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The Cold War
The Cold War is the name given to the relationship that developed primarily between the USA and the USSR after World War Two. The Cold War was to dominate international affairs for decades and many major crises occurred - the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, Hungary and the Berlin Wall being just some. For many, the growth in weapons of mass destruction was the most worrying issue. -
Yalta Conference
Yalta Conference Photo
It was held towards the end of World War II to discuss: the division of Germany, formation of the United Nations, Germany war repatations, entry of Soviet forces in the Far-Eastern Front, and the future of Poland. It involved Franklin D. Roosevelt who represented the US, Winston Churchill for Great Britain, and Josef Stalin for the USSR. -
Potsdam Conference
The Big Three The Big Three - Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and U.S. President Harry Truman--met in Potsdam, Germany, from July 17 to August 2, 1945, to negotiate terms for the end of World War II. -
The United States Uses the first Atomic Bomb
Bombing of Cold War
This helped the United States to gain more leeway in fighting the Cold War. It was tested on a site in central New Mexico and quickly became a focal point between the US and the USSR. -
Japanese Surrender and the End of World War II
Japanese Surrender 1945
Aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan formally surrenders to the Allies, bringing an end to World War II. The invasion of Japan was one of the bloodiest seaborne attack of all time. This left Japan's economy and country in devestation. -
Truman Doctrine
Truman Himself In an address to Congress, President Harry S. Truman declared it to be the foreign policy of the United States to assist any country whose stability was threatened by communism. His initial request was specifically for $400 million to assist both Greece and Turkey, which Congress approved. -
Hollywood Blacklist
Hollywood Blacklist1947 HUAC began to summon entertainment professionals on suspicion their work was communist-inspired. Some became known as the "Hollywood Ten." They declined to tell HUAC whether or not they were members of the Communist Party, maintaining that the committee's queries infringed upon their Constitutional rights. The House approved contempt citations. All 10 served up to a year, fined $1,000, and were “blacklisted.” They then faced a difficult time finding a job anywhere in entertainment. -
Berlin Blockade
Britannica: Blockade in BerlinBerlin Blockade Berlin, Germany was a centerpiece for the Cold War - East met West in this divided city where the Berlin wall was a tangible symbol of the "Iron Curtain." The four nations in which this area was divided were unable to agree on a common currency, leading the USSR to put up a blockade. -
Berlin Airlift
US Response to Blockade This was a response to the blockade caused by the USSR - the nations came together and organized an airlift to deliver supplies to the people who were taken by control. -
U2 Incident
U2: The Impact A United States U-2 spy plane was shot down over the airspace of the Soviet Union near Kusulino under the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower. -
Korean War
Korean War: the ImpactIn 1910 Korea was annexed by Japan, and was heavily exploited for its mineral and agricultural . When Japan decided to invade China, the Japanese forced Koreans to work in labor camps to supply the Japanese with war goods. By the end of World War II, 4 million Koreans had been forced into labor. -
Korean War Ends
The End Korean War Ends- This marked the stop of large-scale open warfare between the Allies and the communist side until the Vietnam war. This is where the tension starts to build with both sides waiting for the other to strike. -
KGB Formed
The KGBKGB formed- The KGB where an intelligent agent for the USSR from 1954 to the end of the Cold War. The Russians didn't trust everyone in the USSR so the KGB were always making arrests on suspects who they believed to be spy's/traitors. This allowed the Russians to have a better knowledge of what was happening in there empire but a lot of the time, it was corrupt. -
Vietnam War
[Vietnam: the WAR](largely fought a guerrilla war against anti-communist forces in the region) was a conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam—supported by China and other communist allies—and the government of South Vietnam—supported by the United States and other anti-communist countries.The Viet Cong largely fought a guerrilla war against anti-communist forces. -
Cuba Taken Over
CastroNow that Cuba had been taken over by Fidel Castro, America would not be able to relax knowing that Cuba is situated only 90 miles away. If Castro decides to team up with China or Russia, America would have to be very cautious knowing that missile launches could happen. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Kennedy: The Bay of Pigs United States felt threatened because Cuba was the only country in the Western hemisphere to adopt the ideas of communism. At first the Americans welcomed the Cuban revolution which brought Fidel Castro to power on December 31, 1958. However, Castro began to link himself with the other superpower, the Soviet Union. This led to a general discord between the United States and Cuba. -
Berlin Wall
Wall of Berlin The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
Cuban Cartoon July of 1962, Raul Castro, the brother of Fidel made a trip to Moscow. Shortly afterwards, the Soviet Union began to send weapons and military personnel to Cuba. -
Washington/Moscow Hotline
HotlineTo lessen the threat of an accidental nuclear war, the United States and the Soviet Union agree to establish a "hot line" communication system between the two nations. The agreement was a small step in reducing tensions between the United States and the USSR following the October 1962 Missile Crisis in Cuba, which had brought the two nations to the brink of nuclear war. -
Czechoslovakia Uprising
The Uprising 1968, new Czechoslovakian Party Leader Alexander Dubcek pushed reforms that would put “a human face” on socialism. Would guarantee freedom of religion, press, assembly, speech, and travel. Dubcek also pushed to improve relations with every nation in the world, regardless of social and political affiliations. His popularity, however, did not extend to the other nations of the Warsaw Pact. troops from Russia, Hungary, Bulgaria, East Germany, and Poland occupied Czechoslovakia. -
SALT I
The Beginning of a Long HaultBrezhnev and Nixon met in November 1969. Two treaties signed: Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty, or ABM, and the Interim Agreement on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms. ABM treaty included regulation of antiballistic missiles that could be used to destroy incoming ICBM’s launched by other countries. Treaty was ratified by the US on August 3, 1972. The second treaty would place a five year freeze on the number of strategic ballistic missiles. -
End of Vietnam
Coming Home U.S. gov't. viewed the war as a way to prevent communist takeover of S.Vietnam and part of the strategy of containment. The N.Vietnamese gov't viewed it as a colonial war, fought initially against France, backed by the U.S., and later against S.Vietnam, which it regarded as a U.S. puppet state. The war became very unpopular in the U.S. U.S. mil. involvement ended 8/15/73. The capture of Saigon by the N.Vietnamese army in 4/75 marked the end of the Vietnam War. -
North Vietnam Defeats South Vietnam
DefeatedThe Vietnam War, the first televised war, pitted South Vietnam and the United States against Communist North Vietnam. It was feared that the fall of South Vietnam would lead to the fall of other South East Asian nations to Communism as well, in what was known as the "Domino Effect." Yet, at the same time, it was feared that extensive military involvement would lead to Chinese and Soviet intervention, resulting in a nuclear World War III. The antiwar movement defined a generation of Americans. -
SALT II
Time MagazineGoal was to replace Interim Agreement with a long-term treaty providing broad limits on strategic offensive weapons. Negotiations began Nov. 1972. Major breakthrough in Nov. 1974 between Ford and Brezhnev, agreeing to basic framework. Signed by Carter and Brezhnev on June 18, 1979. Carter transmitted it to the Senate on June 22 for its advice and consent to ratification. On January 3, 1980, however, Carter requested Senate delay in view of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Kept voluntarily. -
Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympic GamesThe United States and a number of other countries boycotted the games because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, though athletes from some boycotting countries participated in the games, under the Olympic Flag. This prompted the Soviet-led boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics. -
SDI
Star Wars The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as Star Wars, was a program first initiated under President Ronald Reagan. The intent of this program was to develop a sophisticated anti-ballistic missile system in order to prevent missile attacks from other countries, specifically the Soviet Union. -
Berlin Wall Taken Down
Berlin Wall Demolished This represented the beginning of the end of the Cold War. Once the wall was broken, people from East Germany were celbrating because they were finally free. -
Collapse of the Soviet Union
The USSR FallsBy 1985 when Gorbachev came to power, the SU was in severe stagnation. He introduced reform: glasnost, or freedom of speech; perestroika, a program of economic reform. Gorbachev unwittingly unleashed emotions and political feelings that had been pent up for decades. The SU’s disintegration began in the non-Russian areas where, in 1987, the government of Estonia demanded autonomy. Realizing that he could no longer contain the power of the population, he resigned on December 25, 1991. -
The Cold War Ends
An End Met Once the Soviet Union crumbled officially, this marked the end of the Cold War as there was no one to fight. It would have been a great relief for for the countries in NATO as there wasn't a nuclear threat looming.
