1. Cold war
cold war definition. A constant nonviolent state of hostility
between the Soviet Union and the United States. The cold
war began shortly after World War II, with the rapid extension of
Soviet influence over eastern Europe and North Korea.
Definition of the Cold War
• The Cold War was a period of economic, political and military tension
between the United States and Soviet Union from 1945 to 1991. Following
the end of the Second World War, complications arose centering on the
shifting of international power. The Soviet Union wanted to acquire
additional territory while the United States attempted to limit the gains
desired by the Soviets. This battle of ideologies resulted in increased
national security, diplomatic tension and proxy wars between the two
powerful nations.
Superpowers atWar
Superpowers atWar After World War II, theUnited States and the
Soviet Union were the world’s strongestnations. They werecalled
superpowers. They had differentideas about economics and
government. They foughta war of ideas called the Cold War. The Soviet
Union was a communistcountry. In communism, the government
controls production and resources. Itdecides wherepeople live and
work. The United States is a capitalist country. In capitalism, people and
businesses controlthe production of goods. People decide where they
live and work. The Cold War began in Europe after World War II. The
Soviet Union won control of Eastern Europe. It controlled half of
Germany and half of Germany’s capital, Berlin. The United States,
Britain, and Francecontrolled western Germany and West Berlin. In
June 1948, theSoviet Union blocked roads and railroads that led to
West Berlin. The United States, Great Britain, and Franceflew in
supplies. This was called the Berlin Airlift
2. Cold War Conflicts
. Cold War Conflicts After World War II, Korea was divided into North
and South Korea. North Korea became communist. South Korea was a
capitalist country. North Korean army invaded South Korea. The United
Nations sent soldiers to help South Korea. China sent soldiers to help
North Korea. The war ended in 1953. Neither side won. Korea is still
divided. The United States and the Soviet Union were in a nuclear arms
race. In 1959, Cuba becamea communist country and the Soviets
secretly put missiles there. PresidentKennedy was afraid the Soviet
Union would attack the United States. He sent warships to surround
Cuba. He hoped a blockadewould forcethe SovietUnion to removeits
missiles. This conflict was called the Cuban Missile Crisis. For sixdays,
nuclear war seemed possible. Then the Soviet Union
During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union fought together
as allies against the Axis powers. However, the relationship between the
two nations was a tense one. Americans had long been wary of Soviet
communism and concerned about Russian leader Joseph Stalin’s
tyrannical, blood-thirsty rule of his own country. For their part, the Soviets
resented the Americans’ decades-long refusal to treat the USSR as a
legitimate part of the international community as well as their delayed entry
into World War II, which resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of
Russians. After the war ended, these grievances ripened into an
overwhelming sense of mutual distrust and enmity. Postwar Soviet
expansionism in Eastern Europe fueled many Americans’ fears of a
Russian plan to control the world. Meanwhile, the USSR came to resent
what they perceived as American officials’ bellicose rhetoric, arms buildup
and interventionist approach to international relations. In such a hostile
atmosphere, no single party was entirely to blame for the Cold War; in fact,
some historians believe it was inevitable
