From the late 1940's until the early 1990's the United States was front and center in an era known to history as the Cold War. This conflict involved political, economic, cultural and military confrontation between the democratic capitalist system of the United States and its allies versus the communist totalitarian system of the Soviet Union and its allies. The conflict was personified by a nuclear arms race which threatened destruction of both sides yet kept an uneasy peace. All aspects of life in the United States were influenced by the Cold War.
Civil Defense
Learn more about the policies of Cold War Civil Defense, and how the government attempted to encourage citizen bomb shelter construction.
Technology and Science
The Cold War sparked revolutions in science and technology, often centered on military technology.
Society and Politics
The Cold War touched many aspects of American social and cultural life, from the civil rights movement to nuclear weapons protests.
Last updated: August 16, 2019