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1945: World War II Ends and the Cold War Begins
The U.S. and Soviet Union were at war, politically, there was no actual fighting but they did have other siding countries "fight" the war for them. -
March 1946: Winston Churchill delivers the Iron Curtain Speech
Churchill states that he disapproves of the policies the Soviet Union is trying to set in Europe. He then used the phrase "iron curtain" to signify the apposing sides of the continent and foreshadow that a war was about to begin. -
June 1948: US and Britain break the Soviet blockade of West Berlin with the Berlin Airlift
For years the Soviet Union built a wall that kept families in Western Berlin and Germany from leaving, getting food and water, and seeing other family members. The U.S. went through airlift to supply these people with what they needed, which lasted over a year. -
1949: North Atlantic Treaty Organization is formed
Created to provide security against the Soviet Union. -
1950: Korean War Begins
North Korean armed forces invade South Korea in surprise to begin the Korean War. U.S. was sided with South Korea and chose to defend them. -
Korean War Ends
A formal agreement was signed that ended the war. North and South Korea still had the same amount of land as they did before the war began. -
1954: Vietnam War Begins
This war started because of conflict between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. -
1955: Warsaw Pact is formed
A mutual defense treaty formed by Soviet Union and other European satellites putting Soviet Union in charge of armed forces of the allied states. -
1961: US is defeated and humiliated at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba
This was an invasion of a trained group of Cuban refugees who were sent to Cuba in attempt to get rid of the communist government. The invasion failed. -
August 1961: Berlin Wall is Built
Refugees were attempting to leave East Berlin so East Germany built a wall to separate the two. This wall became a symbol of the Cold War. -
October 1962: Cuban Missile Crisis
Political and military standoff between U.S. and Soviet Union leaders because Soviet missiles were being installed in Cuba close to U.S. shores and pointing at cities. People were notified the possibilities and danger but the President was going to put up a blockade around Cuba. Many were afraid this would lead to a nuclear war. -
1974: Vietnam War is over
President Nixon took responsibility for this war when he took an oath. He knew he would earn success if he ended the war. Nixon wanted to end the war and have peace. -
November 1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall
The wall was torn down due to the fall of the East Germany government. Thousands of Germans were allowed to cross the country's border freely. Many of these Germans found joy in breaking down the wall themselves. -
October 1990: Germany is reunited
Communist Party in East Germany was losing touch with power. East and West Berlin were reunited. -
December 1991: Soviet Union Collapses (Establishment of the Russian Federation)
The Soviet Union had fallen due to the changes the Soviet president had made in is six years. He was disappointed in his actions and resigned.
