The Cold War lasted from 1945 to 1991 and arose from ideological differences between capitalist United States and communist Soviet Union. The US and USSR disagreed over control of Eastern Europe at the end of World War 2, with the Soviets taking control of Eastern Europe while the US wanted free elections. Over the course of the Cold War, the two nuclear-armed superpowers engaged in confrontations around the world and numerous major events brought them close to direct military conflict, including the Cuban Missile Crisis. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of the Cold War era.

1. The Cold War
1945-1989
Background
to the war

2. The Cold War: background facts
From 1945 until the early 1990s, the USA
and Soviet Union were locked in a Cold War
which came close to nuclear disaster.

3. The Cold War: background facts
The USA believed in
Capitalism.
Capitalism is a
political system which
has limited government
involvement, leaving
people free to make
their own choices, but
can also lead to
inequality.

4. The Cold War: background facts
The Soviet Union (or
USSR, led by Russia)
believed in Communism.
Communism is a
political system that
believes in equality,
however it often
results in limited
choices and strong
government control to
achieve this.

5. The Cold War: background facts
Due to these
contrasting beliefs
the USA and USSR were
often in conflict, and
had been since Russia
became a Communist
country in 1917.
In spite of this, both
sides fought as allies
against Hitler during
the Second World War.

6. The Cold War: background facts
At the end of the war,
US/USSR arguments again
started, especially
about what actions to
take in Europe.
The Soviets wanted
control of Eastern
Europe, the USA however
wanted to see free
elections.

7. The Cold War: background facts
The two sides were
involved in
confrontation across
the world:
• The Soviets limited
US access to Berlin
• Both countries
supported different
sides during the
Korean War

8. The Cold War: background facts
This was complicated by
the fact that both
sides possessed nuclear
weapons (USA from 1945,
the USSR from 1949).
The presence of these
weapons meant that any
battle or argument
between them had the
possibility of killing
millions of people.

9. The Cold War: background facts
Over the course of
the Cold War there
were numerous major
events in which both
sides were involved.
This included the
Vietnam War, Cuban
Missile Crisis,
building of the
Berlin Wall and
Afghanistan War.

10. The Cold War: background facts
In 1991, after
revolutions across
Eastern Europe and
changes in Russia,
the Soviet Union
was dissolved.
This was the end
of the period in
history known as
the Cold War.