The Cold War stretched from 1946 to 1991 and was essentially triggered by a United Nations disagreement between the Soviet Union and the United States over nuclear weapon and atomic energy control. The United States wanted to create an international “Atomic Development Authority” that would oversee and control any atomic activities, conduct inspections and issue licenses. The Soviet Union disagreed with this proposal and instead asked for “universal nuclear disarmament.” Neither plan was agreed to by the UN, and so began the Cold War.

Over the following 40 plus years the threat of a nuclear world war reached a fevered pitch as the superpowers attempted to negotiate, and often fell short. Other countries joined the “Nuclear Club”, including China, France and Britain, by developing their own nuclear weapons. In 1962 President Kennedy narrowly avoided a nuclear exchange between the Soviet Union and the U.S. during the Cuban Missile Crises. In 1986 the deadly Chernobyl nuclear power plant meltdown illustrated to the world how dangerous and powerful nuclear power can be. Over three years later the Berlin Wall came down, amid Eastern Bloc countries ousting their leaders and opening up their blocked borders. In 1991, the Soviet Union became part of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Cold War was finally over.

Despite the decades of back and forth, potential for war and the fear of the spread of communism disaster was ultimately avoided.

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