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Period: to
The cold war
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Mao Zedong takes control of China
Mao Zedong was a leader of the communist party. He took control of China in 1949, bringing communism to the country. He is known for his military strategies, and his good political views. -
Fidel Castro takes over Cuba
Castro was the Prime Minister of Cuba from February 1959 to December 1976, and then took over as the president of Cuba. He was for communism and was a political leader. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The invasion was an unsuccessful action by the Cuban exiles to invade Southern Cuba with the support and encouragement from the U.S. government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world ever came to nuclear war. The U.S. armed forces were at their highest state of readiness ever and the Soviet field commanders in Cuba were prepared to use battlefield nuclear weapons to defend the island if it was invaded. -
Vietnam War
The Vietnamese waged war against France and recieved 2.6 billion dollars in financial support from the U.S. Vietnam recieved their independence and was temporarily divided between the communist north and anti-communist south. -
Nixon Visits China
Nixon's visit to China was an important step in normalizing the relationship between the United States and China. It was the first time the U.S. president had visited China. "Unexpected or uncharacteristic action by a politician." -
SALT Treaty Talks
International treaties involving the United States and the Soviet Union- the Cold War superpowers- on the issue of control. -
Civil War in Nicaragua
The Civil War in Nicaragua showed the rising opposition to the Somoza dictatorship in the 1960's and 1970's. Violent dictatorship in 1979, resulted in reforming the societ and economy of Nicaragua. -
Revolution in Iran
Iranian militants seized the U.S. embassy in Teheran and held sixty-six occupants hostage, demanding the return of the shah from the U.S. After the shah's death in Egypt, an agreement was negotiated that freed the hostages on January 20, 1981 -
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
Russian paratroopers landed in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. The country was already in the civil war. The prime minister tried to keep Muslim tradition within the nation and he wanted more belief in the country. -
Mikhail Gorbachev takes control of the USSR
Gorbachev was part of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. In 1970 he was appointed the First Party Secretary of the Soviet Union. In 1985 he takes complete control of the USSR. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The border separating Western for Eastern Germany was effectively opened. Shops stayed open as long as they wanted, GDR passport served as a free ticket for public transportation and in general there were more exceptions than rules.
