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WWII ends with the surrender of Japan when the USA dropped two Atom bombs on the cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki which resulted in over 200, 000 civilian and military deaths
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Soviets blocked railroad and street access by the three Western powers (the Americans, British, and French) to the Western-occupied sectors of Berlin. The crisis abated after the Western powers bypassed the blockade by establishing the Berlin Airlift, demonstrating both their dedication to the cause of supplying their zones, as well as the industrial might of the West and its air force's capabilities.
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The Soviet Union had exploded its own nuclear bomb (a fission bomb) in 1949, and Truman wanted the United States to stay ahead of the Soviet Union. So a fusion bomb (more powerful than a fission bomb, but used a fission reaction to set off a fusion reaction) was developed. R
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World War II divided Korea into a Communist, northern half and an American-occupied southern half, divided at the 38th parallel. The Korean War began when the North Korean Communist army crossed the 38th Parallel and invaded non-Communist South Korea.
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Communists return to negotiations, cease fire signed - fighting ends 12 hours later.
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The Soviet Union wanted better access to the Indian Ocean for trade and their naval fleet. Control of Afghanistan would make trade with India and the Middle East easier. Afghanistan has important natural resources such as: natural gas, uranium, iron ore and copper; all which the Soviets wanted.
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Cuba was nationalizing business. The Americans wanted to get rid of the Cuban government. Numerous sabotages, assassinations and plots were created against the Cuban government in order to overthrow Fidel Castro.
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Cuban exiles trained by the Americans are sent to Cuba to take down Fidel Castros regime.
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Russia detonates the largest thermonuclear bomb which was equal to 50 megatons of TNT. (50, 000, 000)
