The Cold War was a period of time between the end of the Second World War and the fall of the Soviet Union in which the United States and the Soviet Union rivaled each other as world powers. The exact date range is vague, but from about 1945-1991 is speculated as most accurate. Why was the Cold War called the Cold War? Though there was never any direct military action taken between the two nations, conflict arose abroad in smaller regions where political disagreements and armed coalitions formed as a result of the tension. The longstanding rivalry took place through the use of political and military propaganda, as well as direct political campaigns targeting the other nation as to not be fully trusted. The Cold War influenced the ways of life in the two nations directly, including the nuclear arms race, the race to launch a human into space, and political proxy wars such as the Vietnam War, where America became heavily involved. This lesson will explain how the Cold War began, Cold War events through the decades, and the lasting impact of the Cold War between the two nations.