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Joseph Stalin
1926 he became the new Soviet dictator. In 1927 he began a massive effort to industrialize his country. Stalin was known for his most devastating policy; the collectivization of farms within the Soviet Union during the late 1920s and early 1930s. Some estimate that over 30 million Soviet citizens died from starvation as a direct consequence of Stalin's policies. -
Harry S. Truman
Harry Truman was the 33rd president of the United States. He took power immediately after Roosevelt died in 1945. Once he became president, he authorized the use of the atomic bomb on Japan. He also issued the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. Truman also issued the US military involvement in the Korean War. -
United Nations
The United Nations formation was a turning point in history as it replaced the League of Nations as the largest international group in the world to work to stop wars between countries and provide a platform for national dialogue. In 1942 the United Nations was formed to fight the axis powers. In 1945 the first UN meeting was held with 50 representatives from many countries and the UN Charter was drawn. -
Containment
This policy was prompted by George Kennan’s Long Telegram, which explained why he thought resolution between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was impossible, and that furthermore the Soviet Union would almost certainly collapse with time if they weren’t allowed to expand. Containment therefore focused on preventing the spread of communism, a common theme during the Cold War. -
Joseph McCarthy (McCarthyism)
-November 14, 1908 – May 2, 1957-Studied law and served in WW 2 before his first run for the Senate-American politician -Served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death-Became the most visible public face of a period in which cold war tensions fueled fears of wide spread communist -
Truman Doctrine
Was a policy set by Harry Truman in his speech saying that Greece and Turkey would have support from the U.S. economically militarily in order to prevent them to fall to Soviet sphere. The Truman Doctrine was on March 12, 1947. Greece and Turkey received aid equally even though Greece's problems were more severe. -
Marshall Plan
Through the Marshall Plan, the US distributed 13 billion dollars over 4 years to European countries, helping to rebuild post war Europe dramatically. George Marshall drew up the recovery plan to help European countries recover from World War II. The Marshall Plan was signed on April 2, 1948, and saved many industries from bankruptcy as well as increasing gross national product for many European countries up to 25%. -
Berlin AIrlift
The Berlin Airlift showed the Axis Powers that the Allies would not abandon its citizens. The Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin to starve the citizens so the Allies flew in supplies for over a year. The blockade lasted from 1948 to 1949, and it ended with the Soviets ending the siege when they realized the Allies wouldn’t stop. -
N.A.T.O
(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)It promoted democratic values and encourages consultation and cooperation on defense. N.A.T.O. was committed to peaceful resolution to disputes. Constitutes collective defense where memebers states agree tp mutual defense in response to attacks. After the Cold War, new countries emereged crisis erupted along N.A.T.O.alliances -
Mao Zedong
A chinese communist and political theorist. He converted China into a single party socialist state. Buisness and industires were nationalized under state ownership ss a result of his rule. Overall,Zedong modernized China.October 1st, 1949-Mao proclaimed the excistence of the People's Republic of China. -
Korean War
This event created the division of North and South Korea. The United States troops and Soviet troops occupied Korea in order to rid the Japanese stationed there. Soviets held North Korea and Americans held the south. On June 25, 1950 however, Soviets armed North Korea which believed all of Korea was there and invaded the south. The Koreans in the South received support from Americans and drove them back. There is now a boundary line between the north and south known as the 38th parallel. -
Dwight D. Eisenhower
He had previously been a five-star general in the United States Army during World War II and served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe; he had responsibility for planning and supervising the invasion of North Africa in Operation Torch in 1942–43 and the successful invasion of France and Germany in 1944–45 from the Western Front. In 1951, he became the first supreme commander of NATO. -
Warsaw Pact
This was an alliance between the Soviet Union and Poland, Albania, Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia, East Germany and Bulgaria. This was a response to the Western NATO incorporating West Germany, which threatened the Soviets chances for conquest and control of Europe. Like NATO, the Warsaw Pact increased both sides’ unease with the other and also their reluctance to pursue open war. -
Vietnam War
-The war began in 1955-More than 3 million people (including 58.000 Americans) were killed in Vietnam War-By 1969, at the peak of U.S: involvement in the war, more than 500.000 U.S. military personnel were involved in the Vietnam conflict.
-Was the prolonged struggle between nationalist forces attempting to unify the country of Vietnam under a communist government and the U.S attempting to prevent the spread of communism. -
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev was the leader of the Soviet Union from 1955 until 1964. During his reign, he invested in the Soviet Space Programme which led to the 1957 flight of Sputnik 1. He improved the living standards and allowed more freedom. Khrushchev dealt with the Cuban Missile Crisis and the building of the Berlin Wall while in power. He initiated the ‘de-Stalinization’ campaign. -
John F. Kennedy
Born May 29th,1917 in Massachusetts. Elected as president in 1960. He provided federal support for the growing civil rights movement. Kennedy proposed the naval block in Cuba after hearing about the missile crisis. He was againt communism. -
Berlin Wall
The wall was put up by the Germans overnight on August 12, 1961. It placed massive tension on Berlin’s alliance status and symbolized the line between democracy and communism. The Germans put up wall to divide East and West Berlin into Allied and Axis sides. The wall stood until its destruction in 1980. -
Cuban MIssile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was the most dramatic foreign policy episode Kennedy faced during his term in office. This historical event took place in 1962. Once the US found out that the Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, President Kennedy ordered a naval blockade on Cuba. The Cuban Missile Crisis almost led to a nuclear war between the United States and Soviet Union. It eventually led to a treaty that banned the testing of the nuclear weapons. It weakened Khrushchev’s power and stirred. -
Lyndon B. Johnson
Became president in 1963, after John F. Kennedy's assassination. He launched progressive reforms for the people to help them get out of poverty. This became know as the "Great Society". This made a lasting impact for the life of an American. -
Ronald Reagan
Between 1981 and 1989, Ronald Reagan, a republican polititian, served as the 40th president of the United States. During this time, he decreased the inflation rate by 8% and developed a huge defense system. He significantly contributed to the conclusion of the Cold War. He died in 2004. -
Iran Contra Scandal
Iran Contra Scandal
The Iran Contra Scandal was a secret arrangement in the 1980’s that gave funds to Nicaraguan contra rebels in return to Iran. This occurred during Ronald Regan’s term. It caused congress to enact the Boland Amendment. This affair brought concern of Congress power over foreign affair and the limits of the executive branch. -
George H.W. Bush
After serving as a veteran in World War II and a vice president of the United States, George H.W. Bush becomes the president of the US. Many democrats disliked his methods because his campaign portrayed him as too liberal andunpatriotic. Although, his endorsment from Regean reassured the American citizens. He played a very significant role in the Persian Gulf War, and sided drug traffickers and cracked down on opponents. He was a very good defenseman but was proceed by Clinton in 1992. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
-Was both the physical division between West Berlin and East Germany from 1961 to 1989-Symbolic boundary between democracy and communism during the cold war-August 13 1961 to November 9, 1989-Was erected in the dead of night and for 28 years kept East Germans from fleeing to the West -A wall, which separated West and East Berlin a well then West and East Germany -
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev was the last General Secretary of the Soviet Union. He signed the INF Treaty on December 8, 1987. He tried to transform the Soviet Union by instituting multiple reforms. He allowed Soviet citizens to freely voice their opinions and travel. He tried to resurrect the economy but instead brought it down. He released many political prisoners and advocated the use of technology. -
Collapse of the Soviet Union
The reforms set by Gorbachev were a huge detriment for the Soviet Union. The caused the economy to collapse. The reforms also led to many revolts. Eventually, the Soviet Republics began to declare independence and secede from the Soviet Union. The collapse of the Soviet Union marked an end to the Cold War.
