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Berlin Blockade Begins
The Soviet Union's attempt to limit the abilities of France, Great Britain, and the United States to travel to their sectors of Berlin, which lay within Russian-occupied East Germany. Berlin Blockade -
NATO is formed
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is formed in an "effort to serve three purposes: deterring Soviet expansionism, forbidding the revival of nationalist militarism in Europe through a strong North American presence on the continent, and encouraging European political integration." http://www.nato.int/history/nato-history.html -
Berlin Blockade Ends
The Soviet Union gives into clearly failing blockade by reopening borders after the US begins to fly needs into West Berlin despite attempts to block Allied access. -
Korean War begins
The Korean War was a result of the dividing of the country due to controversy over communism. The war resulted in 5 million deaths; up to half of the casualties were civilians. The war began June 25, 1950 and ended July 27, 1953 with an agreement to officially seperate the country into a communist North and a South. http://www.history.com/topics/korean-war -
Period: to
Korean War
Communism caused a divide in Korea. Korea became two states; a communist north and a south. Nearly 5 million deaths came of it and up to half were civilians. http://www.history.com/topics/korean-war -
Warsaw Pact Formed
The Soviet Union and affiliated Communist countries formed the Warsaw Pact in response to the 11 nation strong NATO. The opposing organizations caused a Western non-communist Europe and an Eastern communist Europe. The Warsaw Pact was not created until 6 years after NATO and it lasted until the end of the Cold War. Both organizations were formed to create coordinated defense against the other. http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/formation-of-nato-and-warsaw-pact -
US Spy Plane Shot Down in Soviet Territory
The United States sent a U-2 plane into Soviet territory to spy and got caught. After being shot down, an embarassed United States attempted to cover up the intentions of the plane although it was clear that they wanted to spy on the Soviet Union. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_U-2_incident -
John F. Kennedy Elected President
Kennedy, democrat, becomes the 35th president of the United States. -
Bay of Pigs
An attempt by a CIA financed and trained group of Cuban refugees to overthrow Fidel Castro. It was "an utter failure." http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-bay-of-pigs-invasion-begins/ -
Cuban Missle Crisis
Soviets were building medium-rang missile sites in Cuba with the intention of firing them into the United States. This crisis nearly caused a nuclear war. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cuban-missle-crisis -
Assasination of Kennedy
John F. Kennedy was assasinated while riding in the photo chosen for this event in Dallas, Texas during the campaign for his second election. He was shot directly in the neck/head. http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/November-22-1963-Death-of-the-President.aspx -
Space Race Ends
The Space Race was a competition between the US and the USSR to explore space. The race ended when the United States made it to the moon. Neil Armstrong flew in Apollo 11 and placed an American flag on the moon marking our territory - video footage is referred to til this day. This race marks the start of NASA which exists to this day. http://www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org/schools-colleges/national-curriculum/space-race/
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11.html -
Formation of Berlin Wall
The Berlin wall serves as a defining symbol of the Cold War. This wall kept families away from each other and caused lost jobs and lost opportunities. The East was communist while the West was "fascist" causing a seperation of Berlin represented by the building of a wall that literally prevented the West from entering the East and vice versa. http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall -
Berlin Wall Falls
East Germany's Communist rulers gave permission for gates along the Wall to be opened as a result of days of mass protest. People immediately began jumping on the wall and attempting to destroy it. http://www.history.co.uk/shows/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-berlin-wall -
Fall of the Soviet Empire
Communist Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria fall -
End of the Cold War
The Soviet Union ceases to exist which ends the 45 year long Cold War. http://www.atomicarchive.com/History/coldwar/page22.shtml
