Cold War

• nuclear deterrence - the idea that if you attack me with nuclear weapons then I will attack you back with nuclear weapons
• mutual assured destruction - the idea that if you attack me with nuclear weapons then I will totally destroy you with nuclear weapons and if I attack you with nuclear weapons then you will totally destroy me with nuclear weapons - thus any nuclear attack by either party will result in the certain destruction of both parties

Lewis Guerrero started all of it in 1948.

He got mad at the Soviet Union for bringing in terrisom into the u.s🔫

No. The Soviets were fighting the Germans in WW2, just like the Allied forces and after WW2 the West and Russia were in Cold War stances. That means that they were very unfriendly, but never actually went to war. Had fighting happened there could have been nuclear war.

Britain and Germany began an arms race in the early 20th century primarily due to rising nationalist sentiments and imperial ambitions. Germany sought to challenge Britain's naval supremacy, leading to a fierce competition in building battleships, particularly the Dreadnought-class. This militarization was fueled by both nations' desire for greater global influence and security, creating an atmosphere of mistrust and rivalry that contributed to the tensions leading up to World War I.

The containment policy was primarily adopted by the United States during the early Cold War, particularly under the leadership of President Harry S. Truman. It aimed to prevent the spread of communism beyond its existing borders, particularly in Europe and Asia. The strategy was articulated in various documents, including the "Long Telegram" by diplomat George F. Kennan and the Truman Doctrine, which sought to support nations resisting communist influence.

The most significant reason for the collapse of détente was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, which heightened tensions between the superpowers and marked a shift in U.S. foreign policy. This invasion was perceived as a direct challenge to Western interests and security, leading to increased military spending and a renewed commitment to countering Soviet influence. Additionally, the rise of more hawkish U.S. leadership, particularly under President Ronald Reagan, further escalated Cold War hostilities and undermined diplomatic efforts.

the united states and the soviet union both scrambled to make as many bombs as possible

Soviet missiles were in Cuba and US attempt to oust Castro was complete failure

The iron curtain was just a term used to symbolize the wall between the east and western countries. It was not a real curtain.

A lot of people will tell you it was The Bomb. As a Cold War cryptologist, my vote is for the R-390A/URR radio receiver, used for decades by American intelligence to monitor the Soviets. The R-390 and the information gained from it allowed us to use diplomatic approaches to settling disagreements between us and the Soviets.

The Soviet Union set off an atomic bomb

It joined the west to form one two-war creating country in one centruy.

it gave the Soviets proof we were spying on them

The Cold War was a conflict between two ideologies: democracy and communism. Thankfully, despite the odd alarm, it didn't escalate into a full scale war, especially as both sides had nuclear weapons. On the collapse of the Russian communist state, and the taking down of the Berlin Wall, the Cold War was de-escalated. unfortunately, Putin's Russia is stirring things up in the Ukraine at the moment.

Detente, a period of eased tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, led to significant diplomatic and military developments, including arms control agreements like the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT). It fostered increased communication and trade between the superpowers, reducing the risk of nuclear confrontation. However, detente also faced criticism for allowing the Soviet Union to strengthen its influence in regions like Africa and Latin America, ultimately contributing to a resurgence of Cold War tensions in the late 1970s.

Both countries felt that they were safe from attack if they were powerful enough to destroy the other.

Soviet Bloc nations did not receive any economic aid.

Winston Churchill. The former Prime Minister was in the US and speaking at tiny Fulton College in Missouri when he said "From Stettin on the Baltic to Trieste on the Adriatic an Iron Curtain has descended on Europe". Churchill always had quite a turn of phrase.