The Cold War was an ongoing political rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. As Americans grew increasingly aware of the brutal communist rule of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, many became worried about relations between America and Russia. The Soviet Union resented the Americans' decades-long refusal to treat the USSR as a legitimate part of the international community as well as their delayed entry into World War II, which resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of Russians. Postwar Soviet expansionism in Eastern Europe fueled many Americans’ fears of a Russian plan to control the world. The Cold War affected Europe where it originated as well as internationally. Three key events that occurred during the Cold War consist …show more content…
As the night approached, the Soviets organized a massive military airlift into Kabul, involving an estimated 280 transport aircraft and three divisions of almost 8,500 men each. A couple of days later, the Soviets had secured Kabul, deploying a special assault unit against Tajbeg Palace. Elements of the Afghan army loyal to Hafizullah Amin put up a fierce, but brief resistance. The United States and its European allies, guided by their own doctrine of containment, sharply criticized the Soviet move into Afghanistan and devised numerous measures to compel Moscow to withdraw. This event persuaded many Americans that the Soviet Union couldn’t be trusted, this helped lead the election of Reagan in 1980 because he was anti-communist. The U.S. became very angry with the Soviet Union and eventually boycotted the 1980 Olympics, and it blocked all exports of grain to the …show more content…
At the Malta summit in December 1989, Gorbachev and US President George H.W. Bush declared the end of the Cold War. The relevance of the Cold War today revolves around three elements including nuclear weapons, local conflicts with long-lasting consequences, and international institutions that continue to play a key role today. The Cold War had several impactful technological innovations as the military used internet devices, GPS, reliable transistors, and chips. The space and arms race spawned a number of technologies that created countless business opportunities. Americans were worried that the spread of communism threatened their freedom, their individuality, and their way of living. Prior to World War II, Joseph Stalin aggressively transformed the communist Soviet Union into a totalitarian