The Cold War was primarily an ideological conflict between the United States, representing capitalism and democracy, and the Soviet Union, representing communism and authoritarianism.

Capitalism is an economic system in which private individuals or businesses own and control the means of production and distribution of goods and services.

Communism is an economic system in which the state or a collective of workers owns and controls the means of production and distribution of goods and services.

The Truman Doctrine was a policy of the United States government to provide economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism.

The Marshall Plan was a U.S.-sponsored program of economic recovery for Western Europe following the devastation of World War II.

The Berlin Airlift was a humanitarian mission conducted by the United States and its allies to supply West Berlin with food, fuel, and other essential goods during the Soviet blockade of the city.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a military alliance of North American and European countries formed in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union and its allies.

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union in October 1962, during which the two superpowers came close to nuclear war over the Soviet Union's placement of nuclear missiles in Cuba.

Détente was a policy of relaxation of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Rollback was a policy of the United States government during the Cold War to actively promote the overthrow of communist governments and the spread of democracy.

Brinksmanship was a policy of the United States government during the Cold War to push the Soviet Union to the brink of war in order to achieve a favorable outcome.

The Korean War was a war between North and South Korea from 1950 to 1953, in which the United States and its allies supported South Korea, while China and the Soviet Union supported North Korea.

The Vietnam War was a war between North and South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975, in which the United States and its allies supported South Vietnam, while China and the Soviet Union supported North Vietnam.

The Domino Theory was a policy of the United States government to support anti-communist movements and governments around the world, based on the belief that if one country fell to communism, others would follow like dominoes.

Rollback was a policy of the United States government during the Cold War to actively promote the overthrow of communist governments and the spread of democracy.