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Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia
In late February 1948, the Communist Party in Czechoslovakia with Soviet backing, assumed undisputed control over the government of Czechoslovakia by forcing the other parties out of the government. This marked the onset of four decades of the party's rule in the country. -
Berlin wall Blockade begins
The Berlin Blockade was an attempt in 1948 by the Soviet Union to limit the ability of the United States, Great Britain and France to travel to their respective sectors of the city of Berlin, which rests inside Russian-occupied East Germany. -
NATO forms
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations in order to provide security from the Soviet Union. NATO was the first peacetime military alliance the United States entered into outside of the Western Hemisphere. -
Russia tests nuclear weapons
Russia begins testing nuclear weapons. This nuclear testing marks the start of the nuclear weapons race. -
Korean War begins. North Korea who invade South Korea(Stalin Support)
North Korea invade South Korea. Stalin supports North Korea and supplies them with weapons and resources. -
Atomic bombs developed by Britain
Britain developed its own atomic bomb to remain a great power and avoid complete dependence on the United States, which was refusing to share atomic information. -
KGB established
The KGB was established in 1954 in the Soviet Union to act as a Sword and Shield. Safety and Protection was guaranteed by the KGB. -
Beginning of the Space Race
The Space Race was a technological battle between USA and the Soviet Union. Each wished to launch artificial satellites to orbit the Earth. -
Vietnam War Begins
China had become a communist country and China also had control of North Vietnam. The United States found it important to ensure that communism did not spread to South Vietnam so we supplied them with resources. -
Sputnik launches
Sputnik was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched into an elliptical low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957 as part of the Soviet space program. It sent a radio signal back to Earth for three weeks. -
Sputnik II launches
Sputnik 2 was the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth containing an animal. Laika, the space dog on the satellite unfortunately died after the 4th orbit due to a air conditioning failure. -
Explorer I Launch
The explorer was the first satellite sent into space by the USA. It was unmanned and its launch marked the start of the space race between USA and the Soviet Union. -
John F Kennedy Elected
John F Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States. He promised to increase military forces and take a strong stance against the Soviet Union and the spread of Communism. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed attempt at landing on the coast of Cuba performed by the United States. The attempt was in order to stop the rule of Communism in Cuba, however, this quickly ended in a win for Communist Cuba. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a dispute between the United States and the Soviet Union about the missiles in Communist sided Cuba. This was the world had come to nuclear warfare and luckily we agreed to not invade Cuba as long as they removed the missiles. -
Nuclear Test Ban Ratified
The Soviet Union and United States realised that they were not ready to use atomic weapons as there would be much backfire and retaliation. This caused them to sign the nuclear test ban which prohibited all above ground nuclear testing -
JFK Assassinated
This was the unfortunate death of the United States 35th president John F Kennedy. JFK was a great president and with his death came the solving of another issue, vice president succession. It led to the 25th amendment which quickly stated the vice president would become president after the presidents death. -
Apollo 11
Apollo 11 was the first manned american project to land on the moon. Apollo 11 completed the goal of the previous president John F Kennedy which was to land humans on the moon within the next decade. -
SALT I
The SALT I conference stated that he Soviet Union and United States would limit the amount of artillery and weapons used during the war -
North Vietnam defeats the South which falls to communism
North Vietnam, defeats South Vietnam and falls to communist forces. Even with the support of the United States, South Vietnam could not be held and had fallen to the communist forces of the north. -
USA and China establish diplomatic relationship
China and the United States establish that they are mutual interests, however, some issues were yet to be resolved. -
SALT II
SALT II was a decision by the Soviet Union and United States to limit their nuclear forces delivery vehicles to 2,250. However, this ultimately was not ratified because of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. -
Soviet forces invade Afghanistan
The Soviet Union sends troops into Afghanistan and quickly takes over big cities. This act however stopped the ratification of the SALT II treaty. -
Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan
The invasion of Afghanistan was not helping with the Soviet Union's economic state so they ordered a withdrawal from Afghanistan. -
End of Soviet Union, Cold War ends
Due to the politics of the Soviet Union, and the new election of the next president, the Soviet Union would be no more. Thus, putting an end to the Cold War.