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Cold War Today

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The Cold War and Today
The Cold War lasted from 1947 to 1991 and changed America completely. The United States broke away from isolationism and began participating in world politics through organizations such as NATO and the United Nations, as well as many other coalitions and alliances. The Cold War pitted the U.S. and the Soviet Union against each other in a bitter rivalry, and some even went on to say the United States and the Soviet Union were reorganizing the world into what some called “a new world order”. The policy of communist containment caused the U.S. to become entangled with the development of many nations around the world. While today the Cold War conflict has ended and considered by many as resolved, its legacy still has lasting …show more content…

The very fabric of our society stems from innovations during this time period. Such as GPS, satellites, the internet, and transistors. Starting in World War II, the U.S. began its advancement of technologies, the nuclear bomb, and nuclear energy would define the next era of the cold war. After successful development of nuclear energy, Russia was able to gain information through spy networks in the Manhattan project giving them nuclear capabilities as well. Both countries would build arsenals of nuclear weapons and nuclear powered military equipment such as submarines and ships. The Soviets eventually launched the first satellite Sputnik in 1957 effectively creating urgency in the U.S.’s development of space and missile technologies. The U.S. would create NASA to run the space program and begin to invest more in public education to “increase America's research prowess” (Douglass) the rivalry with the Soviet Union and urgency to protect America's deterrence effectively advanced technology and science in education. Missile technology led to satellites which today communicate information across the globe. Public use today include research, GPS, mapping, and other communications. Also created and developed in fear of a Soviet Nuclear attack was the early internet or ARPANET. Scientists from MIT helped create a network of computers that could link together and communicate after an attack more reliable than the phone system (History.com). Today this technology contributes to every aspect of life in modern society. The internet connects people across the United States and is accessed by everyday items such as cell phones and computers. According to internet live stats, 88.5% of the U.S. population is connected to the internet and 68% have smartphones according to Pew Research Center. The impact on its creation has shaped society and built

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