Origins of the Cold War  "There are two great peoples on the
earth today who, starting from different points, seem to advance
toward the same goal: these are the Russians and the Anglo-
Americans. Both have grown larger in obscurity [relatively
unnoticed by the rest of the world]; and while men's regards
were occupied elsewhere, they have suddenly taken their place in
the first rank of nations, and the world has learned of their
birth and of their greatness almost at the same time." French
traveler Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–1859) made this statement,
quoted in his book Democracy in America, in the 1830s. Over a
century later, the United States and the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics (also known as the Soviet Union or the
U.S.S.R.; a country made up of fifteen republics, the largest of
which was Russia, that in 1991 became independent states) had
risen to the status of superpowers, extremely powerful nations
that dominated world politics. Eventually, the two countries
were involved in what became known as