st point of tension during the entire Cold War was the Cuban Missile Crisis. Up until this point the Soviet sphere of influence did not reach into the Western Hemisphere except for the spies. Castro had now changed this paradigm, allowing Soviet missiles to be set-up in Cuba. This is the point at which most people believed we were closest to a total Nuclear War. The real protection from this possible total war was known as MAD.M.A.D. means as mutual assurance of destruction. This is if the Soviets bombed the United States and destroyed much of the infrastructure, U.S. submarines could still destroy all or most of the major centers in Russia. This kept both sides at bay for fifty years, and caused the peace. Both sides kept reducing stockpiles of arms through many agreements. Then finally the Soviets could hold their sphere of influence over the Warsaw pact countries signaling the fall of the Iron Curtain. The Soviets changed their political system to that of their bitter rival for decades. The Russian and the Americans are now working together on an unsteady friendshipThis Cold War held the entire world at the edge of their seats and makes for a great story. This was much deeper than the news there were many hidden aspects of this conflict. Even our cartoons served to indoctrinate us, ever watched G.I. Joe? The partnership that deteriorated and now is being rebuilt could have turned into a ‘hot’ war at anytime, and began a much more destructive world war. The cold war also had terrible effects on North Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and many other nations. Now that the tensions are over the U.S. now believes it must lead the world, the next century’s social students can write on the effects of that policy. ...
