Answer: this, my friend, is a VERY long story, so here we goooo.
The Cold War was a geopolitical and ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted from the end of World War II in 1945 until the early 1990s. It began as a result of tensions between these two superpowers, each representing different political and economic ideologies.
There were several key factors that contributed to the start of the Cold War:
World War II: The Soviet Union and the United States were allies during World War II, but they had different visions for the post-war world. The war left both countries as the dominant global powers, but they had conflicting ideas about how to shape the international order.
Ideological Differences: The Soviet Union was a communist state led by Joseph Stalin, while the United States was a capitalist democracy. These opposing ideologies created significant mistrust and suspicion between the two nations.
Sphere of Influence: After World War II, the Soviet Union sought to establish a buffer zone of friendly communist countries in Eastern Europe to protect its borders from potential future invasions. This led to the Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, which the United States viewed as a threat to the principles of democracy and self-determination.
The Truman Doctrine: In 1947, President Harry Truman introduced the Truman Doctrine, which pledged to provide economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism. This marked a shift in U.S. foreign policy towards containing the spread of communism, and it further escalated tensions with the Soviet Union.
The Marshall Plan: Also in 1947, the United States initiated the Marshall Plan, a massive economic aid program aimed at helping European countries rebuild after the war. The Soviet Union saw this as an attempt to extend American influence in Europe and viewed it as a threat to their own influence in the region.
The Berlin Blockade: In 1948, the Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin, attempting to force the Western Allies to abandon the city. In response, the United States and its allies launched the Berlin Airlift to supply the city by air. This event solidified the division of Europe into two opposing blocs.
The Formation of NATO: In 1949, the United States and its Western European allies formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance aimed at countering the Soviet threat. This move further heightened tensions with the Soviet Union.
These events and factors set the stage for a prolonged period of hostility and competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, known as the Cold War. It was characterized by the arms race, proxy wars, espionage, and a constant struggle for global influence without direct military conflict between the two superpowers, also, along with all the leaders' egos :)