-
Stalin
Leader of the Soviet Union During World War II and near the beginning of the Cold War.
HS: Stalin paved the way for future leaders no matter what their opinion may be. He also set the stage for the Cold War. -
United Nations
This was a collection of Communist Satellite countries that were controlled by Russia. This replaced the League of Nations.
HS: United Nations kept Europe divided. The goal of it is to regain order and keep the peace. -
Iron Curtain
This was a collection of Communist Satlite countries that were controlled by Russia. It was a line between democratic west and communist east.
HS: This kept Europe divided and kept the spread of Communism going. -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
This is an alliance in Western Europe led by the United States. It is also referred to as NATO.
HS: Fought against the alliance the communist countries formed, and kept the non-communists in an alliance. -
Truman Doctrine
President Truman stated that the US would provide military and economic assistance to all democratic countries.
HS: This allowed for more people to join NATO, making the US stronger. -
Marshall Plan
This was the plan to help Europe recover from WWII. This was formed by the United States and helped other countries stay away from communism.
This was important because it unified countries and made them stronger. -
European Economic Cooperation
Became the European Union. This agreed on many policies to promote freer flow of capital, labor, and goods among European nations. More than a dozen countries joined the EU.
HS: This was significant because it was a relief program that helped other countries recover after the war. -
Berlin Airlift
This airlift supplied food and fuel to citizens in west Berlin when the Russians closed off land to Berlin.
HS: Allowed people in Berlin to recieve necessities for survival through the air. This lasted for more than a year. -
People's Republic of China
This is a communist country of China.
HS:It is important because it gave Communism a large lead in the Domino effect. It also made the Western Countries worry about the spread and condition of the surrounding areas. -
Korean War
Soldiers from North Korea crossed the 38th parallel into South Korea. Both sides fought going back and forth across the 38th parallel. Finally both sides came to an agreement and North Korea and South Korea were split at the 38th parallel.
HS: This was significant because it showed how communism and the democracies were very different. This also played an important part in the domino effect. -
Explosion of first hydrogen bomb
This was a test of the first hydrogen bomb, the most destructive bomb made.
HS: Used during the arms race and we had it just incase someone was to attack us. -
KGB (Committee for State Security)
This was the Russian version of the CIA.
HS:It was important because it dealt with Russia's security and spy organization. -
Warsaw Pact
This was an alliance in Eastern Europe. The Soviet Union was in charge of the alliance.
HS: It is important because it made it harder for other countries to separate from the Soviets. -
Vietnam War
This was a long war between North Vietnam and Viet Cong.This was a very long brutal was over the communism. Many Americans died and many were left in deep depression from this war.
HS: The communists won the war showing that they were stronger at that point and time. -
Suez Canal/Nasser
An artificial sea level waterway in Egypy connecting the Mediterreanean Sea and the Red Sea
HS:Allows water transportation between Europe and Asia and a shortcut to Africa. -
Ho Chi Minh
Vietnam Communist leader, president, and prime minister. He was a key figure and suporter of communism in Vietnam.
HS: He founded the the Democratic republic of Vietnam and in 1945 he led Viet Cong. -
Sputnik
This was the first artificial satellite made.
HS: It showed that the Soviet Union was ahead in the space race. -
Khruschev
Leader of the Soviet Union after Stalin's death in 1953. He denounced Stalin's abuse of power and maintained the Communist Party is political control but closed prison camps and ease censorship.
HS: He came up with many different reforms that took Russia out of the Stalin Era. -
Berlin Wall was erected
The Berlin Wall was a wall that divded East and West Germany. HS: Germany was split into different zones dividing the east and the west. This wall kept many people from flleeing to the other side and was often guarded. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Soviet Union sent nuclear missiles to Cuba. Kennedy imposed a naval blockade to prevent further Soviet shipments. He demanded that the Soviet Union remove the missiles from Cuba. They were on the brink of a nuclear war. In the end Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles.
HS:This showed how serious the US and Soviet Union were about nuclear war and it showed how quickly things can escalate. -
Tet Offensive
This was a massive and bloody offensive by communist guerillas against South Vietnamese and American forces on the Tet. This helped the American public opinion against military involvement in Vietnam.
HS: This showed that the communist forces actually are good. It showed they could fight back and become large. -
Helsinki Accords
This was the final act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe held in Helsinki, Finland.Thirty-three states signed the declaration saying they would all work to improve their relations with the communist bloc.
HS:This was supposed to ease tensions. It was not upheld officially because it was not an official treaty. -
Brezhnev
Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet or Khrushchevs successor. He held power until the mid 1960s.
HS: Many poeple or critics faced arrest and imprisonment. One of the leading powers of the Soviet Union and pushed for peace. -
Iranian Hostage Crisis
This was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States. 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days.
HS: This showed that both nations relations were declining and paved way for the future. -
Russian Invasion of Afghanistan
Russia tried to influence the governament of Afghanistan. Then did not like it when they did this and took up arms with the government. Russia then fought Muslim religous warriors. later Gorbachev pulled out the troops in Afghanistan.
HS: This war was like the Vietnam war for the Americans, The Muslim religous warriors were helped by other countries so the tension rose in the Cold War. -
Moscow Olympics
The US protested against the Soviet Union because of their invasion on Afghanistan.
HS: This was important because it showed that the US really was against what the soviets were doing. -
Lech Walesa and the Solidarity Movement in Poland
He was the second president of Poland.
HS:The Solidarity Movement was important because it made Poland one of the first nations that became non-Communist in a Warsaw Pact area. -
Los Angeles Olympics
This is where the 1884 Olympics were held.
HS: Many communist countries did not go to this Olympics. They wanted to boycott but this only made the tensions worse. -
Perestroika and Glasnost
1985-1991
This was the type of government that Gorbachev ran on. Perestroika called for restructuring while glasnost called for openess.
HS: This was the type of government that Gorbachev ran on for many years. -
Chernobyl
This was a catastrophic nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear power plant in Ukraine. This power plant was under the jurisdiction of the Soviet Union.
HS: This showed how dangerous nuclear power plants can be and that more safety reforms need to be made. -
Geneva Accords
This was a meeting to try and make peace in Vietnam and in all of Indochina.
HS:This was important because it was trying to stop the Domino effect of Communism. -
Tiananmen Square
There were many protests about the government.
HS: Many communist countries were revolting and it got to a certain extent where it was no longer tollerable. -
Berlin Wall is torn down
East German Communist Party announced the wall was going to be tore down and anyone could pass freely to either side.
HS: This allowed people more freedom. Many people we so happy they moved right away, while others broght along their hammer to start chipping away at the wall. The Berlin Wall is one of the most powerful symbols of the cold war. -
Gorbachev
He was the the president of Russia.
HS: During the Cold war he helped russia with many of the peace talks. -
Yeltsin
President of Russia.
HS: Helped ease tensions during the cold war. Pushe for Peace and stability. -
End of the USSR
Gorbachev resigns as the president. As a result the USSR is divided into 12 independent nations.
HS: This showed that communism was dying out and that other typed of governments were over running it. -
Putin
Current leader of Russia.
HS: Brought order and stabolized Russia after the Cold War.
