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Yalta Conference
In February of 1945, the "big three" (FDR, Churchill, and Stalin) met to discuss the division of Germany. They agreed to control Germany together. Germany was split into four sections: southern (US), south-western (French), North-western (British) and eastern (USSR). This was a POLITICAL event that kickstarted the Cold War by creating tension. It was one of the most significant events because of the tension it created. Image -
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The Cold War Years
The Cold War was officially going on during these years. -
Marshall Plan
In 1947, the U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall suggested the U.S. give aid to the countries in Europe. The program, called the Marshall Plan, would provide machinery, food, and supplies to help Europe rebuild. In 1948 Congress approved the $12.5 billion plan after the USSR invaded Czechoslovakia. This is an ECONOMIC event because the United States gave financial aid to the countries in Europe. It further impacted the Cold War because it demonstrated the power of capitalism. -
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Berlin Airlift
The Berlin Airlift was the western powers' response to the blockade of Berlin by the USSR. From June 1948 to May 1949, the U.S. and British planes airlifted over 1.5 million tons of supplies into the western part of Berlin. The USSR lifted the blockade after 200,000 flights. This event PSYCHOLOGICALLY affected the people of east Berlin because it showed how Capitalism was the one who gave supplies and help. Significant because it showed the power of capitalism and the western powers. -
NATO
NATO stood for "North Atlantic Treaty Organization". This USA-formed military alliance was established in 1949 and it included, among others, the US, Canada, Britain, and France. This treat was POLITICAL because it created an alliance. It was also significant because it was an alliance similar to those of WWI. Image -
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Korean War
From 1950 to 1953, the USSR and Communist China-backed North Korea fought against the US-backed South. The Conflict began with the N. Koreans crossing the 38th parallel in 1950. US won. This was a GEOGRAPHIC event because it saw powers competing for land. It was significant because it was one of the major "puppet" battles between the USSR and the US. -
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Vietnam War
From 1955 to 1975, the U.S.-backed south Vietnamese fought against the Soviet Union and Communist China-backed north Vietnamese. This puppet battle was extremely similar to the Korean War. This war was GEOGRAPHIC and POLITICAL because it was -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was the USSR's response to NATO. Established in 1955, the Warsaw Pact forced 7 Eastern European "satellites" to join. This was another POLITICAL move, because it was an alliance similar to WWI's. This is also why it was significant. The pact was a response to NATO and a direct competitor. Image -
Soviets Launch Sputnik
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union used an ICBM to launch the first unmanned satellite, Sputnik, into space. The U.S. felt like they were falling behind and in 1958, the U.S. launched its own satellite. This competition was INTELLECTUAL. The two global superpowers were competing for engineering and mathematical prowess. This event impacted the Cold War further because it became the start of the "Space Race". Image -
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The Space Race
After the launch of Sputnik in 1957 by the Soviet Union, the United States and the Soviet Union began the "Space Race". From 1957 to 1975, the Soviet Union and the U.S. compete to observe and control outer space. In 1975, the two superpowers launched the first joint mission into space. This event was both INTELLECTUAL and CULTURAL because both countries felt as if the other had a better education program, and that its people were smarter every time a successful mission happened. -
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution happened on January 1st, 1959, when Cuban nationalist, Fidel Castro, overthrew the corrupt government in Cuba led by Fulgencio Batista. Castro took control of industry and implemented total communist control, with the support of the Soviet Union. This was POLITICAL (government overthrow). This was significant because it led to the Bay of Pigs invasion, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Image -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
From 1959 to 1961, the United States attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro. After attempting to overthrow Castro, the U.S. led a full-scale invasion of Cuba with 1,400 U.S.-trained troops. Castro's army outnumbered the U.S. troops, and the U.S. lost. This was POLITICAL because the U.S. tried to take over a country. This event led to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Image -
Cuban Missile Crisis
In the Summer of 1962, the Soviet Union sent nuclear missiles to Cuba. The United States blockaded Cuba in october, and demanded the missiles be removed. On October 28, 1962, Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba. This was significant because it was a POLITICAL event that almost led to war. Image -
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Cuban Missile Crisis
This event was in response to the failed Bay of Pigs invasion by the US in 1961. -
Apollo 11 Moon Landing
On July 20, 1969, the United States became the first country to put a man on the moon. This event was part of the "Space Race" going on between the Soviet Union and the United States. When he landed on the moon, Neil Armstrong said the famous line, "that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". This event was largely INTELLECTUAL because of the engineering and math that went into it. It was also PSYCHOLOGICAL because of how it created pride in the U.S. Significant: U.S. better USSR -
Summer Olympics of 1972
In the Olympics of 1972, the Soviet Union beat the United States at basketball. It was the first time the United States didn't get a gold medal since 1936 when the game was introduced. This event had PSYCHOLOGICAL effects on the players for the U.S., as well as the country itself. They lost to their rival. This event created yet another source of competition between the U.S. and the Soviet union for the rest of the Cold War. [Image](london2012.fiba.com/images/web/Events/12/history/_org/1972.jpg) -
Berlin Wall Collapse
On November 9th, 1989, the wall that divided west Berlin from East Berlin fell. This event marked the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe. This event was POLITICAL and PSYCHOLOGICAL. It impacted the Cold War because it symbolized its end. Image -
Collapse of the Soviet Union
In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the president of the USSR by way of a coup. The Communist regime that was in the Soviet Union fell after Gorbachev issued reforms, and then in 1991, On December 25th, 1991, Gorbachev resigned as the President of the Soviet Union. Boris Yeltsin was officially elected president of Russia. This was POLITICAL, and it impacted the Cold War significantly because it was the collapse of the Soviet Union. Image -
Links to Images
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Ms. Hulet Helps!
Today, Ms. Hulet helped with a technology problem... and she fixed it! Today is a truly historic day -
Interview with Paul Huston
The Cold War was a major thing and people, even children, were aware of it. It was on the news and people were constantly talking about how the Soviet Union had missiles pointed at the U.S., and the U.S. had missiles pointed at the Soviet Union. My father said he remembers the speeches given by Reagan and how he felt pride in the U.S. for standing up to the USSR.
