The Cold War: The Soviet Union And The United States

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The Cold War lasted from 1945 to 1991. During World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States were allies. However at the end of World War II, the Soviet Union sought to expand Communist influence, while the United States sought to contain Communism and expand democracy. (Cold War History.) The opposite political ideologies of both nations led to technological competitions such as races to determine dominance in the areas of aeronautics, nuclear warfare, and global influence.
According to the Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security, the Soviet Union was a strong nation up until the early 1970’s when the government began to see a decrease in economic growth. Poor government management of natural gas and oil resources led