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Stalin
Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union during World War II and at the beginning of the Cold War.
He is historically significant because he is known for setting the stage for how the Cold War should be handled. He made it easy for future leaders to either be for him or against him. -
Iron Curtain
The Iron Curtain symbolized the conflict and the actual boundary dividing Europe in two from the end of WWII in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991.
This was significant because it kept Europe divided and it allowed for communism to keep spreading. -
United Nations
The United Nations was a group of many nations that came together with the idea to protect other nations and stick together through their times of crisis.
This is historically significant because their original goal was to fight against communism. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was a deal that stated that the United States would get involved in the war if things started to happen around the Mediterranian.
It is significant because this proved that the US was capable of taking action against communists if it was necessary. -
The Marshall Plan
This was the plan to help Europe recover from WWII.
It was important and significant in the unifying of countries--it made a lot of countries a lot stronger. -
European Economic Cooperation
The European Economic Cooperation was a program that was established to help European nations rebuild up their economies. This event was historically significant because it helped unify the Europeans. -
Berlin Airlift
Airlift in 1948 that supplied food and fuel to citizens of west Berlin when the Russians closed off land access to Berlin (ended 1949).
Significance: It showed the Soviet Union that the western Allies would not abandon the citizens of West Berlin and that they were prepared -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
North Atlantic Treaty Organization was a group of nations that came together to have peace & help other countries when they were in trouble.
This was significant because it helped unify countries in the west & also helped keep communism from spreading. -
Peoples Republic of China
This is a communist country of China.
It is significant beacuse it gave a large lead for communism because of the domino effect. It made western countries begin to worry about this spread of communism and how it would affect surrounding nations. -
Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh was the leader of the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War.
He was historically significant because he continued to keep communism alive. He also is known for going to war with the US. -
Explosion of the first hydrogen bomb
This first explosion of a hydrogen bomb was actually the very first test of the first hydrogen bomb. This bomb was even more powerful than the nuclear bomb.
It was important because it started the use of more bombs and it also was somewhat the beginning of the arms race. -
Khrushchev
He led the Soviet Union during the Cold War, he served as the first secretary of the communist party of the Soviet Union.
He is historically significant because he did a lot to lead up to taking Russia out of the Stalin Era. -
Geneva Accords
This was a meeting held to try and make peace in Vietnam and Indochina.
This was important because it's main purpose was trying to keep the "domino effect" from happening--not wanting other countries to turn communist. -
KGB (Commitee State for Security)
KGB was the main security agency for the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991 when it ended. The KGB also has been said to be a military service. It was governed by army laws and regulations--making it like the Soviet Army.
Significant because of its lasting influences on North Korea & its allies in the west. -
Warsaw Pact
The Soviet Union & 7 of its European alliances signed this Warsaw Pact which was a mutual defense organization.
This was historically significant because it made it hard for other countries to be able to seperate from the Soviets if they ever wanted to. -
Suez Canal/Nasser
This was a conflict between Egypt and other united countries.
It was significant because it started new relations between more poor countries with some of the countries in the West that otherwise would not have come together, -
Sputnik
Sputnik was the first object that was launched into space that was able to actually orbit the Earth.
It was historically significant because it made other countries want to get ahead in the "space race". It also left surrounding countries with an uneasy feeling since they were behind in all of the space technology. -
Berlin Wall is erected
The Berlin Wall was an actualy wall that divided West and East Berlin.
Significant because it divided a democracy and communist country. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crises took place between the US & the Soviet Union. The Soviets had missiles in Cuba--hence the name.
This was historically significant because it showed how far the Soviets were willing to go in order to attack the US. -
Korean War
This was a war between North Korea and South Korea and their allies.
The Korean War was historically significant because it was a communist country versus a democracy. It was a big effort to put an end to the domino theory, -
Brezhnev
During the Cold War, Brezhnev was the leader of the Central Commitee of the Soviet Union.
He was important because he mainly focused on the military & ended up making the Soviet Union have one of the strongest militaries. He also was one of the few leaders that tried to establish peace. -
Tet Offensive
This was an attack by the Viet Cong against South Korea.
This was significant because it showed that the communists were capable or fighting back and actually making progress. -
Helsinki Accords
Helsinki Accords was a conference that took place to make the EEC a final deal. It also included some of the communist countries.
This was historically important because it helped to ease some of the tension that had built up, although it was not an official treaty. -
Vietnam
After the VIetnam War, Vietnam was unified under a communist government--even though it was politically isolated and they had hardly any money.
Vietnam is significant because it is where the Vietnam War took place--ending in an North Vietnamese victory, -
Iranian hostage crisis
The Iranian hostage crisas was when a group of Iranian students attacked the US embassy.
This was important because it showed how the relationship between the two different nations was falling which would make a difference in the future years to come. -
Russian Invasion of Afghanistan
This was the Soviets versus the Mujahideen in Afghanistan.
It was important because the Mujahideen were getting a lot of extra help from other countries--unlike the Soviets. This made tensions rise even more. -
Moscow Olympics
This was the summer olympic event that took place in Moscow, Russia.
Significant because this event was boycotted by Americans & other countries due to Russia being involved with Afghanistan, -
Los Angeles Olympics
This was the olympic event in Los Angeles in the 1980's It was important because a lot of the Communist countries boycotted the event because of their bad relations which made tensions grow even worse. -
End of the USSR
Policies were beginning to change because of the failing economy by the new leader of the USSR. The changing of these policies led to the end of the USSR.
This is significant because it also caused the Cold War to begin to cool down--more signs of peace were beginning to be seen. -
Chernobyl
This was a nuclear explosion that made a whole area unavailable because of the high radiation is set off.
This explosion is significant because it raised awareness about how dangerous nuclear plants were and the effects they could have on everything surrounding them. It let people know that new safety precautions should begin to take place in order to stay safe. -
Perestroika and Glasnost
This was the political platform Gorbachev ran on. It was important because it paved the way for how the country was going to be ran for many more years. -
Tiananmen Square
In Tiananmen Square, there were many protests taking place because of the government.
This is a significant place because it was a new thing for a communist country to have revolts with that big of an impact. -
Berlin Wall is Torn Down
This was when the Berlin Wall was actually torn down.
This event is historically significant because it showed everyone the downfall of communism & it also freed east Berlin. -
Gorbachev
Gorbachev was the president of Russia. While he was president, he made many reforms to help out the country.
He was significant because he helped to end the Cold War by having peace talks with the United States. -
Yeltsin
Yeltsin was the president of Russia. He is known for changin Russia's economy in a positive way. He is significant because he helped Russia recover & made different plans that helped ease peoples worries about the Cold War. -
Putin
Putin is the current presiden of Russia.
He is historically significant because he has helped Russia get back to its old and better ways. He has really helped stabalize the country.
