-
Potsdam Conference Ends
Potsdam Conference was after World War II ended, this meeting included the 3 major allies of the war: the Soviet Union (Stalin), the United States (Truman), and British (Churchill) government. A big result from the conference was for Germany to be demilitarized and split 4 ways where each nation would get a piece (this included France). They also split Germany’s capital Berlin, in two. -
Period: to
Cold War
-
Berlin Blockade Begins
Because the city of West Berlin was surrounded by communist East Germany, it was easy for East Germany to block the railroads, roads, and other transportation into West Berlin. They did not want supplies to be brought in from the Western Hemisphere. -
Berlin Airlift Begins
The United States began the Berlin Airlift in order to supply the citizens of West Berlin food, water, and medicines during the Berlin Blockade. Massive airplanes would deliver every day for nearly a year. -
Berlin Blockade Ends
The Berlin Blockade lasted a little less than a year, because the Berlin Airlift was so successful. Also, the rest of the world started to think the Soviet Union were bullies for trying to starve the citizens of West Berlin. -
Soviet Russia test its first atomic bomb
The Soviet Union successfully makes an atomic bomb. Therefore if America and the USSR went to war, it would be the world’s first nuclear war. -
Joseph McCarthy's Speech
Joseph McCarthy uses the public’s fear of communism spreading as a way of pushing his own personal agenda in a speech he gave in West Virginia. McCarthy said he had a list of American government workers who were undercover Soviet spies. By stating these accusation with minimal evidence, McCarthy gained a lot of publicity and support from the American people.communism was spreading into America. -
Sputnik 1 Launch
Sputnik 1 was a Soviet satellite that was launched in 1957 into space successfully. This terrified Americans because it made them feel the USSR was becoming more advanced than America. -
Sputnik 2 launch
Sputnik 2 launched by the USSR brought the first organic life from Earth into space because a dog named Laika was on board. This event inspired Kennedy to tell the American public that we would soon have a man on the moon. This was the beginning of the Space Race. -
Fidel Castro is sworn in
Fidel Castro became Prime Minister of Cuba after their revolution ended. Shortly thereafter, Castro made Cuba communist. Cuba was the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere which made many Americans feel threatened. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
President Kennedy sends over 1,000 Cuban exiles to try to start a counter revolution to overthrow Fidel Castro, this was known as the Bay of Pigs. This secret mission went horribly wrong because the exiles were outnumbered and within 24 hours the Cuban exiles were forced to surrender after many were killed or taken as prisoners. -
Berlin Wall is created
In order to stop the increasing large number of refugees from Eastern communist Berlin to West Berlin, Premier Khrushchev closed Berlin’s borders. Almost overnight the Berlin Wall was built making it close to impossible for East Berlin citizens to move or travel to the West. The wall was so hard to get aroud because it had barbed wire, sand to detect footprints, and men and dogs who constantly guarded the wall. -
Cuban Missile Crisis Begins
An American U-2 spy plane took pictures that showed the Soviets putting in nuclear weapon launching facilities in Cuba. They were brought to President Kennedy's attention and soon the world was on its toes on whether or not a nuclear war would begin. -
Cuban Missile Crisis Ends
After 13 stressful days were the world was unsure if a nuclear war would break out, the Cuban Missile Crisis came to an end. Soviet leader Khrushchev agreed to remove his nuclear missiles from Cuba as long as America agreed not to invade or overthrow the Cuban government. Also, America secretly agreed to remove their missiles from Turkey. -
Apollo 11
Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. This event was so important to the American people because it secured the idea that America was head on the Soviet Union in math and science. -
Berlin Wall comes down
The East Berlin communist party decided to take down the wall and reunite Berlin, it seemed as though the whole nation celebrated. The two sides of the city were finally reunited. This event showed that the Cold War would soon be over. -
Soviet Union Dissolved
11 of the Soviet republics announced they would be leaving the Soviet Union and would establish commonwealths of independent nations. This lead to Gorbachev resigned and ultimately ending the Cold War.
