The world in the 20th Century

The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union which lasted from 1947 to 1991 ("Cold War”). During this time, both countries engaged in a number of proxy wars, economic competitions, and ideological disputes that ultimately determined the shape of global politics for decades to come. The two main players involved in this conflict were the US and USSR, but it also impacted several other nations around the world. The origins of the Cold War can be traced back to World War II when Allied forces fought against Nazi Germany and its allies. Once Adolf Hitler was defeated, tensions began to mount between Stalin-led Communist Russia and capitalist America as they squabbled over how Europe should be reconstructed ("Cold War”). This struggle soon spread beyond Europe as both sides sought nuclear superiority by stockpiling atomic weapons in what became known as an arms race. The two superpowers used various tactics to gain an upper hand on one another such as engaging in proxy wars in Asia or Africa and signing economic alliances with smaller countries. They also vied for influence via propaganda campaigns such as movies or music ("Cold War”). Finally, during this time there were several periods of armed confrontation like Korea or Vietnam where both sides directly confronted each other without actually going into full-scale war.