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World War Two ends.
World War Two ended with an invasion of Germany in 1945. The Germans offered their unconditional surrender. The Alliance between America and the Soviet Union, which was formed in alliance against Germany, ended when the axis powers were defeated. -
The Marshall Plan
It was a plan that many countries took part in. It's purpose was to prevent communism from spreading and to give aid to western Europe in order to recover from the war. -
The Berlin Blockade
After germany was divided and occupied by many different countries, the Soviet Union set up a blockade so that the areas of germany under western control were inaccessible. The western allies responded with the Berlin Airlift, which took supplies to the many western residents in the area. -
Creation of NATO
Was created as a military alliance between Canada, the United States, and other western countries. It was created in order to have greater collective strength against the Soviet Union. Was the first alliance that the United States entered into with a country that was outside of the western hemisphere. -
The Korean war begins
The first proxy war, which is a war instigated by a country that is not a participant, began when the USSR failed to show up for a veto in the UN. This war became known as the Korean war, because South Korea fought against North Korea. Associated allies also fought in the war. -
The creation of the Warsaw Pact
It was created as a reaction and an opposition to the the creation of NATO. It was an alliance between the Soviet Union and the soviet satellite states, which were areas invaded by Soviet troops. -
Khrushchev calls for peaceful co-existence
Khrushchev developed the theory of peaceful co-existence during the cold war, even though he initiated the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was the idea that there should be greater levels of peace between the nations that are part of NATO and the nations that are part of the Warsaw Pact. -
The Hungarian Uprising
The Hungarian Uprising was a nationwide rebellion against the communist government and soviet policies. This revolt was crushed by the forces of the Warsaw Pact, demonstrating that the nations in the Warsaw Pact are demonstrated ideologically. -
The Berlin Wall is created
When the Berlin Wall was created, it completely encircled Berlin. During the Cold war, before the wall was built, East Germans were able to flee through Berlin. This wall further prevented western access to the area and it prevented people from fleeing through Berlin. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
It was a 9 day military standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union that almost turned into a nuclear war because of brinkmanship, which is when governments push the limits of safety before stopping, like a game of chicken. -
The Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty is signed
The Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty was an agreement between countries around the globe that limited the use of Nuclear weapons. -
The Prague Spring ends
The Prague Spring was a period of time in Czechoslovakia in which there was greater political liberalization under a government that gave more rights to Czechs. It ended when the USSR invaded Czechoslovakia and removed the leader, Alexander Dubcek. -
The Helsinki Accords
The Helsinki Accords were efforts to bring the Soviet Union and the Western countries to a level of detente, which is a decreased degree of tension between countries. -
The Vietnam War ends
The Vietnam war was mainly between the communist North Vietnam and South Vietnam, allied with the U.S. The fear was that if North Vietnam took over South Vietnam, the door would be opened for the further spread of communism. This was known as the Domino Theory. North Vietnam won the Vietnam War, although communism did not spread further than South Vietnam, which disproved the domino theory. -
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
When soviet troops invaded Afghanistan, the Soviet Union intervened in support of the Afghan government, and a guerrilla war was fought. It lasted nine years. -
The organization of the pro-democracy movement in Poland
The pro-democracy movement was organized by the the solidarity trade movement. It was a labour union that fought for democracy in Poland, and contributed to the fall of communism. The government had attempted to destroy the union but failed. -
The Berlin Wall is torn down
When the Berlin Wall was torn down, the people of Berlin were reunited not only physically but ideologically as well, after being seperated for over 25 years. -
The Warsaw Pact is resolved
The Warsaw Pact was torn apart by anti-soviet and anti-communist movements across Eastern Europe. After the pact was resolved, some countries that were part of it joined NATO, which was the pact's opposition. -
START is signed
START, Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, was an agreement between the US and the USSR to reduce the use of nuclear weapons as a deterrent. -
The Soviet Union ceases to exist
When Gorbachev stepped down as leader of the Soviet Union, the former republics of the USSR gained independence. With the end of the Soviet union came the end of the cold war, as it was between the US and the USSR.
