-
Formation of the UN
Made to maintain peace and security, as well as making friendly relations between countries. The ultimate goal of the UN is to achieve worldwide cooperation to solve certain problems. This made the relationship better because it made countries cooperate with each other. -
Policy of Containment
US policy referring to the strategies used by the US to prevent the spread of communism. The United states tried to spread democracy though the world while containing communism. -
Truman Doctrine
President Truman of the US announced that the US would provide support politically, militarily, and economically to any democratic nations under threat from authoritarian forces. Truman did not want communism to spread throughout the world. The doctrine changed the US policy of not getting involved in foreign conflicts that were not directly associated with them. The doctrine made the relationship between communists much worse. It goes against any communists trying to take over any nation. -
Marshall Plan
Announced on June 5, 1947, the plan would involve over $13 billion being used to finance the economic recovery of Europe between 1948 and 1951. The plan proved to be successful in starting the recovery process. The Soviet Union viewed the Marshall Plan as the US attempting to interfere in international affairs. As a result, they did not take part in it. This made the relationship worse, as the communists did not agree with the plan and saw it as something else. -
Creation of the State of Israel
The first Jewish state in 2,000 years was established. This made the relationship worse as the Jews and Palestinians were already enemies. -
Berlin Airlift
At the end of WWII, British, Soviet and American forces occupied and divided Germany. There were worries if Western Allied zones of Berlin would be occupied by Soviet-controlled eastern Germany. Soviet forces blockaded all but air access to the Allied-controlled zones of Berlin. As a result, the US and UK airlifted food and fuel to Berlin from air-bases in western Germany. This made relations worse. The US and Britain’s actions showed that they would not let communists take over. Over 1 yr -
NATO Formed
There was fear of communism further spreading. The US and 11 other Western nations formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The countries had an agreement/alliance to go into war with allies. This made relations worse because the communists themselves had a war alliance. These two groups would be rivals. -
Korean War
The war began after North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950. China and the Soviet Union supported the North, and the UN, with the US being the main force, supported the South. The war had started because of how the two different sides supported different countries with very different ideals. Made relations worse because it was a fight directly between communists and non-communists. -
Creation of the Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact, signed in Warsaw, was a mutual defense organization between the Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria as members, mostly communist regions. The pact caused tension between NATO. Decreased relations because the two alliances caused a lot of tension. -
Vietnam War
A war fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. The North Vietnamese army was supported by the Soviets and Chinese, while the South Vietnamese army was supported by the US, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, and other countries against communism. North Vietnam wanted to unify Vietnam into one under communism, but the South wanted to unite under democracy. Made tension higher, another fight between communists and non-communists. The fight ended 10 yrs later. They remain separated today. -
Berlin Wall was Built
The Berlin wall was a wall built in Berlin to separate the city’s citizens. The western side of the wall held the non-communist Germans. The eastern side held the communist Germans. Made relations worse as communists and non-communists were further segregated -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Tensions were high between the US and Soviet Union because of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles stationed in Cuba. President JFK made the decision to have a naval blockade around Cuba. Many thought it was going to be start of a nuclear war. Made relations worse, as the crisis was a threat to show power. It started Oct 16, 1962 and ended Oct 28, 1962 -
Camp David Accords
The accords were groundwork for a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. The accords were negotiated at US president Carter’s Camp David retreat. The final peace agreement was signed in March 1979. Tension was decreased and peace was finally made. -
Perestroika and Glasnost
Gorbachev started a dual program of “perestroika” and “glasnost”, meaning restructuring and openness. Within several years, the program had taken power from communist governments throughout Eastern Europe and brought an end to the Cold War. It also lead to the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Decreased tension, the soviet union had fallen, and the power of communists had greatly diminished. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The head of the East German Communist Party made an announcement that GDR citizens could cross the border. Some crossed the border, while others brought tools such as picks to tear away at the wall. After about a year, it was made official that the East and the West were unified in Germany. Decreased tension, people became unified. -
Soviet Union Dissolves
Representatives from 11 Soviet republics announced they would no longer be part of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union would become a Commonwealth of Independent States. The fall of the Soviet Union is mainly said to be due to the many reforms done by president Gorbachev. Tension decreased, communism was not supported by many throughout the world.