Introduction

Following World War II, the same two countries that fought together to stop the axis powers, now developed problems with one another. A rivalry was created between the capitalist United States and the communist Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Near the end of the second World War, the three major ally countries met at the Yalta Conference in Russia partially to discuss Germany's future. It was agreed to divide Germany into sections, later known as East and West Germany. Despite the fact that the countries could not agree on how to unify Germany, the post-war world looked very promising. Then in 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs in Japan to end the Pacific Theater and ultimately, World War II. This started a conflict between the USSR and the United States. The USSR was upset that the Atomic Bomb was developed secretly. It was discovered that spies were sent to the US to tract the bomb's development. With the information, the USSR was able to build a bomb of their own. By the end of the 1940s, the USSR had control over much of eastern Europe and Asia. Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviets, refused to keep his promise of allowing free elections.

Fear overtook the two countries. The Soviet Union had been invaded twice, and with the US's rapid development of both the Atomic Bomb and later the Hydrogen Bomb, they feared a third invasion that could potentially destroy them. During the early fifties, the United States and the Soviet Union began building a mass amount of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). The Nuclear Arms Race was underway and the Cold War began.

The Cold War
In more ways than one, the Cold War was unlike any war the US has ever been in. Without any real battles or fighting, the War tore many countries apart and with one problem, could have ended the war. This link explains how it all got started.