Answer:
The Cold War was a period of tension and suspicion between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted from 1947 to 1991
The following key moments demonstrate how the Cold War changed from the 1960s to the
1990s:
- 1960s: The 1960s saw the height of the Cold War, with the United States and Soviet Union engaged in a nuclear arms race and competing for influence around the world.
- The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 brought the world to the brink of nuclear war
- At home, the United States experienced social and cultural changes, including the civil rights movement and anti-war protests
- 1970s: In the 1970s, the United States and Soviet Union began to engage in arms control negotiations, resulting in the signing of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) treaties.
- The United States also pursued a policy of détente, seeking to ease tensions with the Soviet Union.
- However, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 strained relations between the two superpowers.
- 1980s: The 1980s saw a renewed focus on military buildup and confrontation between the United States and Soviet Union, with President Reagan's aggressive rhetoric and policies towards the Soviet Union
- However, Reagan also engaged in arms control negotiations with the Soviet Union, resulting in the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987.
- 1990s: The 1990s saw the end of the Cold War with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
- The United States emerged as the sole superpower in the world, but also faced new challenges such as the Gulf War and the rise of non-state actors like Al Qaeda
- The end of the Cold War also brought changes to American domestic life, with a shift away from nuclear preparedness and a renewed focus on social and economic issues
These changes in the Cold War had significant implications for Americans at home and the place of America in the world. The Cold War brought about changes to the United States' presidency via internal and external forces driving those changes
The paranoia and fear of nuclear war during the Cold War era influenced the daily life of many American people, with communities installing air raid sirens and ordinary folks building and stocking bomb shelters in their suburban backyards.
The end of the Cold War brought about a shift in American foreign policy, with a focus on new challenges such as terrorism and economic competition.
The collapse of the Soviet Union also meant that the United States emerged as the sole superpower in the world, with significant implications for its role in global affairs.