The Cold War (1945-1991)

In the years after World War II, the rise of atomic weapons, along with competing political and economic ideologies from two global powers–the United States and the Soviet Union–set into motion an era of competition and mistrust known today as the Cold War. The United States exerted its power and influence over a number of countries, including much of Western Europe, while the Soviet Union dominated life in Eastern Europe. As more countries successfully tested nuclear weapons, nuclear drills and fear of nuclear war became a way of life.

In the U.S., concerns that communism and might take hold in American life led to investigations and legislation to curtail membership or association with communist organizations. The U.S. also attempted to limit the reach of communism abroad by instituting policies that directed economic aid to allied countries or those countries they hoped to keep aligned with the United States’ interests.
Globally, the Cold War shaped relationships between nations, with new international alliances, treaties, and organizations emerging. While the armed forces of the United States and the Soviet Union did not engage directly with each other in significant combat, they engaged in conflicts in supported proxy wars that had lasting effects on the safety and security of countries around the world.

The Cold War featured Political pressure and threats, Propaganda to influence what people think. Economic sanctions to hurt each other's money systems, Espionage (spying) to steal secrets, and Proxy wars, where the main rivals support opposing sides in other countries' conflicts rather than fighting each other directly.