-
Chinese Revolution
Mao Zedong led the People's Republic of China through thick and thin from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976. -
Period: to
Nuclear Arms Race
Arms raceInvolved both sides struggle to match each others new weapons. Knowing that if one side would launch their nuclear weapons the other side would also launch theirs causing them both to be destroyed. This discouraged nuclear war. In 1969, the United States and the Soviet Union Began Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) to limit the number of nuclear weapons each side possessed. in 1972 and 1979, both sides signed agreements setting these limits. -
NATO Formed
Canada and ten other countries had fromed a new kind of military alliance called the North Alantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The members of NATO pledged to help one another if they were being attacked. -
Period: to
Eastern European Independence
IndependenceSoviet Union kept control over Eastern European satellites by force. As the Soviet Union was being put to a stop, Eastern Europeans demanded the end of Soviet domination. Eastern Europeans were starting to seek better freedom in their own countries. Revolts had started in Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia. Economic problems had lead to greater discontent. By the end of 1991, all satelites were free, -
Period: to
Korean Conflict
Korean Warafter japans defeat in world war two soviet and american forces agreed to divide korea temporarily. ruler of north korea kim sung became a communist ally of the soviet union. in south korea the united states backed the dictatorial but noncommunist leader syngman rhee. both leaders wanted to rule the entire country. 1950 kim sung called for a “heroic struggle” to reunite korea. north korean troops attacked in june of that year and soon overran most of south korea. -
Period: to
Korean Conflict (part 2)
the united states then organized a united nations force to help south korea. north korean troops continued to advance untill united nations forces stopped them in august along a line known as the pusan perimeter. in september 1950 united nations troops landed on the beaches behind enemy lines. these u.s. led troops quickly captured koreas north-south rail lines and cut off north korean troops from there supply of food and ammunition. north korean forces in the south soon surrenderd. -
Warsaw Pact
The Soviet Union responed to the formation of NATO by forming its own alliance known as the Warsaw Pact. It included the Soviet Union and seven sateliltes in Eastern Europe. Unlike NATO, the Warsaw Pact was invoked by the Soviets to keep the satellite countries in order. This cemented the division of Europe into "eastern" and "western" blocs. In the East, Soviets dominated countries were communist in name but dictatorship by practice. In the West, they were democratic countries led by the US. -
Period: to
Vietnam Conflict
Vietnam WarFrance tries to regain control. Ho Chi Minh asks US to tell France to leave them alone. US (Pres Eisenhower) says that France is our friend, and has a historical right to the place
Ho Chi Minh goes to communist China, and asks for their help, they agree. Vietnamese kick out French.Vietnam is divided - north communist, democratic south. North attacks south. US tries to help, but in the end pulls out. -
Period: to
Berlin Wall
Berlin WallWest berlin had become a showcase for west Germany prosperity. Then a massive exodus of low -paid east germans had been unhappy with communism. Then in 1961 East Germany had bulit a wall so that it could stop the flight. by buliding this wall it created a massive concrete Barrier, which was topped with barbed wire and was patrolled by guards. -
Period: to
Cuban Missle Crisis
Cuban Missle Crisis
The Soviet Union sent nuclear warheads to be stored on Cuba, 90 miles off the coast of the United States. When the US found out about this they immediately imposed a naval blockade of Cuba. For one week, tense talks about removing the nukes brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. The attempt to remove the nukes was successful. -
Period: to
Detente
DetenteThe detente was a time where tensions were relaxed between the two superpowers during the 1970s. By doing this, the US hoped to restrain the Soviet Union through diplomatic agreements rather then military action. This ear of detente ended in 1979 when the USSR invaded Afghanistan. -
Period: to
Soviets in Afghanistan
-
Collapse of the Soviet Union
People saw little improvement in Eastern Europe.
Government planners in Moscow, however knew little about local needs. They chose to produce unneeded goods. Soviet economic inferiority made it impossible for the Soviet Union to keep up with the united states in the arms race and military preparedness. Both sides had maintained large military budgets and built exensive nuclear weapons. The Soviet Union couldn't handle the economic stress like the USA could.
