Expertly Crafted Essay On Western Civilization- Imperialism, Cold War, Total War

New imperialism occurred in the late nineteenth century primarily because industrialization had allowed the major powers to develop technologies and weaponry that could be used to further their superiority. At the Berlin Conference in 1884-1885, it was declared that occupation of a colony would determine recognition of a country’s claim there, and this introduced a scramble for territories, particularly in Africa. The justification for new imperialism was mainly based on humanitarianism; the powers believed that they had a responsibility to civilize the people in their colonies, particularly the African tribes. The consequence of new imperialism was the increase in tensions between the powers and, as a result, the peace between countries was very tense and everyone was constantly preparing for war.
Total war occurs when the countries at war use all resources possible, including the involvement of civilian targets. World War II serves as an example for this, largely due to the nuclear bombs dropped in Japan. These bombs killed many civilians and destroyed entire cities in the name of the war. In the countries whose soil the war was being fought on, total war looked like mass destruction and death for many innocent civilians, while the countries who were fighting overseas only experienced war at the battlefront, not the home front.
The Cold War was sparked by the tension and conflict between the United States and the USSR, each country backed by their allies. Both superpowers were responsible for the war because they were both equally stubborn and antagonistic about their approaches, and both knew what they were doing when they attempted to intimidate one another. The tensions of the Cold War were eased when the Berlin Wall was torn down, symbolizing the new government systems and the breaking down of the USSR into smaller republics that would promote peace.