Cold War is the designation of a historical period of disputes between the United States and the Soviet Union, covering the period between the end of World War II, in 1945, and the extinction of the Soviet Union in 1991.
During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union were allies in the fight against Germany, soon after the enemy was defeated, the former allies turned into adversaries.
The Cold War was a political, military, technological, economic, social and ideological conflict between the two nations.
The war is called cold because there was no war or direct conflicts between the two superpowers, given the impossibility of victory in a nuclear battle.
The arms race to build a large arsenal of nuclear weapons was one of the biggest goals during the first half of the Cold War.
See also the meaning of nuclear energy.
The rivalry between the two nations stemmed from the incompatibility between the ideologies defended by each one, as they had distinct political systems and organized their economies in different ways from the other.
The United States defended capitalism, democracy, principles such as the defense of private property and free enterprise; while the Soviet Union defended socialism and principles such as the end of private property, economic equality and a strong state capable of guaranteeing the basic needs of all citizens.
Given the impossibility of resolving the confrontation through the traditional means of open and direct war, the two nations began to dispute the power of political, economic and ideological influence throughout the world.
In this context, two large military blocs were created, each corresponding to one of the sides of the countries involved in the Cold War: NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization (representing the United States) and the Warsaw Pact (composed of the countries that supported the Union Soviet).
The Cold War ended completely with the ruin of the socialist world, as the USSR was economically destroyed due to expenditure on armaments and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Learn more about USSR it's the Berlin Wall.
Aftermath of the Cold War
Because of the Cold War, the world witnessed important episodes that changed the lifestyle of all citizens, such as:
- Increased production of nuclear weapons;
- Development of espionage networks, whether military or political;
- Development of the space race;
- Formation of military alliances – NATO, representing capitalism, and the Warsaw Pact, representing socialism;
- Division of Germany into West (capitalist) and East (socialist) through the Berlin Wall.
Find out more about the meaning of NATO.
