the threat of destruction makes peace. During the Cold War, Russia and the US were locked in an arms race. Each side dedicated to producing more nuclear weapons than the other, and gaining the edge by having more weapons of mass destruction, at more strategic places. They began dividing the world into Russian supporters, US supporters, and the pacifists. The super powers of Russia and the US started to give other countries supplies in order to persuade them to give either country their support. This caused the formation of NATO (US dominated North Atlantic Treat Organisation) and the Warsaw Pact (Russian dominated Eastern Europe pact). Tensions rose between nations as Russia began mass building projects on nuclear weapons, and Harry Truman made the first non wartime military draft, making the soviets nervous. The US then tried to "contain" communism by setting up democracy in different countries and help rebuild the countries hurt in World War 2. Russia began to move into position by trying to .
station nuclear weapons in communist Cuba (the Cuban Missile Crisis). The president of the US (Kennedy) managed to make Russia move out of Cuba by the threat of force. Because Russia and the US feared what may happen if there was ever a nuclear war, there was no direct attack on each other, hence the name a "Cold" war. The rising tensions could, at any time, have started a war, but the fear of nuclear weapons used against either country was enough to prevent war. The meetings to limit arms were not really successful, for they were mostly for show. There were many loopholes in which both sides could work around in order to continue nuclear testing. Eventually SALT 1 and 2 were signed by Nixon and Brezhnev. This allowed the military budget to drop and help the country recover. Without knowing the negative effects on both sides from an all out nuclear war, there may have been a breakout. The fact that both sides had them made sure that neither side used them, possibly saving thousands of lives.