The Cold War began in 1945 as a post-World War II confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over many issues, most important shaping the post-war world to follow the values of democracy or communism.
A massive arms race ensued, although the two superpowers never fought each other directly because of the potential of nuclear weapons to destroy both nations. It ended after the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
