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U.S. drops an atomic bomb on Japan
U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan and then on Nagasaki. On August 15, Japan surrendered to the Allies and World War 2 came to an end, but the hostile feelings between the Allies and the Axis Powers was far from over. -
Communists seize power in Poland
In 1947 the Soviets convinced the Polish government to reject the U.S. Marshall Plan and join the Soviet Union. -
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
This was a huge turning point in Europe after World War 2. The United States and the Allies saved over 2 million people in Berlin. -
Korean war
The Korean War was a big piece of the Cold War. It was primarily due to the political division of Korea by the Allies in 1945 at the 38th parallel line of latitude, when Japan surrendered. The North, which was occupied by many Russians, became determined to invade the South. North Korean invaded South Korean and the war began. -
Red Army crushes the Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Uprising was a nationwide revolt against the government. Although it failed, it came to play a role in the eventual end of the Soviet Union. -
Space Race
The US and the Soviets rivaled in terms of Space, to see who could get the furtherest first. Sputnik 1 was launched on October 4, 1957. -
U-2 Reconnaissance Plane
A U.S. plane tried to spy on the Soviets and was shot down. This looked bad for the U.S. -
Bay of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs was a failed attempt of an US military invasion into Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro's government. Unfortunately, the unsuccessful mission strengthened Fidel Castro position. -
Reagan visits the Wall
When President Ronald Reagan visited the Berlin wall, it showed commitment to the people of West Berlin. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
This Missile scare was the closest to war the U.S. and the Soviets came to during the Cold War period. Cuba had nuclear missiles ready to fire at the U.S. and the U.S. was ready for war as well. -
China explodes its first atomic bomb.
China successfully exploded its first atomic bomb. China, on the same day, made a promise that they would never be the first to use nuclear weapons. -
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
This event (SALT), or negotiations and agreements between the US and the Soviets over missile manufacturing, was one of the first steps to slow the arms race. -
President Richard Nixon visits China
During "The week that changed the world" public relations strategy won out and pictures and TV were favored over the printed word. People believed what they saw on TV over the analysis of what was going on from other sources. -
Soviets invade Afghanistan
The U.S. and the Soviets each supported a different side and this led to the U.S. boycotting the 1980 Olympics. -
U.S. invades Grenada
Because of Grenada's Marxist regime, President Reagan had U.S. troops invade Grenada and secure its citizens safety. Some were skeptical of this move at the time but overall named Reagan's administration a success and a great step to end Communism. -
Reunited Germany
East and West Germany reunited; East Germany was no longer Communist, and this showed that the War Saw Pact was likely ending soon.
