-
The Russian Revolution
the Russian Revolution was the first successful communist revolution in the word. It laid out the ideological groundwork for the differences that would become the Cold War int he 20th century. -
The Potsdam Conference
The first meeting with the three last standing world super powers being the U.S., Britain, and Russia during this conference many tensions were brought up between the nations. -
The Atomic Bomb
When the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan it permanently changed the nature of warfare forever. -
Iron Curtain
A speech given by Winston Churchill and was later the term adopted to describe the spread of communism to Eastern European countries. -
The Hollywood 10
This was 10 Hollywood people with jobs related to movie production who were blacklisted because the refused to answer questions relating to their support of communism in a HUAC meeting. -
The Truman Doctrine
This was a speech given by Truman saying that it was the US's obligation to fight for freedom and defend the free people of Europe, Laying the groundwork for the later Marshall plan. -
The Marshall Plan
This was the US's plan to stop the spread of communism by financially supporting and rebuilding European countries ravaged by WWII. -
Molotov Plan
This was Russia's counter to the US's Marshall plan. The plan was similar to the US's but they would give aid to countries apart of the Soviet Union. -
The Berlin Blockade
In an effort to test the US and further cripple Germany Russia closed off Berlin and denied all access to the city. This was the first major conflict of the Cold War. -
The Berlin Airlift
This was a operation carried out by american pilots dropping food, water, coal, and other supplies for the now isolated Berlin. -
Alger Hiss Case
Alger Hiss was a government official accused and found guilty of espionage with the Soviet Union and executed. -
Nato
Nato was founded to help prevent the spread of communism by uniting democratic countries against communism. -
The Soviet Bomb Test
This was the first successful nuclear bomb test by the soviets and confirmed America's fear that the soviets have a nuclear bomb -
Rosenberg Trial
The Rosenburgs were American citizens accused of espionage with the Soviet Union and sentenced to death -
The Korean War
Was en effort enacted by the united nations but primarily the United States to prevent the spread of communism to South Korea. -
Army-McCarthy Hearing
A series of hearings held by the US senate question the legitimacy of his accusations of communism espionage therefore ending the McCarthy era -
The Geneva Conference
This was a conference held in Geneva Switzerland discussing the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam -
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu
This was the first battle between French and Vietnam that ended with the French pulling out of Vietnam -
The Warsaw Pact
A collective defense treaty made by the Soviet Union as a direct response to the United Nations -
The Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian revolution was a nationwide effort to overthrow the Hungarian People's Republic which had imposed many Soviet laws. -
U2 Incident
A U2 spy plane is shot down while doing reconnaissance deep in Soviet territory this led to the collapse of a summit conference between the countries. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an invasion by a group of U.S. backed cuban resistance fighters trying to overthrow Fidel Castro. This was a failed attempt by the U.S. government to contain communism -
The Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a wall that was erected by the Soviet Union around Berlin that secluded the city from any outside things. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile crisis was a 13 day conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union when the Soviet Union wanted to put missiles in Cuba this almost brought war in between the nations. -
The Assassination of Diem
Diem was the man representing democracy in Vietnam but after finding out that he was very corrupt and rigging elections he was assassinated with the help of the US. -
JFK Assassination
John F. Kennedy was assassinated and so Lyndon B. Johnson took over and then escalated the war in Vietnam greatly. -
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution was when a US ship in the Tonkin Gulf took some fire this lead Lyndon B. Johnson to get a "blank check" that allowed him to send as many US troops as he wanted to Vietnam. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation rolling thunder was an operation that aimed to soften North Vietnamese troops by gradual and sustained bombing through out the region. -
The Tet Offensive
The Tet offensive was an attack on the whole of south Vietnam on a holiday cease fire this was a turning point in the war for the US because despite being a military victory it was largely considered a fail by US media and thus the US lost much of its support from its citizens. -
The Assassination of MLK
Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated in the Lorainne motel in Memphis Tennessee this led to a lot of chaos especially after the JFK assassination -
The RFK Assassination
John F. Kennedy's brother Robert F. Kennedy was shot and killed at the Embassador hotel in Los Angles this led to even more chaos and fear in the country. -
The Invasion of Czechoslovakia
Russia along with 4 other warsaw pact countries invade Czechoslovakia this did not appear good for the US as it meant that communism was spreading further. -
Riots of Democratic Convention
Several anti-war protest groups showed up to protest for the end of the war in Vietnam. -
Election of Nixon
Richard Nixon was elected president to end the war in Vietnam and he did end the war. -
Kent State
The Kent State massacre was a protest at Kent State university Ohio in which 3 students were shot by the National Guard this cause even more outrage and loss of support for the war in Vietnam -
Nixon Visits China
This was the first time that the US had opened relations between the two countries and was very good for the US. -
The Cease Fire in Vietnam
This was the official cease fire in Vietnam effectively putting an end to the war. -
The Fall of Saigon
The People's Army of Vietnam as well as Viet Cong took over and liberated Saigon. This meant that the communist north had now taken over the country. -
Reagan Elected
Ronald Reagan was a republican president elected with the promise that he would take action against the communists in Europe and also had to pull the US out of its lull after vietnam. -
SDI announced
The SDI or Strategic Defense Initiative was a proposed missile defense system using lasers to shoot down any missiles before they can get to american soil dubbed Star Wars this ultimately forced the Soviet Union out of the Cold War. -
Geneva Conference With Gorbachev
This was a big moment as the two leaders of the worlds superpowers were meeting for the first time and later would lay the ground work for peace between the two countries. -
Tear Down This Wall Speech
This speech was given by Ronald Reagan in front of the Berlin wall against his advisers advice telling Gorbachev to tear down the wall ultimately a fairly tense situation for many people fearing that it would make Gorbachev mad. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin wall symbolized the raising of the iron curtain and the end to the long and arduous Cold War and the end of this timeline.
