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Period: to
Cold War
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Iron Curtain descends on Europe
The Iron Curtin was a separation of Europe from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991. The Soviet Union planned to isolate themselves from the rest of Europe. The separation allowed each side to develop their own government and laws. -
Potsdam Conference
The three powers of the Soviet Union, United Kingdom and the United States participated in the Potsdam Conference. The goal of this conference was to establish post war tactics like relief efforts for citizens effected by the destruction. At the same time many world leaders were awaiting election after the Labor Party’s defeat. -
Formation of the United Nations
International cooperation was the goal of the United Nations. When this establishment was created its purpose was to replace the League of Nations which helped to prevent another world war. The United Nations program include tasks like international peace and safety, promoting human rights, protecting the environment, and providing food for the hungry, natural disaster, and armed conflict. -
Truman Doctrine
This was a speech delivered by President Harry Truman addressing the USA’s part in the relief effort with Turkey and Greece in order to prevent them in choosing to join the Soviet Union. The USA provided food, military services and other help to these counties during the cold war. -
Marshall Plan
This was the plan to aid Europe in rebuilding its economy after World War 2. This was mostly in an effort to prevent the spread of communistic ideas through Europe. The plan was to get Europe back to the way it had been before. Marshal spoke about the importance of this “recovery system” at Harvard University in June of 1947. -
Creation of Israel
The state of Israel was established by Harry S. Truman and became a nation on the same day. After appointing experts to study the issues of Palestinian he decided to divide Great Britain’s former Palestinian mandate into Jewish and Arab states. -
Berlin Airlift
The Berlin Airlifts purpose was to carry supplies like food, fuel, and materials that the people in West Berlin needed. They did this instead of allowing the Soviet zone to provide the supplies, even though they had already travel routes to this area. This help ended on the 12th of May, 1949. -
Formation of NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was a major corporation during the Korean War. The members that signed up agreed to mutual defense on any attack by anyone that was not involved in the organization. There were many military financial problems along with overspending in this association. -
Korean War
This war was between North and South Korea and was supported by the United States in favor of South Korea. The United States provided over half of the soldiers in the South Korean forces for this war as well as supplies, food, and relief efforts. This war has been compared to WWI with military strategies like air bombings and trench warfare. This war ended July 27th, 1953. -
Stalin Dies
The leader of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin died March 5, 1953. He became the leader of this country in the mid-1920s. Stalin was appointed general secretary during the Russian Revolution of 1917. Stalin led his country through a post-cold war rebuilding phase. He is still seen as a controversial leader because of his harsh actions towards the citizens of his country. -
Warsaw Pact Formed
The Warsaw Pact was a response to the creation of NATO. There was still military concern in the Cold War even six years after the NATO was formed so they decided to form the Warsaw Pact. This pacts purpose was to keep national defenses strong and help to protect against enemy attach. The pact gave The Soviet Union a stronger hold on their communist views. -
Vietnam War
This war was fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. South Vietnam was supported by the United States while North Vietnam was supported by communist supporters like the Soviet Union and China. This war is the longest war to date that the USA has been involved in lasting over sixteen years. -
Suez Crisis
After a confrontation between Egypt vs. Britain France and Israel, the president decided to nationalize the Suez Canal. When this happened Israel entered Egypt with military force. The attach aimed to remove the president from power. Troops were not withdrawn from the country until March 1957. -
Sputnik I & Sputnik II
This was a satellite launched into space by the Soviet Union. This machine was the first of its kind at the time. When this device was launched it opened up the information of space dramatically for the world. This one event marked the beginning of modern space exploration. -
NASA is formed
President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1958. This was very important because NASA is responsible for almost all space exploration by the USA. This has led to many research programs and learned information by the space program. All information is shared throughout the country and world. -
Bay of Pigs invasion
When the USA invaded Cuba in 1961 it was called Bay of Pigs invasion. The United States entered with armed forces with help of the CIA. It only took three days for Cuban forces to defeat the CIAs army with sunken ships and destroyed air support. The USA had hoped to overthrow the revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. -
Berlin Wall Constructed
In order to cut off West Berlin from the rest Germany and the rest of Berlin, construction started on the Berlin Wall and was enforced by the German Democratic Republic. They wanted their East side to be separate from the West. The wall came complete with armed enforces and military guards. The purpose of the wall was to control Eastern Bloc emigration and defection. The wall fell in 1990 and was destroyed but angry protesters. The wall was destroyed by angry public protesters. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
This was an argument between the Soviet Union and Cuba in confrontation with the United States over nuclear warfare. It was worsened when the USA the nuclear missiles in Turkey and Italy, aimed at Moscow. As tensions rised the president decided to place a navel blockade around cuda and demanded that they take down their wheapons. -
Kennedy is assassinated
John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States was fatally shot and killed on November 22, 1963. When this occurred Kennedy had been participating in a President motorcade in Dallas, Texas with his wife by his side. There are many controversies about this assassination as to who carried out the assassination and where the shooter was when he shot the gun. There was a man accused of the shooting named Lee Harvey Oswald who was killed before his trial was over. -
USS Pueblo Incident
While being used as a research ship for naval intelligence, it is said that the ship crossed into international waters which caused military services from North Korea. The timing of this attach was significant because it occurred about a week after the President of the United States State of the Union address. The ship is now used as a museum and in in possession of North Korea. -
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
The purpose of this treaty was to prevent the international use of Nuclear Weapons and promote a peaceful unity between all countries. All countries that agree to this say that they will not purchase or sell Nuclear weapons at any time. Of course many countries did not obey these terms and the NPT is not always effective. -
UN Resolution 2758
This was passed in order to recognize the People's Republic of China as the only real representation of China as far as the United Nations was concerned. When this happened it replaced many views that other countries had of China. -
Nixon Visits China
This visit gave Americans a first glance at the Chinese culture and government. President Nixon visited many Chinese schools, hospitals, and famous landmarks of the city. Nixon going to China was a very unexpected and dramatically changed the Cold War. -
Paris Peace Accords
The purpose of the Paris Peace Accords was to establish peace in Vietnam by putting an end to the Vietnam War. When this was signed it ended all US involvement in the war. The two creators of this agreement were both awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1973. One of the men refused to accept. -
South Vietnam falls
The fall of South Vietnam led to the end of the Vietnam War, a new government established, and a huge loss of refugees. The biggest effect of this was the change to a communist state. After many years of protests and riots demanding a communist state it was finally here. When the city fell all American citizens and military workers were evacuated from the area. -
Salt II & Salt I Agreements
The SALT II agreement was signed by President Carter and in Vienna on June 18, 1979. The purpose of the agreement was to a long term treaty that put limitations on the current weapons system. The USA wanted to ensure that both sides fighting in the war would have equal resources like number of tanks they used in battle. In 1986 the USA was removed from this agreement because others had violated the rules of it. -
Iran Hostage Crisis
During this event fifty five American diplomats and citizens were held captive by Iran in hopes to bring an upset to the United States on America. The victims were help for 444 days while multiple accounts of negotiation failed. The USA did not want to be blackmailed. Many military efforts failed and caused the death of Americans and Iranians. On July 27, 1980 after still more failed negotiations the hostages were released to the USA. -
USSR invades Afghanistan
Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev sent his troops into Afghanistan December 24th 1979. The Mujahedeen forces were given military training, supplies and lots of money by the USA and other countries in order to prepare themselves for war against the Soviet Union. The troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan May 15, 1988. The war was compared in many ways to the Vietnam War. -
U.S. & Soviet boycotts of the Olympics
The United States decided not to participate in the 1980 Moscow Olympics if Soviet troops did not withdraw from Afghanistan within one month. When the time came to decide Jimmy Carter chose to join the boycott along with other countries like Japan and West Germany. -
Korean Airline Flight 007
This plane was form a Korean Air line and was traveling from New York City to Seoul when it was shot down by a Soviet interceptor. All of the 269 passengers were killed in this incident including all crew members. When it was shot down it is said that it passed through a private Soviet area but The Soviet Union denied any knowledge of the disaster. -
U.S. invades Grenada
After the murder of the prime minister of Grenada and the bombing of the U.S. Marine Barracks, the U.S. Army entered Grenada. The USA used Arial strikes during this conflict and many people viewed this act as unnecessary and a violation of international law. The day of the invasion is now a national holiday in Grenada. -
Iran Contra Affair
Senior administration officials secretly sold weapons to Iran in hopes that when they did this US hostages would be safely released. When the public found out about what the officials had done the President supported it but it is still uncertain if he had given them permission to go through with the plan. -
Chernobyl disaster
In the Ukrainian (SSR) there was a nuclear accident in 1986. This is the worst nuclear power plant explosion in history. Thirty one people were killed in the incident in history and numerous people have died of cancer because of the radiation that was put out in the area. The death number is still unknown. The radiation makes the area unsafe for humans and animals to live in. -
Tiananmen Square Massacre
The Tiananmen Square Massacre was a military attach on student protesters in Beijing China. The purpose of the protests was to point out the issues that were happening in the Chinese government. A large trigger of these events was the military killing of a communist leader. The protests spread throughout the country and caused the death of many citizens. -
Dissolving of the Soviet Union
The day before the dissolving of the Soviet Union the president had resigned. The Soviet Union was split into fifteen different countries. What led to this event was a Communist leader getting to much power and taking control of the country.
