-
Yalta Conference
World War II meeting of the Big Three (FDR, Churchill, Stalin) -
Potsdam Conference
The Big Three negotiated terms for the end of World War II. -
Truman Doctrine
American foreign policy created to counter the Soviet Union. -
Marshall Plan
The American initiative to aid Western Europe. -
Berlin Blockade Starts
An attempt by the Soviet Union to limit the ability of the Allies to travel into their sectors of Berlin. -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
NATO, a military alliance, is established. -
Korean War
North Korea invades South Korea. -
Joseph Stalin Dies
The leader of communist Russia, Joseph Stalin, dies. -
Warsaw Pact is formed.
The Warsaw Pact, a defense treaty amongst communist nations, is formed. -
Vietnam War Starts
Northern Vietnam vs. Southern Vietnam (Allies vs. Communists). -
U-2 Incident
A United States U-2 spy plane was shot down while in Soviet airspace. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
A two day failed military invasion of Cuba. -
Construction of the Berlin Wall
The construction of the Berlin Wall starts. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
13-day political and military standoff because of the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles in Cuba (close to the U.S.). -
China explodes it's first atomic bomb.
The Chinese explode an atomic bomb. -
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
The Soviet Union intervened in support of the Afghan communist government. -
INF Treaty
Treaty of the U.S. and Russia to eliminate their nuclear missiles with certain ranges. -
Yeltsin Comes to Power
Boris Yeltsin, the first freely elected president of Russia, becomes the new leader of the Soviet Union. -
Mikhail Gorbachev Comes to Power
Leader of Russia, Mikhail Gorbachev, comes to power. -
U.S.S.R. Breakup
Dissolution of the Soviet Union.
