The Cold War was a long period of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. It ended in 1991, marking a shift in global relations.
• Post–World War II — Tensions begin
U.S. and Soviet Union emerge as global powers
• Decades of political and military rivalry
Competition without direct large-scale conflict
• 1989–1991 — Changes in Eastern Europe
Governments shift and alliances change
• 1991 — Soviet Union dissolves
Cold War comes to an end
The end of the Cold War reshaped global relationships and marked a transition to a new international landscape.
Periods of tension can lead to lasting changes in how nations interact.