The policy of containment was adopted by the United States to prevent the spread of communism beyond its existing borders.

The Iron Curtain, a term coined by Winston Churchill, refers to the political, ideological, and military division of Europe after World War II.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949 as a collective defense alliance against the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, into orbit in 1957, sparking the Space Race.

The Bay of Pigs Invasion, a failed attempt by the United States to overthrow the Cuban government, led to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The Brezhnev Doctrine, named after Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, allowed the Soviet Union to intervene in the affairs of other socialist countries to maintain their communist governments.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of the Cold War.

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was signed between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1985, eliminating all intermediate-range nuclear missiles.

The Soviet Union launched Yuri Gagarin into space in 1961, making him the first human to travel into space.

The Carter Doctrine, named after US President Jimmy Carter, stated that the United States would use military force to protect its interests in the Persian Gulf region.

The Korean War led to the Berlin Blockade, in which the Soviet Union blocked all land and water routes to West Berlin.

The Marshall Plan, named after US Secretary of State George Marshall, provided economic and military aid to Western European countries after World War II.

The Soviet Union launched Yuri Gagarin into space in 1961, making him the first human to travel into space.

The Brezhnev Doctrine, named after Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, allowed the Soviet Union to intervene in the affairs of other socialist countries to maintain their communist governments.