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The Cold War
A "Cold War" is defined as a state of political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare, in particular. The Cold War between the USA and the USSR began at the end of the Second World War and ended after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. -
The Atomic Bomb
US dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, instantly killing around 80 000 people. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing about 40 000 more. About 100 000 more died the following months due to radiation poisoning. -
The Iron Curtain
A speech given by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. In this speech Churchill condemns the policies of the Soviet Union, saying, "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent." The Iron Curtain is the imaginary boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas. It symbolizes the efforts the Soviet Union was making to separate itself from the rest of Western Europe and non-sSoviet controlled areas. -
Marshall Plan
President Harry Truman signed the Marshall Plan, a program for European countries to help them rebuild after the devastation of World War II, granting $5 billion in aid to 16 European nations. -
Berlin Airlift
After WWII, the Allies separated Germany into four zones. Berlin, which was a part of the Soviet-occupied zone, was also divided into four amongst the Allies. In June of 1948, the Soviets closed off all highways. railroads and canals from western-occupied Germany into western-occupied Berlin. They thought that by doing this those who lived there would not be able to get food and the allies would eventually leave. Instead, the US sent planes to supply the city with food. -
Creation of NATO
In 1949, the likelihood of further communist expansion resulted in the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This organization had members from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States. -
The Beginning of the Korean War
After WWII, Korea was divided between the Soviet Union (North) and the USA (south). In 1950, Communist leader of North Korea, Kim Il Sung invaded South Korea with tanks provided by Stalin. The South was supported by the United States and the North was supported by China and the USSR. -
The End of the Korean War
After the death of over 2.5 million people, the USA, China, North Korea, and South Korea agreed to an armistice.
An armistice is a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, since it may constitute only a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. -
The Warsaw Pact
A treaty between Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Soviet Union. The treaty was officially called "The Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance," and was a military treaty, which bound its signatories to come to the aid of the others, should any one of them be the victim of foreign aggression. -
Beginning of the Vietnam War
The Vietnam work was a conflict that pitted the communist regime of North Vietnam and its southern allies, known as the Viet Cong, against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. The war began after Ho Chi Minh rose to power and his communist Viet Minh party in North Vietnam. Throughout the 1950's and early 1960's, US troops were scattered in Vietnam. In 1965, active combat troops were introduced in a large scale. -
Sputnik
In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first man-mad satellite to orbit Earth. This event marked the start of the space age and the space race between the USA and USSR. The launch of Sputnik scared Americans, they feared that the Soviets’ ability to launch satellites also meant the capability to launch missiles that could carry nuclear weapons from Europe to the U.S. -
The U-2 Incident
USSR shot down an American U-2 spy plane in Soviet air space and captured its pilot, Francis Gary Powers. The Soviets convicted Powers of espionage and sentenced him to 10 years in prison, but after less than two years in prison, he was released in exchange for a captured Soviet agent in the first-ever “spy swap” between the US and USSR. -
Building the Berlin Wall
Communisit authorities begin construction in the middle of the night on "Antifaschistischer Schutzwall" which translate to "Anti-Fascist Barrier," or the Berlin Wall. This was to prevent East Germans from fleeing to West Germany. The wall was originally made of barbed wire and cinder blocks, but was later replaced with concrete walls up to 5 meters tall topped with barbed wire. The wall was guarded by men in watchtowers, soldiers, and landmines. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis took place October 14, 1962 to October 28, 1962. The USSR installed nuclear-armed missiles on Cuba, just 90 miles from U.S. shores. JFK enacted a naval blockade around Cuba and made it clear that he was willing to fight back should the Societs attack. Soviets promised to remove Cuban missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba. Kennedy also secretly agreed to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey. -
United States Leaves Vietnam War
In spring of 1969, protests in America against Vietnam war escalated, and troops were at an all time high at 550,000 men fighting. President Nixon began withdrawal of US forces from Vietnam. -
SALT Treaties
Strategic Arms Limitations Talks were negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union to limit both submarine-launched and inter-continental nuclear missiles. This was to restrain the arms race in strategic ballistic missiles armed with nuclear weapons. SALT I was signed in 1972 and SALT II was signed in 1979. -
Paris Peace Accords Signed
The United States, South Vietnam, Viet Cong, and North Vietnam formally sign “An Agreement Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam” in Paris. This settlement included a cease-fire throughout Vietnam, as well as America withdrawing all remaining troops. The war resulted in over 50 000 American deaths and far over 500 000 Vietnamese killed. -
Afghanistan War
100 000 Soviet troops invade Asghanistan in support of Afghan communist government in its conflict with anticommunist Muslim guerrillas. -
Gorbachev and his Policies
Jan 1 is not accurate
Mikhail Gorbachev was the 8th and final leader of the Soviet Union.He was General Secretary from 1985 to 1991 and president of the Soviet Union in 1990–91. Gorbachev's domestic reforms and nuclear disarmament deals helped end the Cold War.
Had two policies:
Perestroika - "a political movement for reformation within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union"
Glasnost - "openness," allowed greater free expression and criticism of Soviet policies -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
On September 10, Hungary opens borders with Austria, allowing East Germans to flee to the West. Within the next few days, decontruction of the wall continued, people destroying it by any means. -
Fall of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union broke up into fifteen separate countries. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Gorbachev’s decision to allow elections with a multi-party system and create a presidency for the Soviet Union began a slow process of democratization that eventually destabilized Communist control and contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
