Cold War
Definition
The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies, the Eastern Bloc and the Western Bloc, after World War II. It lasted from 1947 to 1991.
Analogy
Imagine two high school cliques that never actually fight but spread rumors about each other, compete for popularity, and try to get others on their side. That's similar to how the U.S. and USSR acted during the Cold War.
Related terms
Communism: A political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.
Capitalism: An economic system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.
Proxy Wars: A war instigated by a major power that does not itself become involved. During the Cold War, many conflicts such as those in Vietnam or Korea were proxy wars between the US (and its allies) against USSR (and its allies).
"Cold War" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (5)
What scale would you use to study the effects of the Cold War on political structures in Eastern Europe?
Which event significantly enhanced cultural diffusion between Eastern and Western cultures during the Cold War era?
Which city was divided by a political boundary during the Cold War?
What was a significant result for many countries following the end of Cold War?
Which city was divided by a physical political barrier during the Cold War?
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.