Final answer:
The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the US and the Soviet Union, marked by ideological conflict, military buildups, and diplomatic challenges. It impacted domestic and international policies and led to significant social ramifications within the US, such as the Red Scare and the rise of the civil rights movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The origins of the Cold War can be traced back to the end of World War II when geopolitical tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union escalated. This period became characterized by an intense arms race, proxy wars, and a struggle for political influence across the globe. A key element of the Cold War was the ideological conflict between capitalist democracy, represented by the United States and its allies, and communist totalitarianism, embodied by the Soviet Union. The Cold War impacted the domestic and international policies of countries worldwide, including the establishment of organizations such as the United Nations.
Postwar Europe saw the division of the continent with Eastern European nations falling under the influence of the Soviet Union and the West under the influence of the United States and its European allies. This division set the stage for numerous conflicts, including the spread of communism, which the U.S. vehemently opposed. The Non-Aligned Movement emerged as countries sought independence from the two superpowers' influence. Meanwhile, global tensions rose with the onset of decolonization, as many former colonies sought sovereignty, often becoming battlegrounds in the Cold War conflict.
In the United States, the fear of communism led to significant political and social repercussions. The development of nuclear weapons changed the landscape of military strategy, leading to the brinksmanship that characterized much of the era. Moreover, societal fears were evident in the Red Scare and Lavender Scare, which affected individuals' lives through intense scrutiny and allegations of communist sympathies or non-conformity to cultural norms. The civil rights movements, including those led by African Americans and Mexican Americans, sought to challenge segregation and discrimination, sometimes intersecting with the broader geopolitical struggles of the Cold War.