Origins of the Cold War

The Cold War originated after World War II as tensions grew between the United States and the Soviet Union. Differing ideologies—capitalism in the U.S. and communism in the USSR—led to distrust and competition for global influence. Key events, like the atomic bombings and the division of Europe, heightened these hostilities. Both superpowers sought to expand their political and military power, leading to a period marked by espionage, proxy wars, and an arms race, but without direct conflict between them. The desire to contain and counter each other's influence shaped international relations for decades.