs such as Joseph McCarthy’s communist hunts, in which various government officials and persons were targeted as communist spies. McCarthy grew very popular, showing how the American view of itself as an anti-communist crusader was shared by the people at home who persecuted communism. This fear was largely due to social fear of an atomic attack (Doc C). Thus we see how paranoia led to the US view of itself as an anti communist crusader. This concept, known as “containment”, or a crusade against communism, would be challenged in the Korean War (1950). Previously, Korea was divided between the communist north and democratic south at the 38th parallel. But after withdrawal of US and USSR troops, North Koreans invaded South Korea. Truman responded by giving an address expressing the view that the North Korean invasion of democratic South Korea was a challenge to freedom and peace (Doc E). The US responded with an amphibious military counterattack led by general MacArthur, pushing the Koreans back. These occurrences demonstrate the actions the US took in its crusade against communism. Because the US viewed itself as a beacon of democracy and freedom, it saw communist North Korea as a threat to worldwide peace. Thus, by responding with an amphibious invasion, the US demonstrates that it is willing to enforce the Truman doctrine, which was essentially the dogma that the US would intervene against communism. Ultimately, the US saw itself as an anti-communist crusader and would continue to act against communism in the Cold War.
Furthermore, the US saw itself as an economic world police whose role was to aid other nations. Because other nations were left decimated and weakened by the war, the stronger than ever US saw itself as liable to provide aid to foreign countries. It began a period of internationalism, with increased foreign involvement and cooperation. The first actions it took were economically related. The US called a conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire where a World Bank promoting internationalist agendas was established (Doc A). This was in conjunction with the WTO, which essentially gave aid to impoverished nations and promoted trade. These two establishments by the US show its increasing role as a world police. Rather than revert to isolationist agendas, the US participated in international affairs, demonstrating actions characteristic of an international police. In response, the Soviet Union became fearful of seemingly threatening US capitalist agendas. Berlin, the capital of Germany, had been equally divided following WW2. However, when tensions escalated due to issues with currency and geography, the USSR instituted the Berlin blockade to isolate Berlin from democratic US involvement. The US responded with an airlift providing supplies, aiding the isolated Berliners (Doc D). This further shows how the US saw itself as liable for other countries. As an apparent international police, it believed that its duty was to assist the trapped Berliners and provide support. And finally, the US actions toward its former allies demonstrate this internationalist spirit. After the war, the US believed that an interdependence or internationalist cooperation would lead to worldwide democracy (Doc G). A specific law highlighting this belief is the Dawe’s Act, in which the US provided currency to the Germans to help them repay post WW2 reparations to France and Britain, who in turn would repay the US. Although relatively unsuccessful, this act manifests an internationalist spirit and once again demonstrates US involvement in foreign affairs to aid others. This reoccurring theme would ultimately come to shape the US’s view of itself as an international police whose role was to provide aid.
Conclusively, due to economic and political conditions in the world following WW2, the US viewed itself as a superior country whose duty was to aid others and prevent the spread of communism in foreign lands. This viewpoint and the ensuing actions would lead to a long worldwide conflicts fought through proxy wars, collectively known as the Cold War. The Cold War would later end with the US victorious, further reasserting internationalist US views which continue to shape modern America.