The Cold War officially began in 1947, following the end of World War II. The tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union escalated as both superpowers emerged victorious but with fundamentally opposing ideologies: capitalism and democracy versus communism. The period was marked by political, military, and ideological confrontations, including the arms race, the Korean War, and the formation of military alliances like NATO and the Warsaw Pact. The Cold War was characterized by a lack of direct military conflict between the two powers, yet it encompassed numerous proxy wars and a widespread atmosphere of fear and distrust, leading to significant global impacts.