How long did the Cold War last?

The Cold War lasted approximately 44 to 46 years, depending on which starting and ending dates historians use, but the most commonly cited duration is from 1947 to 1991, about 44 years. It began shortly after World War II ended in 1945, when the alliance between the United States and the Soviet Union broke down over ideological differences, with the US supporting capitalism and democracy and the Soviet Union promoting communism. The term Cold War was first used in 1947, and key early events that marked its start include the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan in 1947, which were US policies to contain Soviet influence, and the Berlin Blockade in 1948. The Cold War was characterized by political tension, nuclear arms race, espionage, proxy wars like Korea and Vietnam, and the space race, rather than direct large-scale war between the US and USSR. It ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991, when Mikhail Gorbachev resigned and the Soviet flag was lowered. Some historians extend the end to 1991 when the Soviet Union officially dissolved, while others mark 1989 as the symbolic end. Regardless of exact dates, the Cold War dominated international politics for over four decades and shaped modern geopolitics, NATO, and nuclear policy.