1940s: In the wake of World War II, the era of the Cold War is characterized by a nuclear arms buildup by both the United States and the Soviet Union.

Today: The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of the Cold War era and resulted in a considerable reduction in stockpiles of nuclear weaponry in both the United States and the nations of the former Soviet Union.

1940s: Police interrogation procedures regularly employ methods for extracting forced confessions from individuals who have been arrested.

Today: As a result of legislation enacted in the 1960s, the rights of the accused in cases of arrest have been expanded to ensure due process and greater protection of individual constitutional rights. The 1964 Supreme Court decision of Escobedo v. Illinois ruled that persons under arrest must be notified of their right to consult an attorney. The...