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Chinese Revolution
Mao Zedong declares the People's Republic of China, ending a civil war, and converting the country to Communism. -
Korean War
North Korean Forces cross the 38th Parallel, invading South /Korea. They Quickley capture Seoul. The US sends forces to help keep Communism from spreading. They drive the North Koreans back to the Yellow River, the border with China. China sends troops to support N. Korea, and both sides get locked at the 38th parallel. -
Hungarian uprising
Students and workers in Budapest rebel against Russian authority. they issue 16 points, demands for food, freedom, and removal of Russian control. -
Sputnik Launched
USSR launches first satellite, Sputnik. This initiated increased fervor on the US side of the space race. -
U-2 Spy Plane Shot Down
On May 1st, 1960, the Soviet Union shot down a US U-2 Spy plane and captured the pilot, one Francis Gary Powers. This capture forced the US to admit to espionage acts aginst the USSR. Powers was eventuall exchanged for a Soviet spy in US custody. -
Berlin Wall goes up
The Soviet controlled East Germany was divided for 28 yeasr by the Berlin Wall. This wall separated the USSR from the Us both figuratively and literally. It fell on November 9, 1989. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
US discovers that the USSR had placed nuclear missiles in nearby Cuba. This placement would allow Soviet missiles to reach New York only miutes after launchiung. This increaed tension between USSR and US. -
Czech Uprising or The Prague Spring
October 1967: Students demonstrate against current Communist PartyLeader
Early 1968: Alexander Dubček,, the new Party Leader, institutes reforms that would make Czechoslovakia more democratic.
August 20/21, 1968: Warsaw Pact Troops invade Czechoslovakia and impose russian authority once more. Dubček sent to Moscow. -
Russian Invasion of Afghanistan
On christmas, 1979, the USSR launched an invasion of Afghanistan. They helped establish the Amin government, which overthrew Muslim tradition within the country. This outraged many people, and the Mujahdeen, a guerilla force comprised of Islamic extremists, was formed. The Us supplied the Mujahdeen with weapons, and tey eventually overthrew the Soviet controlled governemt.