Cold War, a period of geopolitical tension and rivalry between the United States and

the Soviet Union, which lasted roughly from the end of World War II in 1945 to the
early 1990s. During the Cold War, there was no direct military conflict between the
United States and the Soviet Union, but there was a constant state of political,
economic, and military rivalry.

Key points about the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union:

1. Origins: The Cold War had its roots in ideological differences, with the United States
representing capitalism and democracy, while the Soviet Union represented
communism and authoritarianism.
2. Nuclear Arms Race: One of the defining features of the Cold War was the nuclear
arms race. Both superpowers developed and stockpiled massive arsenals of nuclear
weapons, leading to the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), which
deterred direct conflict.
3. Proxy Wars: The United States and the Soviet Union supported opposing sides in
various conflicts around the world, leading to proxy wars in countries like Korea,
Vietnam, and Afghanistan.
4. Espionage: Espionage and intelligence activities were prominent during the Cold
War. Both sides engaged in extensive spying, resulting in high-stakes covert
operations.
5. Space Race: The Cold War also played out in the competition for space exploration,
with the United States and the Soviet Union vying for supremacy in this new frontier.
6. Iron Curtain: Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech in 1946 highlighted the
division of Europe into Western and Eastern blocs, with the United States and its
allies on one side and the Soviet Union and its satellite states on the other.
7. Détente and Thaw: Periods of détente, or relaxation of tensions, occurred during
the Cold War, leading to agreements like the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT).
There were also cultural exchanges and diplomatic efforts to ease relations.
8. End of the Cold War: The Cold War came to an end in the late 1980s and early
1990s with a series of events, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, the dissolution of
the Eastern Bloc, and the eventual breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.
9. Legacy: The Cold War had a profound impact on global politics, international
relations, and the world order. It shaped the post-World War II world and continues
to influence geopolitics in various ways.

While the Cold War ended, the relationship between the United States and Russia
(the successor state to the Soviet Union) has remained complex, with periods of
cooperation and renewed tensions at different points in time. The term "Cold War"
specifically refers to the historical period between 1945 and the early 1990s.