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Arms Race
After the bombing of Hiroshima, the race for who had bigger and more destructive weapons began between the United States and the Soviet Union. The gaspire theme of psychological can be seen because the perception of bigger and more nuclear weapons fed into the moral that they meant they had more control over their countries and the war. These weapons scared the other countries and led the leaders to form certain conclusions about the other country. -
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The Yalta Conference
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin met together to discuss the fate of Germany, Eastern Europe, and the United Nations following World War II. They all agreed that Germany should take all responsibility from the war and the reparations to follow. The political gaspire theme can be seen because the leaders from each country collectively agreed to govern Germany. This created many allies in the Cold War. -
Truman Doctrine
After Greece and Turkey were threatened by being taken over by communist Russia, the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman provided political, military, and economic assistance to not only Greece and Turkey, but to other democratic countries threatened by communist forces. He requested $400 million from congress to aid the countries. The gaspire theme of economic can be seen because Truman used money to solve resourceful problems involving the economy and territorial disputes. -
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Marshall Plan
US Secretary of State, George Marshall offered $13 billon to aid and rebuild European countries affected by World War II. The Soviet Union and communist countries in Eastern Europe declined the help. The gaspire theme of economic is seen through the use of money to help reimburse scarce resources and the failing economy. This helped establish allies throughout the beginning of the Cold War. It also integrated European economy and the shared interests and cooperation between the US and Europe. -
NATO
NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was the first military alliance the United States joined. Nations of Western Europe became worried about their general wellbeing and safety with the Soviet Union taking over neighboring countries. The United States, Canada, Britain, and France worked together to protect the political, and economic safety of Western Europe. The gaspire theme of geographic is present because this involves the relationship between many different countries. -
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Korean War
North Korea had already transitioned to communist ruling and they tried to convert South Korea to the same ideals. NATO and the United States joined South Korea in their fight against communism. Communist China helped the North invade the South. The cultural gaspire theme is present because North Korea's culture was influenced by the Soviet Union by changing their morals surrounding the world around them. This change in perspective was forced upon the South. This killed 2.5 million people. -
McCarthyism
Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy underwent many investigations during the 1950s to expose communist practices throughout the United States government. Those accused of being communists were blacklisted and lost their jobs. Under Stalin's control, citizens were prohibited from religious worship so, in an effort to steer as far away from communism, Joseph McCarthy regularly embraced the church and religion, seen in the religious gaspire theme. This produced more fear among Americans and Russia. -
Warsaw Pact
The Soviet Union created a treaty with many Eastern European countries that countered NATO. The Soviets were worried by the strength of NATO so they contained Western Germany in hopes to negotiate and become a partner with NATO. This treaty promised a stronger security, political, and military alliance throughout Eastern Europe. The political gaspire theme is present with the Soviet Union stating that anyone against this would be disloyal to their country, increasing the following of the leader. -
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Vietnam War
The Soviet Union influenced North Vietnam in becoming communist so, the Soviet Union and China worked together to try and convert South Vietnam in becoming communist. The United States came to the aid of South Vietnam because they were worried that if all of Vietnam became communist, then all of Asia would be influenced to communism too. The gaspire theme of social can be seen because many children were left orphans after the war, giving them less rights than those not affected by the war. -
Sputnik
Sputnik was the first satellite launched into space and it was produced by the Soviet Union. This created an urgency and intensity for the competition and race between the United States and the Soviet Union for who could be the first to fire weapons across the ocean, put satellites into space, and put the first man on the moon. The gaspire theme of intellectual can be seen because both countries raced to research new methods of space travel and discovery. -
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Cuban Revolution
Cuban nationalist, Fidel Castro overthrew the ruling of Fulgencio Batista and took control over all industries and led a totalitarian government following the support of the Soviet Union. The United Stated trained Cuban exiles to overthrow the communist government in April of 1961. The geographic gaspire theme can be seen through the locations of all countries involved and their previous relationship. -
First Man in Space
The first man in space, Yuri Gagarin was hailed as a Soviet hero. The spaceship that sent him into space was seen as a piece of art due to the success through technological advancements of the time, hence the art gaspire theme. This Soviet achievement launched the competition through the United States and the Soviet Union of who could be the first to fire weapons across the ocean, put satellites into space so they could spy on each other, and put the first man on the moon. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
In the summer of 1962, the Soviet Union sent nuclear missiles into Cuba and the United States set up a blockade along the island of Cuba in October of 1962. The United States president at the time, John F. Kennedy, insisted that the Soviet Union removes the missiles or he would go to war with them. On October 28, 1962, the Soviet Union removed the missiles. The psychological gaspire theme can be seen because this implemented lots of fear among people in the world and impacted their safety. -
First Man on the Moon
Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon and he was praised throughout the United States. This accomplishment by the United States solidified the competition among the Soviet Union and the United States. The aircraft that not only took them into space but took them to the moon was studied and praised as a piece of art due to the great technological advancements for the time, seen as the art gaspire theme. This opened many doors on the universe and travel outside of this world. -
1972 Olympics
In the 1972 Olympics, the United States and the Soviet Union competed against each other in a close game of basketball. Close to the buzzer, the United States were winning and they celebrated, but a referee called a foul and the Soviet Union ended up winning the match. The cultural gaspire theme can be seen because the morals through Russia consist of winning everything no matter what. Integrating the differing cultures of the United States and Russia furthered the battle between the countries. -
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Soviet Union Fights Afghanistan
The Soviet Union constantly ridiculed Afghanistan for being Muslim for they didn't believe in religion. This led to the Soviet Union invading Afghanistan and the battle between the countries. The religious gaspire theme is present because the lack of religious beliefs of the Soviet Union were shoved down Afghanistan's throat. This constant need to control and facilitate the religion throughout Afghanistan resulted in the war. -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin wall separated capitalist Western Berlin and communist Eastern Berlin run by the Soviets. The wall signified the division between governments and rulers. People took axes to the wall and tore it down. This was the start to a unified government throughout Berlin. The social gaspire theme can be seen because the division the wall brought on consisted of two different governments, leaders, and rights that were granted to the public. Western Berlin had more rights than Eastern Berlin. -
End of the Soviet Union
The fall of the Berlin wall was the event that sparked the downfall of the Soviet Union. The people finally spoke for themselves and fought for what they wanted in a country. After Gorbachev resigned as the USSR President, communism ceased to exist in Russia. The intellectual gaspire theme can be seen because the people finally started thinking for themselves and started solving the problems they faced. -
Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation
Russia invaded Crimea in Ukraine in March of 2014 and were demanding land. Many Ukranians were forced to leave and those that remained are subject to harassment, arrest, and imprisonment by Russian authorities. -
Interview
I interviewed my dad and asked him, his most vivid memory of the Cold War, if he ever felt that he was in danger of nuclear weapons, and what the news looked like during this time. His most vivid memory was seeing the "Take Down the Wall" speech by Ronald Raegan and Gorbachev. He felt that he was in danger during this time because he had to go through nuclear training all through school and he saw people buying bomb shelters. He was also shown videos of what to do when a bomb went off. -
Interview Part 2
He also was told that Seattle was a main nuclear target and that there is a nuclear submarine base in Bremerton. He said that in the early 1980's, news was still a national network with 2-3 big news anchors that was given to you at 2 main hours of the day. At the end of the Cold War, this was the start of 24 hour news that we see to this day. He also said that when the Soviets won the Olympics, Ted Turner (founder of CNN) initiated a peace offering with the Soviets for them to compete against -
Interview Part 3
The United States in a sports competition called the Goodwill Games that was held in Seattle at the University of Washington stadium. He said that seeing the Berlin Wall fall down on the news was the most memorable event he has ever seen.
