Cold War Timeline

  • Berlin Divided

    -Russia got East Berlin and US got West Berlin
    -Russia's side was communist and US was capitalist
  • Hollywood Ten (Espionage)

    -actors, producers, and screenwriters were accused of links to spying and communism
    - showed the tension in America itself and blacklisting during the time
  • Berlin Airlift

    -US dropped supplies and food to people in East Berlin that was communist
    -people living in East Berlin had little food
  • Soviet Nuclear Program (Arms Race)

    -Soviets built bomb in 1949
    -caused other nations (especially America) to fear nuclear war
  • Korean War (Proxy War)

    -Korea split into two sides (communist and anti-communist)
    -US supported South Korea (anti-communist) to fight spread of communism
  • Cambridge Five (Espionage/Spying)

    -USSR paid British to spy on Britian
    -provided USSR with classified documents
    -active during WW2 and until early 1950s
  • Rosenbergs (Espionage/Spying)

    -couple who was accused of heading spy ring that collected info for USSR about US
    -showed the espionage and treason happening during Cold War
  • Vietnam War (Proxy War)

    -fight between Viet Cong and North Vietnam vs. South Vietnam
    -US got involved and sent troops over which ended in disaster
    -lasted unti 1975
  • Sputnik 1 (Space Race)

    -Russia wanted to show US their capabilities
    -kicked off space race between US and Russia
  • Berlin Wall

    -wall separating the territories in Berlin
    -Russia used it to keep people from leaving on their side
    -taken down on 1989
  • Bay of Pigs (Proxy War

    -failed invasion of Cuba by CIA
    -Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba and shut down all land belonging to US
    -US perceived taken land as threat and invaded unsuccessfully
  • Cuban Missile Crisis (Arms Race)

    -Cuba received missiles from USSR
    -US feared that Cuba would fire on them and set up naval blockade around Cuba
    -USSR finally disbanded missiles after 13 day standoff
  • JFK assassination

    -JFK gets assassinated
    -speculation that shooter was communist
  • Apollo 11 (Space Race)

    -US landed Apollo 11 on the moon and "won" the space race
    -end of the Space Race
  • Soviet Afghan War (Proxy War)

    -USSR wanted Afghanistan to become communist satellite state and invaded
    -Afghans rebelled with support of US
    -Afghans drove out USSR but was left in ruins
    -ended in 1989
  • 1980 Olympics (Propaganda)

    -held in Russia
    -many countries boycotted
  • 1984 Olympics

    -Russia and 13 other allied countries boycotted the Olympics that were held in US
    -Example of tension during Cold War
  • Mikhail Gorbachev Elected

    -Gorbachev was elected as leader of USSR
    -played a part in ending Cold War and repairing his country