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Period: to
The Cold War
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The Berlin Blockade/Airlift (Slide 6-Berlin Blockade/Airlift (1948-1949))
Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, is disgruntled about the way in which France, England, and the United States are going about managing their allotted chunks of Germany after WWII. Stalin cuts off highway systems from East to West Berlin, effectively isolating East Berlin from getting supplies from the West. In response, the U.S. and Britain take part in an airlift that spans three years, delivering needed supplies. http://csrmedia.education.asu.edu/Lectures/SS3/HistoryCore/Basic9/index.htm -
Mao Zedong Rises as Chinese Leader (Slide 4- Realities of International Politics)
After several years of civil war between Communists and Nationalists in China, the Communist half is victorious, and Mao Zedong rises up as the new Communist leader. President Truman believes events such as this require the U.S. to be more proactive in dealing with the Communist threat, therefore, the U.S. military is not downsized after WWII, as was customary previous to this point. http://csrmedia.education.asu.edu/Lectures/SS3/HistoryCore/Basic9/index.htm -
NATO Formed (Slide 7- Europe's "Iron Curtain")
Relatively democratic Western countries came together to form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as a form of protection. The agreement said that if one of the member-countries was attacked, all other participating countries would count it as if they had been attacked, and come to the aid and defense of the country in need. This cemented the alliance of Western countries during the Cold War. http://csrmedia.education.asu.edu/Lectures/SS3/HistoryCore/Basic9/index.htm -
Korean War Begins (Slide 8- Korean War (1950-1953))
Korea is divided between Communist China in the North, and Democratic U.S. in the South (though S. Korea is mostly anit-communist rather than democratic). North Korean troops attack S. Korea in 1950, forcing President Truman to put his ideology of containment to the test, so as to stop the spread of communism. UN troops were sent in to aid the South. http://csrmedia.education.asu.edu/Lectures/SS3/HistoryCore/Basic9/index.htm -
The Second Red Scare (Slide 9- Second Red Scare)
From the late 1940s to the mid-1950s, the threat of Communism infiltrating the U.S. and permeating U.S. systems caused havoc in everyday life. Among the lead accusers was Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who claimed to have a list of all communists within U.S. government systems. He flung multiple accusations, and increased general hysteria surrounding comunism, but eventually was discredited. http://csrmedia.education.asu.edu/Lectures/SS3/HistoryCore/Basic9/index.htm -
Warsaw Pact Established (Slide 7- Europe's "Iron Curtain")
In retaliation to NATO, eight Eastern countries formed the Warsaw Pact, which called member states to defend any other member state, should one of them be attacked by an outside power. Military control was placed under the Soviet Union. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-warsaw-pact-is-formed -
Bay of Pigs Invasion (http://csrmedia.education.asu.edu/Lectures/SS3/HistoryCore/Basic9/index.htm) (Slide 11-Bay of Pigs Invasion (Apr '61))
After Fidel Castro rose to power in Cuba, the U.S. wanted a way to take him out of power and reduce Communist threat. Approved by new president JFK was the secret Bay of Pigs operation, meant to train and arm Cuban exiles before sending them back to Cuba in hopes of generating a force of rebellion and overthrowing Castro. The plan failed miserably, forcing Kennedy to come forward, admit involvement, and take the blame. http://csrmedia.education.asu.edu/Lectures/SS3/HistoryCore/Basic9/index.htm -
Berlin Wall Construction Begins
In attempt to isolate citizens of East Berlin from Western influence, the German Democratic Republic constructed the Berlin Wall. Rather than keeping enemies out, the wall was primarily meant to stop people emigrating from Communist-controlled East Berlin to West Berlin. The wall became symbolic of the Iron Curtain metaphor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
In October 1962, satellite and spy plane images revealed nuclear missile sites being built by Soviets in Cuba. Pres. Kennedy blockaded Cuba navally, to stop Soviet ships from bringing more supplies. He demanded the removal of missiles and destruction of sites. Eventually an agreement to do so was struck between Kennedy and Khrushkev of the Soviets on the condition that the U.S. remove missiles from Turkey, & not invade Cuba.
http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/Cuban-Missile-Crisis.aspx -
U.S. Puts First Man on Moon
A Space Race with the Soviet Union became evident when the Soviets launched the first satellite and put the first organic life form in space in the late 1950s. As a response, the U.S. put the first man on the moon in 1969. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first to walk on the moon, putting the U.S. in the lead of the Space Race. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11
http://csrmedia.education.asu.edu/Lectures/SS3/HistoryCore/Basic9/index.htm -
Soviets Invade Afghanistan
Following an Afghan civil war, in late December of 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, obtaining complete political and military control of several areas. This was done in hopes to turn Afghanistan socialist, which would allow the Soviets to prevent it from turning to capitalism, according to their own doctrine. The invasion was criticized worldwide. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/soviet-invasion-afghanistan -
Fall of Berlin Wall
Throughout 1988 and 1989, Communism began faltering in Eastern European countries, and a mass exodus from East Berlin to Western countries occurred, prompting action. On Nov. 9, 1989, an East German government official suddenly stated that people could cross the wall. People on both sides ran to check, and, finding the claim true, parts of the wall began falling by that night.
http://history1900s.about.com/od/coldwa1/a/berlinwall_2.htm -
East and West Germany Reunited
On August 31, 1990, East and West German officials signed a treaty to make Germany one nation. After being divided for 45 years following WWII, Germany was officially united on October 3. Berlin was chosen as capital, and former West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl was made chancellor over reunited Germany. This marked part of the end of the Cold War by resolving a main source of conflict. http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/oct-3-1990-east-and-west-germany-united-after-45-years/?_r=0
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