One of the most significant battles the United States ever fought never involved the battlefield. From the end of World War II until the late 1980s, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in what we know as the Cold War. As the two superpowers battled for domination, the course of American history was influenced in ways that still affect us today.
Did you know?
· Our interstate highway system is a result of Cold War tensions. In the early 20th century, our roads were not standardized or necessarily efficiently connected across states. On June 29, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the
· American architecture of the mid-20th century was influenced by the Cold War. Most new buildings, especially government buildings, were built out of concrete, with few windows. It was believed that concrete buildings would stand the best chance of survival during a nuclear attack. Most buildings were also constructed angled away from the city-center – an additional tactic to survive an atomic blast wave.
· “Nuclear fear” dominated the minds of American families during the Cold War. Public buildings throughout the country were designated official “fallout shelters” in case of attack. In reality, these shelters would have done little to protect people from nuclear blasts and fallout – they were brick high schools, building basements and community centers. Many buildings across the United States still bear the official “Fallout Shelter” sign above entrances.
The Cold War unofficially ended on 11/9/89, with the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Photo credit: Gerard Malie/AFP via Time.com
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