Background: After the Second World War, the US embarked on what came to be known as the Cold War against the Soviet Union. Although the two sides never fought against each other directly, the Cold War nonetheless erupted into violence at times in places like Vietnam, Korea, and Afghanistan. As the US grew more activist and interventionist in its foreign policy, the domestic government also grew in power and in its role in the people's lives.

Please post a substantive discussion post of at least 200 words that analyzes BOTH U.S. Cold War Policy AND the impact that the Cold War had on U.S. society, using the following questions as the basis of your analysis:

1. Why did the Cold War start and how did it develop over its first three decades?
2. How did different presidential administrations, from Truman to Nixon handle Cold War affairs?
3. How did these approaches affect foreign policy?
4. How did the Cold War lead to changes within American society and culture?