1. what was the cold war

Some say another could be starting as tensions with Russia rise. Between and the United States, the Soviet Union, and their allies were locked in a long, tense conflict known as the Cold War. Though the parties were technically at peace, the period was characterized by an aggressive arms race, proxy wars, and ideological bids for world dominance.

The term cold war had existed since the s, when it was used to describe increasingly fraught relationships between European countries. In , shortly after the United States used the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, writer George Orwell used the term in an essay that explored what the atom bomb meant for international relations.

The Truman Doctrine , as it was called, was the first salvo in a decades-long containment policy in which the U. By , both countries had missile defenses pointed at one another.

That year, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought both countries closer to actual conflict than any other event in the Cold War. Multiple proxy wars stood in for actual conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union.

The Korean War , Vietnam War , and a number of other armed conflicts, during which both sides either funded one side of the war or fought directly against a communist or capitalist force, are all considered Cold War proxies.

Both sides also funded revolutions, insurgencies, and political assassinations in Central America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Though the Cold War ended with the dissolution of the Soviet bloc in the s and the fall of the Soviet Union in , it still affects modern geopolitics. As the last remaining superpower, the U. NATO, an alliance between the U. Today, increased tensions between Russia and the West have been referred to as a second Cold War.

All rights reserved. Culture Explainer. What was the Cold War? He also demanded the removal of the missiles and the destruction of the sites. Recognizing that the crisis could easily escalate into nuclear war, Khrushchev finally agreed to remove the missiles in return for an American pledge not to reinvade Cuba.

The Soviet leader decided to commit whatever resources were required for upgrading the Soviet nuclear strike force. His decision led to a major escalation of the nuclear arms race.

He urged Americans to critically reexamine Cold War stereotypes and myths and called for a strategy of peace that would make the world safe for diversity. In addition, Washington and Moscow established a direct line of communication known as the "Hotline" to help reduce the possibility of war by miscalculation. They joined Americans already sent by the Eisenhower administration.

In February , the president sent an additional 12, military advisers to support the South Vietnamese army. By early November , the number of US military advisers had reached 16, Even as the military commitment in Vietnam grew, JFK told an interviewer, "In the final analysis, it is their war. They are the ones who have to win it or lose it. We can help them, we can give them equipment, we can send our men out there as advisers, but they have to win it—the people of Vietnam against the Communists.

But I don't agree with those who say we should withdraw. That would be a great mistake. Now Europe is quite secure. We also have to participate—we may not like it—in the defense of Asia. Skip past main navigation. JFK in History. Life of John F. Kennedy Life of Jacqueline B. Kennedy on the Economy and Taxes John F. Kennedy and the Press John F. Kennedy and PT John F. The Cold War. The Worldwide Cold War. Identifier Accession. Rights Access Status.

Relation Is Part Of Desc. Subject Geog. Type Category. Format Medium. Format Media Type. Creator Maker. Language ISO Type ARC. Title Folder. Rights Copyright Status. Indeed, Europe, divided into two blocs, became one of the main theatres of the war.

From onwards, the two adversaries, employing all the resources at their disposal for intimidation and subversion, clashed in a lengthy strategic and ideological conflict punctuated by crises of varying intensity. Although the two Great Powers never fought directly, they pushed the world to the brink of nuclear war on several occasions. Nuclear deterrence was the only effective means of preventing a military confrontation.