-
End of WWII
WWII left a new world order in its wake. The old European powers had been devastated by fighting, and were turning their attentions to internal affairs. For the first time, America was involved in peacetime foreign relations. She was also the only country on Earth to benefit economically from the war. The power of the Soviet Union was also growing, as Soviet forces occupied Eastern and Central European countries. This was the basis for the Cold War- a power struggle between East and West. -
Soviet Control of Eastern Europe
Soviet troops were instrumental in clearing Axis forces out of Eastern European countries. After that job was done, they remained in the countries they were supposed to be liberating, rigging elections and establishing puppet leaders. The result of this was Communism throughout the Baltic and Balkan states, and a great deal of American fear about the 'domino theory'.
(Note: The countries shown in red are Communist. The ones in blue are not.) -
Soviet Development of the Atomic Bomb
After WWII, America enjoyed her nuclear hegemony. This changed in 1949, when the first Soviet-made atomic bomb was tested. The respective nuclear capabilities of the superpowers would continue to grow for the next two decades, making the possibility of outright war everyone's problem. -
Period: to
Korean War
The Korean War was the first of many proxy wars- conflicts in which one side was supported by the USSR and the other was supported by the USA. Both North and South Korean leaders thought they were the true ruler of all Korea, and open war broke out when North Korean troops moved past the official border. The war was notable in that amphibious counterattacks were used to great effect by American troops, and because the war never technically ended. An armistice was signed, but no peace treaty. -
Period: to
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a lengthy conflict in which the US threw massive amounts of resources and manpower at a war everyone said was unwinnable. It was another proxy war between the superpowers, and between Capitalism and Communism. In the end, all America got for her troubles was a return of POWs and a newly disillusioned public, while the Communist government of North Vietnam took control of all Vietnam. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis is arguably the closest the world has ever come to nuclear war. After American missiles were installed in Turkey, Soviet missiles were installed in the newly Communist Cuba. Seeing as Cuba is only about 90 miles from mainland America, this was an issue. Soviet ships sailed towards quarantined Cuba, bringing more armaments, while frantic diplomacy tried to keep anything from being launched. Best efforts were successful, and instances of brinkmanship decreased. -
Introduction of Détente
After the Cuban Missile Crisis, the respective leaders of the USSR and the USA realized that brinkmanship was no longer a viable form of political manoeuvring. Leonid Brezhnev and Richard Nixon agreed on the policy of détente. Literally, it means 'a release from tension.' That release of tension was achieved through disarmament, as well as increased communication between the superpowers and new policies around arms control.
(Image: Brezhnev and Nixon meet in the White House.) -
Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe
The late 1980's and early 90's brought sweeping reforms throughout Eastern Europe. In 1989 Poland elected her first non-communist Prime Minister, a playwright became president in Czechoslovakia, and Romanian despot Nicolae Ceausescu was executed. By the summer of 1990, all former satellite states were headed by democratically elected leaders. This was the death knell of the Soviet Union, and of the Cold War. Without the controversy of Communism, what was there to fight over
