How New York City Got Its Juicy Nickname “The Big Apple” — And What It Means To The World

 By Chris Okoye

Not too long time ago, there were two big and powerful countries: the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR). They did not fight a real war with guns and bombs, but they were not friendly to each other. This was called the Cold War because it was a war of ideas, power, and control.

The Cold War lasted for many years, from 1947 to 1991. During this time, many things in the world changed. Here are five important things that changed because of the Cold War.

1. The Space Race

Before the Cold War, people did not know much about space. But during the Cold War, the US and the Soviet Union wanted to show who was smarter and stronger. So, they started the Space Race to see who could go to space first!

• In 1957, the Soviet Union sent the first satellite, Sputnik, into space. This was a big surprise to the world!
• In 1961, the Soviet Union sent the first human, Yuri Gagarin, to space.
• The US wanted to do better, so in 1969, they sent the first people to the moon. The astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon.

The Space Race helped people learn a lot about space, rockets, and technology. Today, because of the Cold War, we have satellites, GPS, and even space travel!

2. The Arms Race

During the Cold War, the US and the Soviet Union wanted to be the most powerful country. They both made a lot of dangerous weapons like nuclear bombs. This was called the Arms Race.

• Both countries kept building more and more bombs to scare each other.
• People were afraid that a real war might happen.
• Schools even taught children how to hide under their desks in case of an attack!

In the end, the countries realized that having too many bombs was dangerous. They made agreements to stop making so many weapons. But because of the Cold War, today we still have big armies and powerful weapons in many countries.

3. New Countries and Governments

Before the Cold War, many parts of the world were controlled by big European countries. But during the Cold War, many small countries became independent.

• Some countries followed the US and became democratic (where people choose their leaders).
• Some countries followed the Soviet Union and became communist (where the government controls everything).
• Countries like Germany, Korea, and Vietnam were split into two parts—one side supported the US, and the other supported the Soviet Union.

Because of the Cold War, the world became divided into two groups, but later, many countries chose their own path and became independent.

4. Technology and Computers

During the Cold War, both the US and the Soviet Union wanted to be the best in science and technology. They worked very hard to make new things.

• The US made better airplanes, faster cars, and stronger machines.
• Scientists invented computers to help with war plans, but later, computers were used by everyone!
• The Internet was first created for the military, but today, we use it to talk to people, learn, and work.

Because of the Cold War, the world became more advanced in technology. Today, we have smartphones, computers, and fast transportation because of what started during the Cold War.

5. The Fall of the Soviet Union

The Cold War finally ended in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. The people in the Soviet Union were unhappy because they did not have enough food, jobs, or freedom. Many small countries that were part of the Soviet Union became independent.

• Russia became its own country.
• Other countries like Ukraine, Estonia, and Latvia became free.
• The Berlin Wall, which had divided Germany, was torn down in 1989!

Because of the Cold War, today, we have more free countries and fewer communist governments in the world.

The Cold War was not a real war with fighting, but it changed the world in many ways. It gave us space travel, modern technology, new countries, and powerful weapons. It also taught us that countries should work together instead of fighting. Today, we enjoy many things like computers, satellites, and freedom because of what happened during the Cold War. Let’s learn from history and make the world a better place!