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Russian Revolution
Beginning the rise of the Soviet Union, the Russian Revolution was a series of revolts that removed the Czar and his old government -
Potsdam Conference
A Conference between Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, and Harry Truman to discuss what to do with Germany -
Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
U.S. bomber drops an A-Bomb on Hiroshima, causing more than 100,000 deaths. -
Atomic Bombing on Nagasaki
U.S. Bombers drop an A-Bomb on Nagasaki killing more 70,000 people. -
Iron Curtain
The notional barrier dividing east and west Europe. The term was coined by Winston Churchill in his Address, "Sinews of Peace." -
Truman Doctrine
U.S. Foreign Policy, the Truman Doctrine, is created to prevent the spread of Communism. Harry Truman's speech, the Truman Address, came to be known as the start of the cold war. -
Hollywood Ten
A group of well-known figures in Hollywood that were suspected of being communists. Some fled the country, but most went to prison for a few months. -
Marshall Plan
In order to help rebuild the broken countries that fought in WWII, the Marshall Plan was created. It gave over twelve million dollars to European nations after World War Two. -
N.A.T.O. is formed
North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an alliance between 29 countries including Britain, United States, France, Spain, and Canada, is formed. It was created because of the fear of communist expansion, and is still together today. -
Soviet Bomb Test
Soviet Union had created a nuclear bomb and tested it on this day. Because of communist espionage, it was very similar to the atomic bombs of the United States. This bomb test was successful and set off the nuclear arms race. -
Korean War
A war that began when North Korea invaded South Korea. The communist North was supported by the Soviet Union and China, while the capitalist South was supported by the U.S.A. -
Khrushchev Takes Power
After Stalin's death, Nikita Khrushchev took power. He was well known for starting the "Destalinization," acknowledging the crimes that Stalin committed. -
Army-McCarthy Hearings
Joseph McCarthy televises his aggressive accusations of suspected communists. Mr. McCarthy's chaotic hysteria transfers to some of those who watch his shows, causing panic in American population. He was eventually shut down but not before his support weakened and trust in neighbors overall was lost. -
Eisenhower's Massive Retaliation Policy
Eisenhower forms his policy of massive retaliation, in which, in the event of an attack on the United States, utter destruction will be brought upon the assailant. -
Warsaw Pact
The Soviet Union and six other countries sign the Warsaw Pact as a retaliation to NATO. It was signed in Poland in a city with the same name. -
The Vietnam War
Beginning when Ho Chi minh's Viet Minh invade Hanoi and seize power there. The United States and the Soviet Union both get involved fighting for opposite sides. This bloody war finally ends when Vietnam is divided at the 17th parallel, with the South being capitalist and the north being communist. -
Hungarian Revolution
A Hungarian revolt ends up being a huge tragedy, when Khrushchev shows that his request for peace isn't his true priority as he punishes Hungary in order to keep communist control. During this time, Eisenhower takes heat, being criticized that he is not staying true to his pledge to uphold the Truman Doctrine. -
U2 Incident
A U2 flying over the Soviet Union to collect intelligence gets shot down and the pilot, Francis Gary Powers, is captured. A week later Khrushchev stated that the pilot had given up information on the plan of his mission and that he was working under the CIA. Powers was put into confinement but was later released when a Soviet spy was caught. -
Bay Of Pigs Invasion
Cuban exiles trained by the CIA attempt to invade Cuba from the Bay of Pigs in order to overthrow Castro because his anti-american actions were causing concern. It ends poorly and they surrender after just a day of combat. Therefore, Fidel Castro stayed in power, which lead to the Cuban Missile Crisis just a year later. -
Berlin Blockade & Airlifts
The Soviet Union blocks off all entry into Berlin. The tenacity of the West is shown when soon thereafter, Britain, U.S and France, started airlifting supplies into east Germany. This goes on for 11 months until the Soviet Union finally lift their blockade. -
Berlin Wall
Soviet Union erects a wall between east and west Berlin in an attempt to keep the eastern citizens on the east side. This is because, before the wall was created, many fled to the west side because capitalism is better. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
America finds out that the Soviet Union is attempting to place nuclear missiles in Cuba. This causes Panic due to the fact that Cuba is only 90 miles away from the Florida Shore. The intense situation is finally resolved when Khrushchev agrees to remove the missile from Cuba, and John F Kennedy secretly agrees to remove his missiles from Turkey soon thereafter -
Nixon's Detente
French for loosening tensions, Nixon's new policy, détente, planned on relieving heightened pressure between the US and Soviet Union. However with the controversy of Nixon's Watergate, Ronald Reagan quickly took power, and discontinue this notion with the belief that military power was the key to stopping the USSR. -
The Reagan Doctrine
When Reagan is elected in the office he decides that the best way to end the Cold War is to out build the Soviet Union militarily until they invariably collapse. -
Berlin Wall speech
During the summer of 1987 Reagan conducted a speech in front of the Berlin Wall that requested Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall!" -
The fall of the Berlin Wall
At last the Soviet Union agrees to tear down the Berlin Wall, bringing an end to the Cold War.
