The development of the military-industrial complex after World War II and its continued accumulation in reaction to questions regarding the military prowess of the Soviet Union became part of the influence of the Cold War. This has resulted in dramatic amounts of technical advancement, contributing to massive increases in GDP.
Competition with the Soviet Union has resulted in unparalleled levels of expenditure in education, especially in mathematics and science. The mixture of returned veterans attending university under the GI Bill and recent STEM education investments reacting to the "Sputnik moment" led to the creation of a very highly trained population in the United States.
Cold War hysteria led to McCarthyism, which was a major attack on civil liberties. In an imperialistic attempt to fight Soviet power internationally, it also contributed to interference in the affairs of several other nations. The increase in participation in foreign wars and environmentally damaging factories contributed to the creation of protest campaigns protesting foreign wars and seeking environmental regulation increased.
