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The Time Period Of The Cold War

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The time period of the Cold War was a breeding ground for ideological change. It was an era filled with fear and paranoia, not simply of the unknown, but of neighbours, friends, and family. "World War II, the atomic bomb, the Cold War, made it hard for Americans to continue their optimism" historian Stephen Ambrose commented. This paradigm shift is evident in the texts from the era, and by studying them we come to understand the values and atmosphere of the time and the effect those values had on the texts. The Cold War began after the end of World War II, after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States of America; that continued until the early 90s with the dissolving of the Soviet Union. The two sides of the Cold War were the Western Bloc and Eastern Bloc, which are terms given to the alliances formed by the USA and NATO; and the USSR and the Warsaw Pact respectively. Named for its lack of major conflict or bloodshed between its two super powers, the USA and USSR, despite the wars that occurred that those super powers supported, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. After the bombing and subsequent end of WW II, the world was reeling from the unprecedented destruction it caused as well as the implications and effects it would have on not only war but society itself. During this time both a nuclear arms race and the space race occurred.
Primarily the Cold War was a power struggle between the USA and USSR, and their conflicting ideals of capitalism

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