-
USA's First Successful Nuclear Test
Marked the beginning of the Cold War Arms Race - Code named Trinity -
Period: to
The Cold War
War characterized by standoffs between the two nuclear powers (USA v USSR) - Influences popular culture even today, seen as a fight against Communism -
The Hollywood Ten are Fined and Imprisoned
Ten famous figures in the film industry accused of having communist sympathies - refused to cooperate with the court -
USSR's First Successful Nuclear Weapons Test
Code-named First Lightning - Marks the true beginning of the Red Scare -
Period: to
The Korean War
Proxy war fought in Korea - Represented the fight between Capitalism/Democracy and Communism -
The Rosenbergs are Executed
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were Soviet spies living in the United States - They were accused of stealing state nuclear secretes and were duly executed -
Period: to
The Vietnam War
Unpopular proxy war fought in Vietnam - Represented the fight between Capitalism/Democracy and Communism -
First Satellite in Orbit (USSR)
Called Sputnik, major leap for the Soviets in the Space Race - Caused mass paranoia and fear amongst the Americans -
First Man in Space (USSR)
Yuri Gagarin was the first man to be in Space - Major Space Race Victory for the USSR -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Known as the CIA's "Perfect Failure" - Failed invasion of Cuba sponosred by the US -
The Berlin Wall Goes Up, Diving East and West Berlin
The Wall was erected to divide (symbolically and physically) the Communist and Capitalist halves of the city - It was also supposed to keep people from escaping the East half -
Cuban Missile Crisis
"Crisis" in which USSR gave Cuba missiles - Was resolved by JFK, most famous standoff of the Cold War -
First Men on the Moon (USA)
Marked the end of the Space Race - (Only) Major Victory for the US -
The First Episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Shows Airs
First show on prime-time television that featured an unmarried career woman - Defied sterotypes set by most television in that era -
The First Episode of Happy Days Airs
Very stereotypical show about life in the 70's - Painted life very idealisyically and nobody faced major problems -
Period: to
The Soviet-Afghan War
Fight between Afghanistan rebels and the USSR for Afghani freedom - The US supported rebels, one of the few successful proxy wars -
The 1980 Olympics Begin in Moscow
Major games held in Communist Russia - USA and several other countries boycotted the games in protest -
The 1984 Olympics Begin in Los Angeles
Major games held in Capitalist USA - Many communist countries boycotted and held their own games -
The Berlin Wall Falls
Represented the decline of communism in Soviet Satellite States - Freedom for the people trapped in East Berlin -
The Soviet Union Begins to Collapse
Very beginning of the end for the USSR (Lead by Gorbachev) - Also the end for communist in Europe