The Cold War was a global competition between US and Soviet Union. Both sides believed in different ideologies and approaches to economy and social development led to the conflict between two superpowers. The collapse of the USSR and its communist system provided considerable changes in foreign policies of many countries, including the United States. The Vietnam War started in 1957 which divided Vietnam into 2 nations at the 38th parallel. The Vietnam War was fought between communist North Vietnam and the government of South Vietnam. North was supported by communist and South was supported by anti-communist, USA. The goal was to maintain a separate independent, non communist government. It was between the communist government of North Vietnam and Vietnam Congress (Communist led by guerrillas) against the anti-communist South Vietnam and it's ally, US. The US decided to help South Vietnam due to the policy of containment, stopping communism to spread and its influence around the world. This was not successful because today Vietnam is a Communist nation.
<span>Nixon practiced detente
Reagan brought tensions to a new, heightened level</span>
As a South Carolina senator, Calhoun used the argument of states' rights to protect slavery in what is known as the Nullification Crisis of 1832-1833. At the end of his senatorial career, Calhoun opposed the Compromise of 1850 because of its proposed limits on slavery during the westward expansion of the nation.
