why is the conflict between the us and soviet union is called cold war?

Diplomacy During the Civil Rights Movementĭuring the Cold War, U.S. Navy Squadron VR-6 at Rhein-Main celebrate the end of the Berlin Airlift on May 12, 1949. Thirteen years later, Berlin again became the center of Cold War tensions when, in a surprise move, the Soviets literally built the Berlin Wall overnight, dividing the city in half. Citizens of West Berlin were surrounded and could not pass freely to East Berlin or through East Germany to travel to western democratic nations. Near the border with Soviet-controlled Poland, the city of Berlin was geographically vulnerable to communist influence. Not wanting to risk a military confrontation, the Soviet Union backed down and opened the roads to the West in May of 1949. Using Aid as a Tool of Diplomacyīy using aid as a diplomatic tool instead of a military attack, the United States kept the West Berliners supplied for nearly a year. German children in West Berlin wave to an Air Force transport aircraft as it comes into land at Templehof Airport during “Operation Vittles,” the nickname given to the Berlin Airlift in 1948. President Harry S Truman’s administration responded with the Berlin Airlift: a massive campaign to drop food and supplies to West Berliners from the air. In June of 1948, the Soviets blocked the West’s access to West Berlin in an attempt to seize control of the entire city. At this time, the United States and the Soviet Union were allies but were soon at odds when faced with the challenge of how to rebuild the political, economic, and infrastructure of war-torn Europe. The Soviet Union occupied East Germany and East Berlin. The western Allies (including the United States) occupied West Germany and West Berlin. Berlin Airlift: Dawn of the Cold War in EuropeĪfter World War II, Germany and its capital Berlin were divided in two. This threat was heightened by the increased number of nuclear weapons. To the United States and its allies, communism represented a threat to free trade, free elections, and individual freedoms. To combat the influence and spread of communism around the world, the United States used diplomacy to promote democracy. This period included open conflict as well as global political, ideological, and economic rivalry. After World War II, the United States entered into what was known as a “Cold War” with the Soviet Union, their allies, and other communist nations.

Why is the conflict between the us and soviet union is called cold war?