A geopolitical struggle known as Cold War raged from the conclusion of World War II until the early 1990s. The Soviet Union and United States were in conflict with one another for control of the world and influence.
The origins of Cold War can be traced back to end of World War II. The Soviet Union had suffered greatly during the war and was determined to prevent any future attacks on its territory. On the other hand United States emerged from the war as superpower and was eager to promote democracy and capitalism around the world.
The Cold War was characterized by a number of proxy conflicts, with both sides supporting opposing factions in various countries. Korean War was one such conflict which began in 1950 and lasted for three years. Another was the Vietnam War, which lasted from 1955 until 1975.
The Cold War also had a significant impact on the global economy. Both United States and Soviet Union invested heavily in military technology which led to massive arms race. This arms race drained resources from both countries and left them with massive debts.
The Cold War also had cultural implications. There was a growing fear of communism in the United States which led to number of anti-communist campaigns and blacklisting of suspected communists. In the Soviet Union, there was strict censorship of the media and a suppression of dissent.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Cold War came to an end. This was largely due to economic and political reforms introduced by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev as well as the very collapse of the Soviet Union itself. The end of War marked significant shift in global politics and paved way for new era of international relations.
The Cold War was defining period in world history. It was a conflict between two superpowers with both sides vying for global influence and power. The War had significant economic, political and cultural implications and its impact is still felt today.
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