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The Cold War is the title given to the period of tension between the two superpowers, the USA and the USSR, which dominated international relations for most of the second half of the 20th century.

The USA entered World War Two against Germany and Japan in 1941, creating an uneasy alliance of the USA, Britain and the USSR. This alliance would ultimately fail and break down into the Cold War.

After 1948 the Cold War entered a new phase. Moving beyond the borders of Europe, it spread to Asia and even into Space! At the same time the USA and the USSR greatly increased their nuclear arsenals.

Asian countries became a focal point in the Cold War. Both the Korean and Vietnam wars took place as communism looked to expand and America intervened, concerned about domino theory.

Just as the 1960s started, a new American President entered the White House. The Cold War was about to enter its most critical phase, and the world would be pushed to the brink of nuclear war.

In your History GCSE, it is important that you not only have good subject knowledge, but have the skills to apply this knowledge to exam questions.