The "cold war" was a period of political tension and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II. The spelling of "cold war" uses the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to represent the sounds of the English language. The "c" in "cold" is pronounced with a hard "k" sound, while the "o" is pronounced with a long "ow" sound. The "l" is pronounced with a light "l" sound and the "d" with a voiced "d" sound. The "w" is pronounced with a voiced "w" sound.
The Cold War refers to a prolonged period of political tension and military rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as their respective allies, roughly spanning from the end of World War II (1945) to the early 1990s. This historical conflict was characterized by a state of hostility, competition, and a lack of direct military engagement between the two superpowers.
During this period, a bipolar world emerged, divided into two opposing political and economic ideologies: capitalism led by the United States and communism led by the Soviet Union. Both powers engaged in an arms race, striving for technological superiority and military dominance in a bid to protect their interests and spheres of influence.
Although open warfare between the United States and the Soviet Union did not take place, proxy wars did occur in different parts of the world. The Cold War was characterized by a series of tensions, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Berlin Wall, and various regional conflicts, which heightened fears of a potential nuclear confrontation between the two superpowers.
The term "cold" in Cold War is used to convey the absence of direct military confrontation, with the conflict primarily being fought through political, economic, and ideological means. The Cold War came to an end with the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, marking a significant shift in global politics and the ushering in of a new era.
The term "Cold War" originated in the early 20th century, but it gained popularity and widespread usage after World War II.
The word "cold" in "Cold War" refers to the absence of direct armed conflict between the United States of America and the Soviet Union (USSR), the two superpowers that emerged after World War II. Instead of engaging in open warfare, the two nations engaged in a prolonged period of political, economic, and ideological rivalry characterized by intense tension and hostility.
The word "war" implies the state of hostility, competition, and rivalry that existed between the two superpowers during this period. While it was not a conventional war with military engagements, the Cold War involved various confrontations, proxy conflicts, espionage, and an arms race.
The term "Cold War" is attributed to the American financier and presidential advisor Bernard Baruch.