The Cold War was primarily an ideological conflict between the capitalist West, led by the United States, and the communist East, led by the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, into space in 1957.

The Truman Doctrine was a policy of containment, aimed at preventing the spread of communism, that was announced by President Harry Truman in 1947.

Germany was divided into two separate states, East Germany and West Germany, after World War II.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed in 1949 as a military alliance between the United States, Canada, and several Western European countries.

China experienced a communist revolution in 1949, led by Mao Zedong.

The Marshall Plan was a program of economic aid provided by the United States to Western Europe after World War II.

The United States was the first country to develop a hydrogen bomb, which was tested in 1952.

Massive Retaliation was a policy of using nuclear weapons to deter Soviet aggression, adopted by the United States in the 1950s.

Cuba experienced a communist revolution in 1959, led by Fidel Castro.

The Domino Theory was a policy of providing military aid to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, based on the belief that if South Vietnam fell to communism, other countries in Southeast Asia would follow.

Vietnam experienced a communist revolution in 1975, led by Ho Chi Minh.

Détente was a policy of seeking détente with the Soviet Union, adopted by the United States in the 1970s.

Afghanistan experienced a communist revolution in 1979, led by the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan.

Operation Cyclone was a policy of providing military aid to Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War, adopted by the United States in the 1980s.