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Yalta Conference
Conference that took place after WWII involving Russia, Great Britain and the US. Relate to the GASPIRE+ theme Political because the meeting between the countries did not involve many of the other countries involved in WWII which lead to tension between the countries that made it easier for the US and USSR to manipulate them into fighting their battles. -
Truman Doctrine
President Harry S. Truman requested $400 million from congress to keep Greece and Turkey from falling to communist insurgents. This relates to the GASPIRE+ theme Economic because in order to keep communism from spreading to other countries Truman decided to give up a lot of money. This is because he believed that it was necessary to “limit communism to where it already exists, do not let it spread to new areas”. -
Establishment of COMECON
Stands for Council for Mutual Economic Assistance. Created after the Marshall plan where a US secretary tried sending $13 billion dollars to help Europe rebuild cities destroyed by World War II. Established to provide money to communist countries so they wouldn’t take money from the US. This relates to the GASPIRE+ theme artistic because of the architecture that was destroyed and being rebuilt during these times. -
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The Korean War
North Koreans crossed the 38th Parallel in an effort to unite North and South Korea as one Communist country. This relates to the GASPIRE+ theme geographic because the two separate countries were near each other which allowed the one to take over the other politically. -
The Communist Control Act of 1954
The outlaw of the Communist party in America was an attempt to ensure that American’s themselves couldn’t possibly be swayed to communism. This relates to the GASPIRE+ theme cultural because it led to underground Communist parties that changed many communities throughout America and force many who weren't willing to defy their government to change their mindset. -
Sputnik Launch
The first satellite, named Sputnik, is launched into space by the Soviet Union. This was part of the “Space Race” that took place during the Cold War. This relates to the GASPIRE+ theme innovation because the two countries were competing to see which one would invent the technology that would take them to the moon first. -
U-2 Spy Plane Shot Down
In 1960 one of the US’s spy planes that had been sent to the USSR was shot down. While the pilot survived and was taken in as prisoner, the US government allowed people to believe that it had been a weather plane and the pilot died due to lack of oxygen. This connects to the theme of Psychological because it inflicted fear in many people in the US and the USSR who believed that may have initiated new aggression between the two nations. -
Construction of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was built as a way to divide Communist Berlin and Capitalist Berlin. It was mainly used to keep people from fleeing to Capitalist Berlin which had managed to rebuild itself with many people who enjoyed living their. This related to the GASPIRE+ theme cultural because when the wall was built many people were separated from their loved ones and the two areas were completely divided. -
Limited Test Ban Treaty
This treaty banned the detonations of all nuclear weapons above ground. This was to ensure the safety of civilians and others who suffered from the testing of atomic bombs above ground. This relates to the GASPIRE+ theme political because the two countries have finally made an attempt to stop the competing for the better of the people. -
China Detonates Atomic Bomb
This was the first example of the Chinese having used nuclear weaponry and the bomb that they set off took nearly eight years to construct. This relates to the GASPIRE+ theme psychological because many people were inflicted with fear over the fact that China had bombs as destructive as the one that they had just set off. -
United States Moon Landing
While the USSR was the first into space, the US managed to be first to the moon. This is significant because it showed that we were the smarter, more inventive country. This relates to the GASPIRE+ theme of innovation because the whole point of the space race was to prove which government was better and which one all of the countries should follow. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The destruction of the Berlin Wall was significant because it was another event that proved that capitalism was superior because of all those that had been trying to flee to Capitalist Berlin from Communist Berlin. This relates to the GASPIRE+ theme social because many families and friends that had previously been divided by the wall were reunited. -
Russia's Possible Involvement in the US Election
While it is not a confirmed fact that Russia may have meddled in the US’s 2016 Presidential Election, there is evidence that supports it. That evidence includes release of opponent’s records to make Trump look better. -
Interview with Fred Ednie
I interviewed Fred Ednie who is my grandfather and was old enough at the time the war started to understand a large portion of it. I chose him because of this and also because during the war he was a part of the Navy which may have given him a better understanding
5. What did you think about the Soviet Union during the Cold War?
“The Russians were the bad guys. I didn’t understand communism but it was always promoted that they were standing on the wrong side.”
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