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Period: to
Cold War
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The Russian Revolution
Change:
Also known as the October Revolution, when the Bolsheviks rebeled against the Provisional Government in Russia at the time. It eventually led to a civil war, in which, the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin came to power. Thus, resulting in the creation of the Communist Government in Russia. -
Memorandum X
Evidence:
Published in Foreign Affairs magazine as "The Sources of Soviet Conduct", George Kennan wrote about the Soviet culture and dangers of Soviet expansion. In his article, he warns the United States people to caution the Soviet Union and stratgies to contain them. This memo was adopted by the United States Government in the begginnings of the Cold War. It led to containment strategies such as the Berlin Airlift and the Marshall Plan. -
The Marshall Plan
Change:
This began the first act by the United States in an effort to stop Soviet Expansion. The United States would supply aid or funds to any country that needed it to stabilize its government. This was the first strategy of the United States as it utilized the notion of passive containment to stop the Soviet Union. -
Soviets drop their first A-Bomb
Change:
RDS-1 code named First Lightning was the first successfully detonated atomic bomb by the USSR. This single event changed the poltical landscape into a Bi-Polar world. -
National Security Council 68
Evidence:
Unlike George Kenna's Memo X, NSC 68 called for a more active form of containment against Soviet Expansion. Rather than diplomacy, military action was called for and it became the second strategy of containment adopted by the United States. The Vietnam and Korean wars were both examples of NSC 68 strategy put into use. -
The Period of Detente
Time:
This time period known as Detente was a period of unthawing or decreasing tensions between the two superpowers. This period of time was signified by the installation of the U.S/Soviet hotline, SALT I & II disarmament agreements, and also the Helsinki Accords. This period lasted until the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1980. -
Triangular Diplomacy
Empathy:
As anti-war tensions grew in the United States, the Nixon administration planned to change strategies once again. This strategy would be to play two Rival communist nations against each other. This involved giving China Most Favored Nation status in addition to more advantageous foreign trade agreements. In this strategy, the U.S. planned to ease tensions with the USSR to focus more on domestic affairs. -
The fall of Saigon
Empathy:
After the U.S. pulled out of Vietnam, Vietnam, without foreign aid eventually surrendered after the Fall of Saigon in April 1975. This showed the mindset of the American People as they were continually misconceived by the Nixon Administration. Eventually, anti-war tensions grew so big that the U.S. was forced to pull out due to Domestic tensions at home. -
Perestroika and Glasnost
Change:
Perestroika is the policy of restructuring.
Glasnost meaning openness. These two policies some would say were the main causes of the Soviet Collapse. Gorbachev, who championed these policies, was the first Soviet President to announce that the USSR was a failing economy. The resturcturing called for a economic policy change and Glasnost called for more a bigger openning to new policies. It created reforms such as an opening to commercial investment and multi candidate elections. -
End of the Cold War
Cause:
The end of the Cold War was signified by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Reasons why the Soviet Empire collapsed could be explained by a myriad of reasons:
-Perestroika
-Stagnating Economy
-Decntralization of the Soviet Government
-Over focus of military build up and neglect of domestic affairs
-Glasnost
