what was the cold war why is it called the cold war

What Was the Cold War? Why Is It Called the Cold War?

The Cold War was a prolonged state of political, economic, and military tension between the United States of America (USA) and its allies on one side, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and its allies on the other. This period of conflict lasted for nearly five decades, from 1947 to 1991.

The roots of the Cold War can be traced back to the aftermath of World War II. In 1945, the two superpowers, the USA and USSR, faced each other in Europe with their armies, marking the beginning of a long-standing rivalry. The tension escalated as both powers could not agree on the makeup of the post-war world.

The Cold War was characterized by proxy wars, espionage, propaganda, and economic competition. It was called 'cold' because it was a war fought through indirect means, unlike World War II which was fought with direct military action. The USSR organized its eastern European conquests into the Eastern Bloc, which formed a military alliance known as the Warsaw Pact in 1955.

The Korean War, fought from 1950 to 1953, was another significant conflict that took place during this period of tension. The war was sparked by North Korea's invasion of South Korea, and it resulted in the division of the peninsula along the 38th parallel.

The Cold War saw numerous attempts at diplomacy, including the Yalta Conference in 1945 and the Potsdam Declaration in 1945. However, these efforts ultimately failed to resolve the underlying differences between the two superpowers.

The Cold War finally came to an end with the disintegration of the USSR in 1991, marking the beginning of a new era in international relations. The collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union led to a significant shift in global politics, paving the way for greater cooperation and dialogue between nations.

What was the cold war why is it called the cold war