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Korean War Armistice
The Korean War ended in a stalemate with the signing of an armistice that established the Zone between North and South Korea.
It marked one of the first military conflicts of the Cold War where the U.S. and China fought indirectly.
Citation: https://www.unc.mil/History/1951-1953-Armistice-Negotiations/ -
U-2 Spy Plane Incident
A U.S. spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers was shot down over Soviet airspace. The U.S. initially denied spying, but the Soviets produced the captured pilot and wreckage.
The incident escalated tensions between the U.S. and the USSR and led to the collapse of a planned summit between Eisenhower and Khrushchev.
Citation: https://www.britannica.com/event/U-2-Incident -
Construction of the Berlin Wall
East Germany, backed by the Soviet Union, erected a wall dividing East and West Berlin to stop the flow of East Germans fleeing to the West.
The wall became the most visible symbol of the Cold War and the divide between communism and democracy in Europe.
Citation:https://history.blog.gov.uk/2021/07/28/when-the-wall-went-up-britain-and-the-berlin-crisis-1961/ -
Détente and the SALT I Agreement
The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks resulted in an agreement between the U.S. and the USSR to limit nuclear weapons.
This was a major step in reducing Cold War tensions and marking a period of détente between the superpowers.
Citation:https://www.britannica.com/event/Strategic-Arms-Limitation-Talks -
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan to support the communist government against insurgent groups.
Significance: The U.S. responded by supporting Afghan rebels, reigniting Cold War tensions and ending the period of détente.
Citation: https://theintercept.com/2021/04/27/biden-soviet-invasion-afghanistan-mujahideen-pakistan/