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The '''Cold War''' was a period of suspicion and distrust between the US and its alliances and the Soviet Union and its more or less puppet allies after [[World War II]], and was started by [[Josef Stalin]].<ref> [http://cnsnews.com/commentary/article/59591 CNSNews.com - U.S. Honors Stalin on Hallowed Ground – Will Saddam Hussein Be Next?

The '''Cold War''' was a period of suspicion and distrust between the US and its alliances and the Soviet Union and its more or less puppet allies after [[World War II]], and was started by [[Josef Stalin]].<ref>[http://cnsnews.com/commentary/article/59591 CNSNews.com - U.S. Honors Stalin on Hallowed Ground – Will Saddam Hussein Be Next? ]</ref> It persisted due to the natural enmity between [[Communism]] and most other forms of government, especially [[Capitalism]] and the incompatible goals the two sides held. Film critic  atherine de la Roche, noted in 1955 that [[Hollywood]] and others believed that the Cold War was "fundamentally a conflict between [[Christianity]] and [[atheism]] and that religion is therefore a strong weapon against Communism".<ref>[http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/review/362 Review of the book ''Religion and the Cold War'' by Dr Merrilyn Thomas University College London]</ref>  

] </ref> It persisted due to the natural enmity between [[Communism]] and most other forms of government, especially [[Capitalism]] and the incompatible goals the two sides held. Film critic  atherine de la Roche, noted in 1955 that [[Hollywood]] and others believed that the Cold War was "fundamentally a conflict between [[Christianity]] and [[atheism]] and that religion is therefore a strong weapon against Communism".<ref>[http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/review/362 Review of the book ''Religion and the Cold War'' by Dr Merrilyn Thomas

University College London</ref>  

The Cold War was marked by a nuclear [[arms race]] between the two super-powers, and the unchecked [[proliferation]] of [[nuclear weapons]] was a cause for concern in many quarters. The Cold War also was marked by high levels of [[espionage]].

The Cold War was marked by a nuclear [[arms race]] between the two super-powers, and the unchecked [[proliferation]] of [[nuclear weapons]] was a cause for concern in many quarters. The Cold War also was marked by high levels of [[espionage]].

The Cold War lead to the development of the First-World (United States and its allies) Second-World (Soviet Union and its allies) and Third-World (countries not allied with either superpower and with no nuclear programs) system of classifying countries.  "Third-World" is the only term in this system still commonly used today, and it typically denotes an unindustrialized or still industrialising country.

The Cold War lead to the development of the First-World (United States and its allies) Second-World (Soviet Union and its allies) and Third-World (countries not allied with either superpower and with no nuclear programs) system of classifying countries.  "Third-World" is the only term in this system still commonly used today, and it typically denotes an unindustrialized or still industrialising country.

It was a political, economic and psychological conflict, together with regional hot wars, between the [[United States]], [[NATO]] and other allies, and the [[USSR]], [[China]] and their allies between 1947 and 1989.  After 1960, China split with the Soviet Union and set up its own alliances as part of its Cold War with the U.S and it's attempt to overtake the USSR as leader of the communist movement. <ref> [https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/winter98_99/art05.html] </ref>

It was a political, economic and psychological conflict, together with regional hot wars, between the [[United States]], [[NATO]] and other allies, and the [[USSR]], [[China]] and their allies between 1947 and 1989.  After 1960, China split with the Soviet Union and set up its own alliances as part of its Cold War with the U.S and it's attempt to overtake the USSR as leader of the communist movement.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/winter98_99/art05.html]</ref>

The tension during the Cold War fluctuated, with the super powers going through periods of heightened conflict and also periods of improved relations.  It ended on November 11, 1989, with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet overseas empire. History closed the books on the Soviet Union itself on December 25, 1991. It was replaced by 15 smaller countries, especially [[Russia]], which all rejected Communism after the Cold War.

The tension during the Cold War fluctuated, with the super powers going through periods of heightened conflict and also periods of improved relations.  It ended on November 11, 1989, with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet overseas empire. History closed the books on the Soviet Union itself on December 25, 1991. It was replaced by 15 smaller countries, especially [[Russia]], which all rejected Communism after the Cold War.

* [[Truman Doctrine]], 1947

* [[Truman Doctrine]], 1947

* [[History of Poland]]

* [[History of Poland]]

* [[Berlin Airlift]], 1948-49

* [[Berlin Airlift]], 1948–49

* [[Marshall Plan]], 1948-51

* [[Marshall Plan]], 1948–51

* [[NATO]], 1949- present

* [[NATO]], 1949–present

* [[Josip Broz Tito]]

* [[Josip Broz Tito]]

* [[Berlin Wall]] 1961-89

* [[Berlin Wall]] 1961-89

====In Asia====

====In Asia====

* [[Korean War]] (1950-53)

* [[Korean War]] (1950–53)

* [[Vietnam War]] (1965-75)

* [[Vietnam War]] (1965–75)

* [[Domino theory]]

* [[Domino theory]]

* [[Soviet-Afghan War]], (1979-1989)

* [[Soviet-Afghan War]], (1979-1989)

====Third World====

====Third World====

* [[Peace Corps]], 1961-present

* [[Peace Corps]], 1961–present

* [[Cuban Revolution]]

* [[Cuban Revolution]]

* [[Cuban Missile Crisis]]

* [[Cuban Missile Crisis]]

The Western democracies, under the leadership of the United States under President [[Ronald Reagan]] won the Cold War with a policy that rejected detente and containment and instead relied on [[Rollback]].  An important element of this victory  was Reagan's decision to commit to increased military spending, such as the  "[[Strategic Defense Initiative|Star Wars]]" program.  Reagan's decisions to intervene in Afghanistan while pursuing an arms race exacerbated structural weaknesses in the Soviet economy and pushed the USSR into an early decline.

The Western democracies, under the leadership of the United States under President [[Ronald Reagan]] won the Cold War with a policy that rejected detente and containment and instead relied on [[Rollback]].  An important element of this victory  was Reagan's decision to commit to increased military spending, such as the  "[[Strategic Defense Initiative|Star Wars]]" program.  Reagan's decisions to intervene in Afghanistan while pursuing an arms race exacerbated structural weaknesses in the Soviet economy and pushed the USSR into an early decline.

In 1985, [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] become General Secretary of the Communist Party.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/11/newsid_2538000/2538327.stm Gorbachev Becomes Soviet Leader], ''BBC'', 11 March, 1985.</ref>  Recognizing the systemic problems faced by Soviet society, he attempted the twin reform programs of [[Glasnost]] (openness) and [[Perestroika]] (restructuring).  Combined with the disaster at Chernobyl and losses in the war in Afghanistan, the effects of Gorbachev's reforms quickly spun out of control.  Glasnost allowed media attention to focus on problems which had long been buried by the state's propaganda regime, causing widespread dissatisfaction among Soviet citizens.  In 1989, a wave of constituent republics began to seek autonomy from the Soviet Union.  Most attempts at succession (with the exception of Lithuania) were met with no Soviet resistance.

In 1985, [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] become General Secretary of the Communist Party.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/11/newsid_2538000/2538327.stm Gorbachev Becomes Soviet Leader], ''BBC'', 11 March 1985.</ref>  Recognizing the systemic problems faced by Soviet society, he attempted the twin reform programs of [[Glasnost]] (openness) and [[Perestroika]] (restructuring).  Combined with the disaster at Chernobyl and losses in the war in Afghanistan, the effects of Gorbachev's reforms quickly spun out of control.  Glasnost allowed media attention to focus on problems which had long been buried by the state's propaganda regime, causing widespread dissatisfaction among Soviet citizens.  In 1989, a wave of constituent republics began to seek autonomy from the Soviet Union.  Most attempts at succession (with the exception of Lithuania) were met with no Soviet resistance.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

The Cold War is well documented by political scientists and historians--especially since 1991 when archives were opened in ex-Communist countries. Following are selected major scholarly books and articles in English, and some major memoirs.

The Cold War is well documented by political scientists and historians—especially since 1991 when archives were opened in ex-Communist countries. Following are selected major scholarly books and articles in English, and some major memoirs.

for a much longer guide see [[Cold War Bibliography]]

for a much longer guide see [[Cold War Bibliography]]

* Zubok, Vladislav M. ''A Failed Empire: The Soviet Union in the Cold War from Stalin to Gorbachev'' (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/Failed-Empire-Soviet-Gorbachev-History/dp/0807859583/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252833311&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]

* Zubok, Vladislav M. ''A Failed Empire: The Soviet Union in the Cold War from Stalin to Gorbachev'' (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/Failed-Empire-Soviet-Gorbachev-History/dp/0807859583/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252833311&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://home.att.net/~rw.rynerson/index2.htm Berlin 1969 - midpoint of the Cold War]

*[http://home.att.net/~rw.rynerson/index2.htm Berlin 1969 - midpoint of the Cold War]

*[http://bertschlossberg.blogspot.com/2012/11/lawrence-patton-mcdonald-b_15.html A Forgotten Man: Congressman Larry McDonald]

*[http://bertschlossberg.blogspot.com/2012/11/lawrence-patton-mcdonald-b_15.html A Forgotten Man: Congressman Larry McDonald]

*[http://bertschlossberg.blogspot.com/ Series on the downing of KAL007 in "Real Life and Death: the interplay of Bible, Israel, America"]

*[http://bertschlossberg.blogspot.com/ Series on the downing of KAL007 in "Real Life and Death: the interplay of Bible, Israel, America"]

== See Also==

== See also==

* [[Nuclear target structures]]

* [[Nuclear target structures]]

* [[Joseph McCarthy]]

* [[Joseph McCarthy]]

[[category:Wars]]

[[Category:Wars]]

[[category:Cold War]]

[[Category:Cold War]]

[[Category : Nuclear Target Structures]]

[[Category:Nuclear Target Structures]]

[[Category:Communism]]

[[Category:Communism]]

[[Category:United States History]]

[[Category:United States History]]

[[category:Military History]]

[[Category:Military History]]

[[category:diplomacy]]

[[Category:Diplomacy]]

[[Category:Soviet Union]]

[[Category:Soviet Union]]

[[Category:Russian History]]

[[Category:Russian History]]