Cold War
Definition
The Cold War was a period of political tension and military rivalry between two superpowers, United States and Soviet Union (1947-1991), without actual warfare but marked by economic competition, technological race (like Space Race), proxy wars, etc.
Analogy
Imagine two high school rivals who never actually fight each other directly but compete fiercely in sports, academics, popularity contests - trying to outdo each other at every turn. That's similar to how US & USSR behaved during Cold War era.
Related terms
Iron Curtain: A term used to describe the division between communist Eastern Europe (led by USSR) and democratic Western Europe (led by US) during Cold War era.
Containment Policy: An American foreign policy aimed at preventing spread of communism abroad during Cold War era.
Space Race: Competition between US & USSR during Cold War to achieve superior spaceflight capability.
"Cold War" appears in:
Study guides (5)
Additional resources (1)
Practice Questions (20+)
The Cold War led to debates over the proper balance between government power and individual rights, including discussions about:
Which 2 competing philosophies were at odds during the Cold War?
Who were the 2 biggest players in the Cold War?
Which of the following countries was NOT a member of the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War?
What was the policy of the United States to contain the spread of communism during the Cold War?
Which U.S. president is known for his policy of "massive retaliation" during the Cold War?
Which event sparked the beginning of the Cold War?
Which of the following characterized the Cold War?
Which of the following was a result of World War I, World War II, and the Cold War?
Who were the two superpowers involved in the Cold War?
What was the name of the policy that aimed to prevent the spread of communism during the Cold War?
Which of the following ideological beliefs has had the most consistent influence on American foreign policy from World War II through the end of the Cold War?
Which conflict marked the first major armed confrontation of the Cold War and shaped American foreign policy for more than four decades?
How does Teddy Roosevelt's "Big Stick" diplomacy relate to later American foreign policies during the Cold War?
How did Manifest Destiny ideology in the 19th century mirror the expansionist sentiments prevalent during the Cold War?
What cultural trend emerged during the Post-War era in America during the Cold War?
How does America's imperialist expansion into the Philippines compare to its later involvement in Vietnam during the Cold War?
Who was the United States Secretary of State responsible for implementing the policy of containment during the Cold War?
Which event marked the beginning of the Cold War?
Which policy was designed to contain spread of Communism globally during Cold War?
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