What was the Cold War?
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Correct answer: A period of political, military, and ideological rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union
The Cold War was a long rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II. It was called 'cold' because the two superpowers avoided direct full-scale war with each other, though they competed through alliances, arms races, propaganda, and proxy conflicts.
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More Cold War Origins and Containment questions
- Which two nations emerged as the main superpowers after World War II?
- What was a major ideological difference between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II?
- Which region became the earliest major focus of Cold War tension after World War II?
- What did Winston Churchill's phrase 'Iron Curtain' describe?
- What was the main goal of the U.S. policy of containment?
- Which diplomat is most closely associated with developing the idea of containment?