-
Period: to
House of Un-American Activities Comittee
Considered to be one of the largest example of the Red Scare in America, the HUAC was a government-appointed comittee dedicated to finding Communists anywhere within America, including federal positions and even Hollywood.
Accusations were thrown anywhere and everywhere people's views seemed 'Un-American' fueling the paranoia that was ripping the nation at the time. -
Bretton Woods
In a New Hampshire ski lodge, world leaders came together in atttempt to work out the global economy, inevitably tying all currency to the US Dollar.
This would prove to be an interesting time, as later on in the world the dollar would decrease due to economic troubles, causing many countries to cut their monetary ties. -
Period: to
Truman's Fair Deals
Truman made many proposals during this time, in an effort to aid the people of the US, he used socialists ideas to aid the people.
Some found it hypocritical after his denouncing of Communist ideologies, but in the end, the services provided did quite a lot of good. -
Yalta
After WWII, world leaders came together to decided what would happen afterwards, in regards to the postwar world.
The key issues regarded the country of Germany. Stalin agreed to declare war on Japan after Germany was finished, and it was decided Germany would be divided into zones run by countries, as well as forcing them to pay heavy reparations once more.
The US and USSR showed a clear divide between the two of them, both trying to take control, showing one of the first bold stand-offs. -
Mutually Assured destruction
A strategy of the US, that nuclear weapons would bring a complete annihlation of both parties, since they would retaliate equally.
In regards to the Cold War, this was especially important in the nuclear arms race, as not only was the US worried both countries would kill each other, but that many countries may get caught in the crossfire as well. -
Arms Race
A term used to mean a competition in military/weaponized tech between countries, the most prominent example being the one being US and Russia.
In both of their attempts to be the most powerful country in the world, being able to protect themselves (especially from each other) was key. -
Satellite Nations
Nations around the vicinity of the USSR often fell under their sphere of influence, siding with them due to their power.
Often the USSR would assert their influences by swaying their votes, using their resources and other things, increasing their power over world events. -
Massive Retaliation
A doctrine by the US, it promised for the country to retaliate with greater force if attacked. Of course, this was an indirect letter to the Soviet Union, an attempt to intimidate them, so to speak. -
Iron Curtain speech
A speech given by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, coining the term "The Iron Curtain" to explain the divide between East and West Europe.
Marking one of the first times anyone had spoken out about the subject, Churchill created a term to stand behind for capitalists. -
Baby Boom
After American men came back home to a war-free country, couples were ecstatic. This ended up causing a significant in birth rates in the population, increasing the total American population. Of course, this would become problematic later in life, but this was not considered an issue at this time. -
“Voice of America”
In the late 1940s, America sponsored a radio program in Russia called the "Voice of America." Here, American policies were explained and the country was lauded for everything it had done so far.
A symbol of propoganda behind 'enemy' lines, the broadcast was meant to sway the people of Russia and promote more capitalist ideas. -
Truman Doctrine
Truman released a policy, promising to stop Communism in any country that wants or needs US help.
A direct threat to Russia, this doctrine would be one of the many causes for wars within the Cold War between the two countries. -
Marshall Plan
After WWII many European countries were destroyed. The United States offered money to many of them to help repaire their countries and rebuild their economies.
Of course, many countries, including the USSR, thought the US was trying to buy its way into European affairs. So the USSR proceeded to use their power to get countries to reject the money. -
Period: to
Berlin Airlift
After the division of Germany, the capital of Berlin was divided as well, into an East and West. The USSR ended up blockading all entryways into the West of Germany, so the Allies airlifted supplies to them to provide for the people.
The USSR comitted one of its major direct acts in the Cold War, in an attempt to win Berlin. However, due to both sides stuborness, this started the steps that would lead to the Berlin Wall. -
Alger Hiss
Alger Hiss was a spy found on American soil giving information to the USSR. This caused a national panic over what information he could have leaked, as he was a government official. -
Chinese Communist Revolution
A revolution in China that caused the Communist party to come to power, it provided a new ally to Russia with a new Communist world-power. -
NATO
A collection of nations all bound together in economic and war treaties, this was spear-headed by the US. Of course, this annoyed the Soviet Union, so they responded with the Warsaw Pact. -
Soviets detonation of the Atomic Bomb
Somehow, the Soviets were able to create or procure an atomic bomb, and tested it within Kazahkastan. Though many were aware they had the bomb, this tested confirmed that the USSR matched the US in weapon-power. -
H Bomb
A new class of weapon, the hydrogen bomb was even more deadly than the atomic, and represented an extremely drastic escalation in the arms race. -
McCarthyism/ Red Scare
Senator McCarthy created a panel to seek out an try many suspected Communists, from all places. This futhered the Red Scare within America, and showed how far deep that paranoia went. -
NSC-68
A paper created by Truman, it was made to militarize the US from the threat of a Soviet attack, although it was applicable to any country. It showed how seriously threatened the United States felt by the Soviet Union, and how willing they were to militarize. -
Period: to
Korean War
Due to tension, Korea split between a Communist and Capitalist parties, warring to see who would get the country. Of course, the US took the southern side and the Russian took the northen side. To this day, Korea is split between a North and a South. -
McCarran
The McCarran Act require all Communists to register with the Department of Justice, showing how distrusted the party was within America. -
Dennis v. US
A secratary of the Communist party, Dennis was denied freedom of speech by the Supreme Court about his own views, a direct violation of the US Constitution. -
Stalin’s Death
The death of USSR leader Joseph Stalin resulted in a slight thaw, as most problems the US had were with the man as well as the country. -
Rosenberg Spy Case
A couple in the US was found giving information on the atomic bomb to the Soviets, resulting in their execution. It became a widespread public scandal, terrifying the public with the fact that Soviets had top-secret information. -
Dien Bien Phu
In the Indochina War, this battle involved the French against a communist Viet group. Forcing France to surrender, this caused the country to become Communist, and was the start to the Vietnam War. -
Domino Theory
The idea if one country falls to Communism, others will as well. This was prevailing in the areas around both Russia and China, and was a key belief in US intervention. -
Guatemalan Coup
The US disposed of Guatemala's leader, causing them to switch to a democracy. This was a success in the US' plan to bring democracy, and a loss in the Russia's books. -
Warsaw Pact
In retaliation to NATO, the USSR got its satellite nations to agree to a treaty similar to the other group, to strengthen themselves much like the US did. -
Space Race
The competition between the US and USSR in space travel, this was connected to the arms race and the significance behind that. -
Period: to
Vietnam War
A Civil War within Vietnam, the US took the side of the Southern Democratists, and the USSR the Northern Communists. Possibly one of the most significant events, it portrayed the US in a negative light to its people due to excessive force. -
Khrushchev’s Secret Speech
In an unexpected speech, Krushchev gave a speech to the Communist party, denouncing Stalin, saying he started a cult surrounding him. It led many to believe that the USSR would take a turn for the better. -
Interstate Highway Act
The creation of highways was signed by Eisenhower, which was important for the militarization of the US, as it made ease of access to military bases. -
Sputnik
The first satellite launched into space, it was done by the Russians, causing world-wide news and envy from the US. -
National Defense and Education Act (NDEA)
To increase technological and educational superiorty, Eisenhower's wanted to gain an advantage against the USSR by priming the students of America. -
Neutron Bomb
Yet another advancement in nuclear warfare, the neutron bomb did damage on people, not the buildings around it. This wa seen as volatile warfare, and excessively violent. -
Period: to
Fidel Castro's Leadership
The Communist leader of Cuba, he was an ally of the Soviets, and a threat to America, since Cuba is so close to our shores. -
U-2 spy plane affair
An American spy plane crashed into US territory, causing the pilot to be held prisoner. Although the US denied it was spying on Russia, it was incredibly obvious to all. -
Bay of Pigs
The US sent people into annihalate Fidel Castro, but it failed, leading to enormous tension as it was revealed the US was behind the operation, with both Cuba and its ally Russia. -
Period: to
The Berlin Wall
A wall to prevent people from going between East and West Berlin, it became a clear sign of Communism v. Democracy, and a symbol of a divided Germany. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuba was seen with Soviet missiles within the country, upsetting the US. This resulted in both a stand off between the US, USSR, and Cuba, leading to sanctions until Cuba would relent. -
Hotline
The hotline was the private communication methods between Soviet Russia and the United States, that allowed more understanding between the two countries, at least more for that time period. -
Nuclear Test Ban
A treaty between the US and the USSR to ban the testing of nuclear weapons, which would lead to less widespread panic than before, and less destruction as well. -
The Feminine Mystique
A book created by feminist Betty Friedan, she started second-wave feminism after critiquing the homemaker stereotype, so more females were empowered to work. -
Period: to
Leonid Brezhnev's Leadership
The secratary of the Communist party, he would come into power in 1964, leading to more Soviet influence, and is a symbol for Cold War politics. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Without seeking the approval of Congress, the President used force without their permission to resolve the Gulf of Tonkin crisis, casting him in a bad light. -
Indonesian Coup
The 30 September Movement killed six generals, changing the government to a democracy. Many suspected the US to have been behind the coup, to gain a new ally in the world. -
Cultural Revolution (China)
Mao Ze Dong burned and destroyed all knowledge and culture that was not Communist or went against his own personal belief, encompassing the country within Communist culture. -
Trsscomm
A type of spy ships used to gather intelligence from the Russians. Once, one of the ships was destroyed, and instead of America claiming it as our own, it was left to sink with all the people on it. -
Six Day War
Israel, Egypt, Syria and Jordan fought in a war against Israel itself to gain the land back used for the country. Backed with American weapons, Israel ended the war within six days. -
U.S.S Liberty
During the Six Day War, an American spy ship ended up destroyed. Israel knew it was the US and had blown it up for that reason, showing how the US even spies on its allies. -
Period: to
John Walker Case
An American communications specialist, Walker was convicted of being a Soviet spy, and was found guilty for it, furthering the Red Scare. -
Prague Spring Rebellion
Czechoslovakia was led by the group called Prague Spring who tried to democratize the country. This of course, angered the Soviets, who took them out of power to protect its satellite nation. -
Tet Offensive
The largest campaign of the Vietnam War, Communist forces launched surprise attacks on the Democratics, severely wounding their forces. -
U.S.S Scorpion
A nuclear submarine dissappeared mysteriously, causing panic due to the contents on it. -
Vietnamization
Nixon's policy to end involvement in the Vietnam War, within his own election campaign. Unfortuneately, American forces stayed in Vietnam for even longer, angering the public. -
Détente
An easing of hostility between the US and USSR, it started when Nixon visited the Soviet Union himself, which ahd not been done by a President in many years, providing hope for an end to the War. -
Title IX
An ammendment to the Constitution, saying discriminating against sex is unconstitutional, marking a signifcant event for the second wave of feminism. -
Period: to
SALT I and II
Five year agreements between the US and the USSR to control nuclear weapons, it marked the beginning of the end to the arms race. -
First Unelected President
After Nixon's Watergate scandal, President Ford had to step up in his place, being one of the first presidents to ever come into office unelected by the populus. -
Period: to
Cambodia/Khmer Rouge
After a Cambodian Civil War, the Communist put Khmer Rouge in charge. Khmer Rouge executed many of his people, and was cited as an example of the Communist's detriment to society. -
Helsinki Accords
To reduce tension, the Accords created security in the borders of countries, as well as human rights around the globe. -
Afghanistan War
An overthrow of the Afghanistan government caused a new government to arise that had close ties to the USSR. The people were against this, and wars broke out in retaliation. This led to a lot of blood shed on both sides, and created an unbalance within the country. -
Solidarity
A Polish trade union not controlled by the Communist Party, it caused waves as it was one of the first countries under the Warsaw Pact to do so. -
Period: to
Ronald Reagan's Leadership
Ronald Reagan was there for the end of the Cold War, and the resolving of many conflicts of this time. -
SDI (Star wars)
Nicknamed after the famous movie, the technology was a way to prevent missile attacks from space to protect the United States against Soviet threat. -
Perestroika
A movement for reform within the Communist party, it marked the end of the USSR and the Communist party, although it was supposed to be for its benefit. -
Glasnost
Meaning openness. it was a Soviety policy to have a government who was honest as to what it was doing and to be more open to ideas. This, much like Perestroika, led to its downfall. -
INF Treaty
The treaty was made to get rid of many missiles between both America and the USSR, this marked the end of the arms race, as they were destroying what both had built up. -
Period: to
Gorbachev's Leadership
The final leader of the USSR, marking the end of the Cold War with his dissilution as unelected leader. -
German reunification
After the destruction of the Berllin Wall, Germany was reunited itself, no longer divided between Communists and Democracy.
