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Conflict Begins at Potsdam Conference
At the Potsdam Conference, the British and American leaders disagreed with each other and the Soviets disagreed with both. When the distribution of the remains of Europe was decided, British and American leaders weren't convinced that Joseph Stalin would keep his promise of respecting the rights of people in Eastern Europe. They were correct, and soon-after Stalin created pro-Soviet communist governments throughout Eastern Europe. Growing tensions eventually led to the start of the Cold War. -
The Truman Doctrine
Soviet-backed communists made their first move by threatening the governments of Greece and Turkey. The U.S. president responded by pledging the Truman Doctrine; a pledge to providing economic and military aid to oppose the spread of communism. -
Crisis in Berlin
In 1947, Western leaders planned for the creation of an independent democratic nation that went deep into the Soviet zone, which the Soviets opposed. Therefore, in June 1948, all land, rail, and water routes into West Berlin were blocked off by the Soviets. Western leaders refused to give in and the Berlin Airlift was organized to supply West Berlin by air. -
Forming Alliances
In the aftermath of the airlift, the United States, Canada, and most Western European countries joined in an alliance called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, in April of 1945. It was designed to counter Soviet power. Similarly, in 1955, the Soviet Union and communist nations of Eastern Europe formed a pact called the Warsaw Pact. -
War in Korea
The Soviet Union had previously made an agreement to temporarily divide the country of Korea in half at the Potsdam Conference. However, in June 1950, North Korea's communist government attacked South Korea in attempt to unite the country under the former government. -
Joseph Stalin Dies
When Stalin died, revolts started in Eastern Europe, with people hoping that Soviet Union would end their domination there. These revolts failed at first, but later proved to be victorious. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
A pro-communist leader named Fidel Castro had previously overthrown Cuba's dictator and worried the United States. Since Cuba was alarmingly close to the U.S., the U.S. government responded in 1962 by installing nuclear missiles in Cuba. This crisis was soon negotiated after two weeks. -
Early Arms Control
Even though relations between the East and West were hostile during the Cold War, attempts at cooperation were made. In 1963, the Soviet Union and the United States agrees on a Test Ban treaty. This treaty banned nuclear testing in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater. -
SALT I
Richard Nixon sought a reduced tension between superpowers when he was elected president in 1968. The result of his effort was the start of negotiations known as the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks, or SALT I. These talks led to agreements limiting the number of nuclear weapons held by each side. It also led to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which prevented the development of weapons designed to shoot down nuclear missiles. -
New Soviet Power
Because of Communist government failure, Mikhail Gorbachev knew the Soviet Union was in huge economic trouble by the 1980's. Because of this, he pushed new reforms and changed the Soviet Union's economic and political system in attempt to rejuvenate the nation. Unfortunately for him, the Soviet Union had already lost much of its power and revolts began to succeed, thus ending the Cold War.
