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The Yalta Conference
The agree between FDR, Churchill, and Stalin to govern Germany jointly. Germany was divided into four zones of occupation ran by their three countries and France. I connected this event using the Geographic theme because the separation of land would become very important. This impacted the Cold War because Stalin broke his promise to have free elections in Eastern Europe and instead had governments controlled by the Soviet Union. -
The Truman Doctrine
President Harry Truman's announcement that the free nations will be aided with U.S. economic and military aid if they are threatened by internal or external opponents. The Truman Doctrine was mostly created for containing communism and preventing it from spreading. The doctrine caused great controversy as some nations objected to American interference in other nations' affairs. (Additional Description Document) -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was created by U.S. Sec of State George Marshall and was designed to rebuild Europe after WWII. Most of Europe was in ruins after WWII and there was a scarcity of jobs and food. Marshall proposed that the U.S. should send aid to these European Countries that were in need. The Marshall Plan focused on providing machinery, food, and other resources needed to rebuild Western Europe. (Additional Description Document) -
Britain Blockade and airlift
Response to U.S. aid for European countries and democratic portions of Germany. Soviet Union blocked all land and water access to democratic parts of Berlin. British and US planes fly 1.5 million tons of supplies to West Berlin from June 1948 to May 1949 which caused the soviets to finally reopen access to Berlin. (Extra Document) -
Comecon
Another name for Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, formed in 1949 by the Soviet Union in response to the the Marshall Plan. Designed to counteract the USA's aid by providing aid from Soviet Union to member nations. Was renamed to Organization for International Economic Cooperation in 1991 after the collapse of communist governments across eastern Europe. (Extra document) -
Formation of NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO for short, was formed in 1949. They pledged to protect and support each other if ever attacked.
I connected this using Political because it involved countries coming together to become more powerful.
This furthered the Cold War because it sent a message to the Soviet Union that the USA was prepared for war. -
Korean War
This was considered the first conflict of the Cold War. North Korea invaded South Korea by crossing the 38th parallel with aid of Communist China and USSR. South Korea defended with help from the UN. The war ended up in a stalemate along the 38th parallel I connected this event using the cultural theme because North Korea was part of the communist group and attempted to spread communism This impacted the war because North Korea was supported by the USSR and South Korea was supported by USA -
Warsaw Pact
Formed in 1955, included the Soviet Union and seven soviet states in Eastern Europe during the cold war. It served as a counterweight to NATO, although there were no direct confrontation between the to groups.
I connected this using political because it involved the joining of multiple countries to become more powerful
This furthered the Cold War because its another example of the USSR counteracting the US move to form NATO. -
The Vietnam War
The Vietnam War started in 1955 and ended in 1975. It featured a conflict between communist regime of North Vietnam and its southern alliance, against South Vietnam and its main ally, the U.S. In 1973, President Richard Nixon withdrew U.S. forces and the communist forces seized control of Saigon, ending the war. (Extra Document) -
The Space Race
Competition between the US and USSR to show who was the most technologically advanced. Both countries also looked to prove the superiority of its military firepower and political economic system. I used the intellectual theme for this event because it gave us more knowledge about space and our Earth. This event furthered the war by increasing the competition between the USSR and USA. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
After Fidel Castro took power on January 1, 1959, the CIA decided to attempt an invasion of Cuba with 1,400 American-trained Cubans. The invasion ended up not going very well as the invaders were badly outnumbered by Castro's troops. I used the social theme for this event because it involved natives of Cuba fighting for what they believe in. This furthered the cold war because it became obvious that the USA was trying to prevent communism from spreading. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
In October 1962, there was a tense military standoff between the leaders of U.S. and the Soviet Union over nuclear-armed Soviet missiles on Cuba. The disaster was avoided after the U.S. agreed to not invade Cuba if the Soviets removed the Cuban missiles. I connected this event using the geographic theme because the geography of Cuba became a huge reason for why this event took place. This impacted the war because it was the first direct confrontation between the USA and USSR. -
Interview
The person I chose to interview was my dad, I chose him because he was very well aware during the Cold War and had many interesting experiences while living in Sweden. (Rest on additional description document) -
Reykjavík Summit
[EXTRA]
Considered to be a turning point in the Cold War. U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev meet together in Iceland to discuss nuclear arms-control negotiations. Interview - "Our work on detecting nuclear tests was considered essentials during these nuclear arm-control negotiations" This impacted the war because it was the beginning of the end of the Cold War. -
"Tear Down This Wall"
[EXTRA]
President Reagan gave a speech in Berlin and stated:
"General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" (“Tear down This Wall!”) Interview - "I remember when Reagan gave his 'tear down this wall' speech in Berlin and I knew that this was serious" Impact - This put pressure on the USSR to take action. -
End of Soviet Union
Representatives from the 11 Soviet republics left the Soviet Union due to the large number of radical reforms that Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev had implemented. Boris Yeltsin was then the first elected president of Russia and sat in office from 1991-99. I used the social theme for this event because the end of communism developed Russia society by giving the citizens more freedoms This was a major impact on the war because it ended communism for good. -
Death of Fidel Castro
Current issue -
Fidel Castro was a major part of the Cold War during the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was considered the last living symbol of the Cold War at its peak.
