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The Yalta Conference
The leaders of the Big Three countries; Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Josef Stalin met to confirm the demand of absolute surrender from Germany. This connects to the Political GASPIRE+ theme because it is a meeting between the political leaders of the Big Three countries; Russia, Great Britain, and the USA. http://spartacus-educational.com/2WWyalta.htm -
Hiroshima
The first ever use of an Atomic Bomb which resulted in a devastation on a scale never before even imagined. Because of the location, this bomb left radioactive residue that prevented the further population of the area, which connects to the Geographical GASPIRE+ theme. http://www.atomicarchive.com/Photos/Hiroshima/image1.shtml -
Nagasaki
A second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. The second usage of an atomic bomb was Psychologically significant because it crippled Japan's population and demoralized them as a whole. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/nagasaki-arch-hoax.shtml -
Stalin Monument
Various statues of Josef Stalin were erected across the USSR. This could connect to the Artistic GASPIRE+ theme because it represents the stylization of Stalin as a leader of great power and prestige despite his less than noble intentions for his people.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalin_Monument_(Budapest) -
The Space Race Begins
The US and USSR enter a race of sorts to be the first to establish a presence in outer space. This connects to the Intellectual GASPIRE+ theme because it involves incredible technological advancement in regards to space travel. http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/29/space-arms-race-as-russia-china-emerge-as-rapidly-growing-threats-to-us.html -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The USSR provides Cuba with nuclear missiles capable of reaching over half of the United States of America due to Cuba's closeness to the USA. This connects to the Geographical GASPIRE+ theme due to Cuba's proximity to the USA and the danger that this proximity inspired. http://www.johndclare.net/cold_war16.htm -
An Olympic Surprise
The USSR defeats the US in the Olympic Basketball tournament, 51-50. The US had been undefeated since 1936. The loss caused a huge drop in moral in the U.S. and a huge boost thereof in the USSR, which relates to the GASPIRE+ theme of Social, as the social climate in both countries changed significantly from this. http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/there-is-no-silver-lining-for-1972-u-s-basketball-team-1.3881734 -
SALT
the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty is signed between the US and the USSR to attempt to prevent a nuclear arsenal ever exceeding a point in which the usage of its contents would destroy the world. This event is immensely significant in the realm of Politics, as it marks one of the first agreements between the US and the USSR for the sake of mutual benefit. http://ndawehistory.weebly.com/strategic-arms-limitation-treaty.html -
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
A joined space project between the US and USSR. Heralded as the end to the space race. This event is hugely Culturally significant because it meant that tensions between the two countries had eased and that the previous contempt the populaces felt towards each other was lessened to a large extent. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo%E2%80%93Soyuz_Test_Project -
An Olympian Resurgence
The USSR loses the Olympic Ice Hockey match to the US in a 4-3 victory for the US. The Russians had been the best Hockey team for years beforehand. This event was Culturally significant in that it was a huge moral boost for Americans and was remembered for years afterwards. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_1980_Winter_Olympics -
START
During the summit in Geneva, Reagan proposed Strategic Arms Reduction Talks. The START was significant Intellectually because of the forward-thinking nature of it and because it took into account the nature of the world separately from the egos of involved nations. https://foreignpolicyblogs.com/2009/05/19/start-talkin%E2%80%99/ -
The Chernobyl Disaster
An explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine becomes one of the worst nuclear disasters in all of history. It was an Economic nightmare, as it lead to a decrease in energy production and to the loss of a vast swath of territory in which people could no longer live. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disaster -
The End of the USSR
Russia is recognized at the end of the Soviet Union. This can relate to the Religious GASPIRE+ theme because of the new freedom that the Russian people have to now choose a religion, as their leader is no longer preventing the practice of any religions. http://www.thinglink.com/scene/515928274052841472
