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World War II ends
Japan surrenders when the US issued a nuclear attack, which likely put fear into the USSR against the US. When they gained nuclear weapons then we were all afraid. Which initially started the Cold War. -
The Iron Curtain
After delivering a speech, Winston Churchill is credited with the name of "The Iron Curtain". It symbolizes the divison of Europe into two parts. It set a boundary between Eastern and Western Europe. Eastern Europe was under Soviet Union control with communists in power and support from the Red Army. -
The Marshall Plan
George C. Marshall, who was the Secetary of State, requested for American assistance in restoring the economic infrastructure, and devastation in Europe. It aimed to prevent famine and political chaos. -
Berlin Blockade/Airlift
The Berlin Airlift/Blockade was one of the first major crisises of the Cold War. It occured internationally. The Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies from the Berlin areas under allied control, by blocking their roads, railway, and even canal access. To get food and supplies, the allies decided to transport materials by air. -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Signed
This was an international military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty. -
The Korean War
The Korean war with the United States and it's allies who intervened on behalf of South Korea, with China intervening on behalf of North Korea. This war expanded the Cold War beyond Europe. It was seen as a proxy war. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was a defense treaty formed between eight communist states during the Cold War. It put the Soviet Union in command of the armed forces. -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. However, it played a big rule for the two superpowers fighting the Cold War at the same time - the United States who was South Vietnam's ally and the opposing Soviet Union. The United States later withdrew all their troops and assistance. -
Sputnik Launch
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik which was the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. This marked the beginning of the U.S. - U.S.S.R. space race. -
The U-2 Incident
The Soviet Union shot down an American U-2 spy plane and captured the pilot, Francis Gary Powers. After two years in prison, he was released with an exchange for the U.S. releasing a captured soviet agent. This incident greatly raised tensions between the two superpowers. -
Bay of Pigs
After Fidel Castro overthrew General Fulgencio Batista, the U.S planned to take Castro from power. FInally in 1961, the U.S. issued an invasion of Cuba with 1,400 "American-trained" Cubans. They were badly outnumbered and had to surrender. -
Berlin Wall
The wall was created because thousands of East Germans were fleeing to West Germany which was democratic not communist. It was created by the East German authorities overnight and it surrounded East Germany, cutting off West Germany. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The U.S. and Soviet Union were at a military and political standoff for 13 days, because the Soviet Union had nuclear-armed missiles on Cuba pointed at the United States. This was solved when Kennedy promised not to invade Cuba if the missiles were removed, and the U.S. also agreed to remove our missiles from Turkey. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
After 28 years of seperation, the Berlin Wall was opened/destroyed. This ended communist rule. -
USSR Dissolved
By 1985, the Soviet Union leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, tried to fix the economic stagnation and political problems. He gave the people freedom of speech and economic rebuilding. It didn't work out like he planned, and back fired on him. He soon resigned, ending the Cold War.
