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What Was the Cold War?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

The Cold War was a period of tension and subdued hostility which gripped most of the world between the 1940s and the early 1990s. The primary actors in it were the United States and its allies, countered by Russia and countries aligned with that nation. Rather than engaging in a potentially devastating out and out war, the countries involved in the Cold War jockeyed for position in more subtle ways. Many major events in global history including the rise of the Berlin Wall and the Cuban Missile Crisis were related to this war.

The Cold War has its roots in the Second World War, when the Allied powers made an uneasy pact with Russia to defeat Germany and Italy. The Allied countries were concerned about joining forces with a Communist nation, and Russia was likewise hesitant about the agreement. After the Second World War, Germany was divided into territories occupied by the Allies and Russia, and the relationship started to go sour shortly after that.

The race to the moon was part of the Cold War.
The race to the moon was part of the Cold War.

From the point of view of the West, Communist was a dangerous idea. Russia had firm control of Eastern Europe, but the Allies and the United States in particular hoped to prevent the spread of Communism through containment. The West was also concerned about the potential for conversion in developing nations in Africa, Asia, and South America. The West heavily controlled regions which bordered Communist countries, and sent a variety of spies across the borders to gather information about Communist regimes. In addition, both Communists and Westerners engaged in wars on other ground, such as in Korea and Vietnam, in an attempt to gain the upper hand.

The Cold War led to the Space Race, which landed Americans on the Moon in 1969.
The Cold War led to the Space Race, which landed Americans on the Moon in 1969.

Russia and allied nations such as China, on the other hand, wanted to protect themselves and the Communist nations that they were allied with. The division between Communist Eastern Europe and the West was called the “Iron Curtain,” due to the difficulty in crossing it, thanks to Communist officials trying to keep citizens in and Westerners out. Communist nations competed with the West economically, scientifically, and technologically in an attempt to establish superiority. The Cold War led the Space Race which landed Americans on the moon in 1969, and it also led to nuclear proliferation, as a growing number of countries grew concerned for their safety.

Several powers, including the U.S. and U.S.S.R., began to field ballistic missile submarines during the Cold War.
Several powers, including the U.S. and U.S.S.R., began to field ballistic missile submarines during the Cold War.

Numerous attempts were made at reaching a diplomatic agreement during the Cold War, but the Cold War truly began to end when Eastern European nations rose up against Communism. The Solidarity anti-communist movement gained ground in Poland as the Berlin Wall fell and leaders of the United States and Russia started to engage in cooperative talks. Diplomatic relationships between the major players were re-established in the 1990s, to the relief of many people around the world who had been impacted by the Cold War.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon998957

Did anyone win the Cold War or was it just a toss up as to which country was better at certain things. The United States may have gone to the moon before any other country but in the 80's a shuttle blew up. I haven't heard about that happening to Russian Cosmonauts. So just because we went to space first does that make us the winner of the Cold War?

anon989472

There were plenty of battles during the Cold War: China, Korea, Berlin, Cuba, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Nicaragua, etc. People died in these battles.

But the big, hot nuclear war never happened.

anon270254

Why did the United States involve itself in the Cold War? Second, please describe one piece of American foreign policy utilized to wage the Cold War. Third, please explain one government initiative, policy, or campaign used on the home front to carry out the aims of the Cold War.

2. Please consider the significance of television in American society during the Cold War.

anon265393

Was the Vietnam War taking place during the Cold War?

anon157636

this is really helpful. it's answered most of my questions. thank you for this.

anon104749

the cold war was from 1945-1991. where did you get 1950 or 60 from annon80998? whoever you heard that from has no idea.

anon81566

How does the cold war deal with the song "Imagine" by John Lennon?

anon80998

the cold war was from 1945-1950 or 60? I've heard both.

anon62464

The cold war shouldn't be the cold war in diplomatic terms. This "cold" war led to other very serious wars such as "The Vietnam war" that led to millions of deaths. so to label it the cold war, is simply an understatement. - Nathan

anon61646

it was called the Cold war and not a Hot war because:

a hot war is actual warfare. All talks have failed and the armies are fighting.

Cold War: Neither side ever fought the other.

anon59556

Why was it called the cold war? why cold? why couldn't it be hot?

anon42860

how did the cold war have an affect on the counter culture movement (the hippie movement)?

anon41896

I think this article is very interesting and it really helps those looking up the information.

anon33577

No- there were no battles with guns.

anon28443

Did they have guns in the war?

anon28441

I have a report on Ronald Reagan and The Cold War. This website gave me all the answers and I think Ronald Reagan did end the Cold War.

anon27031

What other events did The Cold War lead to? And also, what was the Cold war about?

anon26884

OK i'm doing a power point and i need to know exactly what the cold war is. please tell me without going into detail or explaining it. thank you for your help.

anon26261

What do the cold war and "the butter battle book" have in common?

anon25042

Did Ronald Reagan end the cold war?

anon18032

Greek Civil War, Chinese Civil War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Bay of Pigs Invasion, Gulf War and the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan are just some examples of numerous actual conflicts caused or supported by the Cold War.

anon15798

As an answer to your question, anon10775, no there were no wars with guns during the Cold War. In fact the Cold War was more the threat of a war happening as nobody was sure who had nuclear missiles so everyone was uneasy and tension was high. Despite the fact there was no physical war it was more of a mental and political war which did affect many people all over the world (like how most US Americans hate communism because of the threat of Russia during the cold war)

anon10775

Was there actually a war with guns during the Cold War?

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    • The race to the moon was part of the Cold War.
      By: Hugo A. Quintero G.
      The race to the moon was part of the Cold War.
    • The Cold War led to the Space Race, which landed Americans on the Moon in 1969.
      By: Yuri Arcurs
      The Cold War led to the Space Race, which landed Americans on the Moon in 1969.
    • Several powers, including the U.S. and U.S.S.R., began to field ballistic missile submarines during the Cold War.
      By: iruhsa
      Several powers, including the U.S. and U.S.S.R., began to field ballistic missile submarines during the Cold War.
    • Versatile, high-quality combat aircraft like the F-16 Fighting Falcon were developed by the United States during the Cold War to counter numerically superior Soviet forces.
      By: McCarthys_PhotoWorks
      Versatile, high-quality combat aircraft like the F-16 Fighting Falcon were developed by the United States during the Cold War to counter numerically superior Soviet forces.
    • The government of Cuba continues to practice a form of Communism.
      By: Stephen Finn
      The government of Cuba continues to practice a form of Communism.
    • The Space Race and Sputnik are important aspects that fueled the Cold War.
      By: Marcin Wichary
      The Space Race and Sputnik are important aspects that fueled the Cold War.
    • Joseph Stalin was a central figure during the Cold War.
      By: Alexander Micheichev
      Joseph Stalin was a central figure during the Cold War.