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Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference brought together US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to discuss the post-war reorganization of Europe and the defeat of Germany and Japan. Stalin agrees to enter the war against Japan after Germany's surrender, in exchange for territories and influence in Manchuria. The conference addressed the future of Eastern European nations, including Poland, with Stalin agreeing to hold free elections in Poland. -
Iron Curtain
The Iron Curtain was a political and ideological barrier that divided Europe during the Cold War, separating the Soviet-controlled East from the democratic West. Coined by Winston Churchill in 1946, it symbolized restricted movement, censorship, and military tension. The Berlin Wall was its most visible sign, but the divide stretched across the continent. It collapsed in 1989 with the fall of communist regimes, marking the end of Soviet influence and paving the way for European reunification. -
The Marshall Plan
The Marshall plan was made by Secretary of state George Marshall and signed off by President Truman. The plan was to send economic aid into European countries following the events of World War II. The U.S. would send financial aid to European countries or those who were affected by the war, helping them to rebuild their lost architecture. It helped restore the confidence of the European people in the economic future of their own countries and of Europe as a whole. -
Russian Blockade at Berlin
Russia’s response to the merger of the French, USA and UK partitions of Berlin was to cut all road and rail links to that sector. This meant that those living in Western Berlin had no access to food supplies and faced starvation. Food was brought to Western Berliners by US and UK airplanes, an exercise known as the Berlin Airlift. The U.S. had to airdrop supplies to people through planes in order to keep them alive, finding a loophole around the border blockade imposed on the ground. -
NATO forms
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was established on April 4, 1949, as a military alliance to counter Soviet expansion during the Cold War. Signed by 12 countries, including the U.S., Canada, and Western European nations, it aimed to provide collective defense, meaning an attack on one member was considered an attack on all. NATO expanded over time, adapting to new security threats beyond the Cold War, including terrorism and cyber warfare, while promoting global stability. -
End of the Russian Blockade
Stalin couldn't afford to take down the planes sending in supplies under the threat of repercussion by Truman, who was the only person to use a nuclear weapon in a war at this point. Stalin knew that Truman was serious about no harm being done to these planes, so, unable to risk the threat of an all out war, was forced to remove the blockade, providing a victory for the U.S. as Russians withdrew their barrier, allowing ground support to come in once again. -
Korean War
The Korean War (1950–1953) was a conflict between North Korea, backed by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, supported by the U.S. and United Nations forces. It began when North Korea invaded the South on June 25, 1950. After years of brutal fighting, including major battles like Inchon and Chosin Reservoir, the war ended in a stalemate with the 1953 armistice, keeping Korea divided at the 38th parallel. The war deepened Cold War tensions and shaped U.S. foreign policy in Asia. -
The Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact, established in 1955, was a military alliance led by the Soviet Union in response to NATO. It included Eastern Bloc countries like Poland, East Germany, and Czechoslovakia, aiming to strengthen Soviet control over Eastern Europe. The pact allowed coordinated defense and suppression of uprisings, such as in Hungary (1956) and Czechoslovakia (1968). It remained a symbol of Cold War division until it dissolved in 1991, following the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe. -
The Space Race: Sputnik
Sputnik, launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, was the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth. This 58 cm metal sphere with four antennas transmitted radio signals, marking the start of the Space Age and intensifying the Cold War space race. Its success shocked the U.S., leading to the creation of NASA and increased investment in science and technology. Sputnik's launch demonstrated Soviet technological superiority at the time and reshaped global priorities in space exploration. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion (April 17, 1961) was a failed U.S.-backed operation to overthrow Cuban leader Fidel Castro. About 1,400 Cuban exiles, trained by the CIA, landed on Cuba’s southern coast but faced strong resistance from Castro’s forces. Poor planning, lack of air support, and Cuban counterattacks led to a quick defeat, with most invaders killed or captured. The failure embarrassed the U.S. and strengthened Castro’s ties with the Soviet Union, escalating Cold War tensions in the region. -
U-2 Spy
The U-2 was a high-altitude jet aircraft meant for surveillance, intelligence gathering, and reconnaissance. The USSR shot down an American U-2 spy plane in Soviet air space, taking the pilot in the plane prisoner. The pilot was sentenced to 10 years, after Truman was forced to admit they were spying, but they managed to preform the first ever USSR and U.S. spy swap: they traded one of the soviet spies they had captured for their spy. -
Cuban Missiles
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over nuclear missiles placed in Cuba. Discovered by U.S. spy planes, the missiles posed a direct threat, leading President Kennedy to impose a naval blockade. Soviet leader Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for a U.S. pledge not to invade Cuba and the secret removal of U.S. missiles from Turkey. The crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war but led to improved U.S.-Soviet diplomacy. -
End of the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975, with the fall of Saigon, marking a victory for North Vietnam. After years of intense fighting, heavy casualties, and U.S. withdrawal in 1973, South Vietnam struggled against communist forces. The North’s final offensive overwhelmed the South, leading to reunification under communist rule. The war left scars, with millions dead and lasting political effects in the U.S. and Southeast Asia. -
Last Titan II missile is deactivated
The last Titan II missile was deactivated on May 5, 1987, marking the end of the U.S. Titan II ICBM program. The Titan II was the largest and most powerful U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile, capable of delivering a nuclear warhead over 5,500 miles. Advancements in missile technology and the shift to solid-fuel Minuteman and Peacekeeper missiles led to its retirement. Some were converted for space launches, while others were dismantled. -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, marking the end of Cold War divisions in Europe. It had symbolized communist repression, separating East and West Berlin. Due to growing protests, political reforms, and pressure from the West, East Germany announced relaxed travel rules, leading crowds to tear down the wall. Its collapse paved the way for German reunification in 1990 and signaled the decline of Soviet influence, ultimately contributing to the dissolution of the USSR in 1991.