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End of World War II
At the end of World War II, the U.S. and Russia were the world's two biggest superpowers. The U.S. was the richest country in the world and Russia was the biggest country in the world. The U.S. was a capitalist, democratic country led by President Truman and Russia was a communist dictatorship led by Stalin. The U.S. had the atomic bomb and feared the spread of Communism and Russia had the largest army in the world. -
Mao Zedong Comes Into Power In Communist China
Leader of Communist Party and the People's Republic of China Became leader in 1933 Mao also wanted to make all of China communist In October 1949 Mao had eventually chased all Nationalists to Taiwan and told the people of China that they would now be Communist, with him as leader -
The Iron Curtain
After World War II ended, in the 1940’s (1948 about), Europe became divided with East and West mentally. The soviets on the eastern side, (also controlling part of the capital of Berlin) and the Nazi’s on the West. Eventually, as tensions rose, the soviets moved the Nazi’s back across Eastern Europe. They left a strip of land on the border known to Stalin as a necessary buffer. This was because there was a lot of stained relations in Europe after WW2. -
U.S. Containment, Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan
In 1946 and 1947, the US and the Soviet’s relationship grew tensions. At the time the president of the US was Truman who started the idea of containment. It was a policy directed at blocking Soviet influence and stopping the expansion of communism. It would also help the weaker countries make alliances and resist soviet challenges. The Truman Doctrine was then developed to defeat communism in Europe. Finally, the Marshall Plan was created to provide food for needy countries during this “dro -
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
Since Europe was rebuilding from it’s damage, the US along with other countries, decided to withdraw its forces from Germany. The soviets disagreed to let Germany off the hook so they decided to hold Berlin (the western side) hostage. Unfortunately this failed because the US and British Officials flew food and other resources in and the blockade was lifted (known as the Airlift). -
Formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact
In 1949 the US and other North Atlantic powers thought that the conflicts were getting a bit out of hand. So, as one of the results of the Berlin Blockade and many other disputes, the US and other North American Countries formed NATO. The North American Treaty Organization. Meanwhile, the soviets were intimidated by this act and formed one of their own: The Warsaw Pact. Part of this pact was East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania. -
Korean War
Fought between armies in North Korea and South Korea war began on 4:30 AM on June 25, 1950 and fighting stopped July 27, 1953 Relations to the Cold War were a huge influence on the Korean War; Relations between the US and the USSR were bad and when China became Communist in 1949, Harry Truman (US President at time) was very worried that other countries around China may also become Communist, such as Japan -
Detonation of the Hydrogen Bomb on Bikini Atoll (Start of the Arms Race)
"intense" period between Soviet Union and US Both sides had advances in military adversary Both countries had nuclear weapons that the other country didn't have, and when the opposing country used said nuclear devices in other wars, the other country would get "jealous" It was a "race" to make better nuclear arms -
Cuban Missile Crisis
US concerned by USSR putting missiles in Cuba and turning them communist. -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall was built to keep Germany's people in but the Soviets and East German government said it was to keep capitalism out
In the 28 years of its existence, between 125 and 206 people were killed when trying to cross the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was taken down on November 9, 1989 -
Independence of the USSR's Republics
Soviet Union officially ended in 1991 forced by failure of economy to provide basic products to its people
