Cold War: Almanac (two volumes) presents a comprehensive overview of the Cold War, the period in history from 1945 until 1991 that was dominated by the rivalry between the world's superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. The Almanac covers the origins of the Cold War, including the fierce divisions created by the differences between American democracy and capitalism and Soviet communism; the key programs and treaties, such as the Marshall Plan, Berlin Airlift, and Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI); how the general public coped with the rivalry and consequent nuclear buildup; government changes designed to make society feel more secure; the end of the Cold War, brought about by the fall of communism in Eastern Europe and the dissolution of the Soviet Union; and the aftereffects of the Cold War, still felt in the twenty-first century. More than 140 black-and-white photographs and maps help illustrate the set. Numerous sidebars highlight interesting individuals and fascinating facts. Cold War: Almanac also includes individual and cumulative subject and people glossaries, a timeline, research and activity ideas, sources for further reading, and an index. Book jacket.