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Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was the meeting between the U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin on the southern coast of the Crimea on the Black Sea. The purpose of the conference was to meet with Stalin to discuss the final attack on the Germans and Japanese and the future of the post-war world. This event led to tension buildup between the Soviet Union and the U.S., and eventually led to the Cold War. Source -
Berlin Declaration
With the Berlin Declaration, the Allies assumed supreme authority over the territory of the German Reich. It was created to determine what would beomcome of Germany aftrer WWII. Germany was split upon the four allied states. Source -
Potsdam Conference
Premier Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union, the new American president, Harry S. Truman, and Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Great Britain met in Potsdam, Germany. This conference took place to negotiate terms for the end of WWII. This conference led to the separation of the Allies, and the Soviet Union distrusting the U.S. and Britain. Source -
North Vietnam
North Vietnam was attacked by a British-Indian and French task force and Japanese troops. North Vietnam was attacked by these forces for control over Vietnam. This resulted in the start of the first Indochina war. Source -
Iron Curtain Speech
Former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, condemned the Soviet Union’s policies in Europe. It was given to divide the Communist and Capitalist sphere of influence in Europe. It was one of the causes to the start of the Cold War. Source -
First Indochina War
Fighting between French forces and their Viet Minh opponents in the South. The war began due to the Viet Minh launching a rebellion against the French authority governing the colonies of French Indochina. This resulted in a Viet Minh victory. Source -
Period: to
The Cold War
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Containment Policy
Kennan's policy to prevent communism from spreading out further across Europe. It was released to prevent the cold war from turning into a hot war. The result was the expansion of the U.S. of the military. Source -
Marshall Plan
American initiative to aid Europe, in which the United States helped to rebuild European economies after the end of WWII. It was created to help Europe since its economy was very bad, and they needed the economy to be working in Europe with the USSR's threat. The plan sparked recovery in Europe. Source -
Berlin Blockade
During post–World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control. It was created to keep the Allies out of Berlin, so that they could keep Berlin to themselves. The result of the Berlin Blockade was a failure for th Soviet Union, since the Allies airlifted supplies into and out of Berlin. Source -
Berlin Airlift
Planes from England and Wesr Germany landed in Berlin to deliver supplies. It was started to avoid the Berlin Blockade. It successfully avoided the Berlin Blockade, which ended in a loss for the Soviet Union. Source -
NATO
An alliance between Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It was created to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. This resulted in the Soviet Union becoming weaker, and rushing to find allies. Source -
Soviet Union tests A-Bomb
At a remote test site at Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, the USSR successfully detonates its first atomic bomb, code name “First Lightning.” They tested the bomb to see the effects it would have on buildings and animals. This led to the Soviet Union creating similar bombs and later using them in war. Source -
People’s Republic of China founded
Chinese Republic was formally established. It was established in order to balance the power amongst the classes in China. This resulted in a new threat rising against both the Soviet Union and the U.S. Source -
Second Red Scare
Americans feared that the Soviet Union hoped to spread communism all over the world, overthrowing both democratic and capitalist institutions as it went. This was started due to rumors of the Soviet's attempts to overthrow democratic governments in neighboring nations. This resulted in panic in the U.S. and an increase in the defenses of the military. Source -
Korean War - American Involvement
The U.S. sprung to defend South Korea after North Korean communist forces slammed South Korea. This war was fought due to the wanting to join the North with the South. The result was an armistice between the UN command and North Korea. Source -
Julius & Ethel Rosenberg
Trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in New York Southern District federal court. Took place since the couple was accused of selling nuclear secrets to the Russians. Trial resulted in execution for all the defendants. Source -
Eisenhower Presidency
Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president of the U.S. He was elected into presidency because of his prestige as commanding general and obtained a truce in Korea. He was president for two terms, and he eased the tensions of the Cold War. Source -
Nikita Krushchev
Rose to power after Stalin's death on March 5, 1953. He was elected into power to fill the void left behind by Stalin's death. The result of Krushchev rising into power was the Cuban-Missile Crisis. Source -
Iranian coup d’état
The overthrow of the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran Mohammad Mosaddegh. It happened due to the nationalization of Iran's oil supply. It resulted in the successful overthrow of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. Source -
Warsaw Pact
The Soviet Union and seven of its European satellites sign a treaty establishing the Warsaw Pact. It was created so that there could be a mutual defense organization that put the Soviets in command of the armed forces of the member states. Its effect was an acting military deterrent on any of the European nations seeking war against other nations. Source -
Hungarian Revolution
Spontaneous nationwide revolt against the government of the Hungarian People's Republic and its Soviet-imposed policies. It took place to try and regain control from the Soviets. It led to the downfall of the Soviet Union. Source -
Suez Crisis
Invasion of Egypt by Israel, followed by Britain and France. The goals were to regain Western control of the Suez Canal and to remove Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser from power. It resulted in an Egyptian political victory and Coalition military victory. Source -
Sputnik
The world's first artificial satellite was launchd into space by the Soviet Union. They launched it to show that they were scientifically superior to the U.S. The result was the Soviet Union's ability to more easily watch and attack their enemies. Source -
Cuban Revolution
It was an armed revolt conducted by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement and its allies against the US-backed authoritarian government of Cuban President Fulgencio Batista. The revolution was started due to a change in leaders. This resulted in the 26th of July Movement victory. Source -
U-2 Incident
A United States U-2 spy plane was shot down in Soviet airspace. It was shot down due to the U.S. trying to use the plane for military attacks against the Soviet Union. It resulted in cancellation of the Paris Summit scheduled to discuss the ongoing situation in divided Germany, the possibility of an arms control or test ban treaty, and the relaxation of tensions between the USSR and the United States. Source -
Kennedy Presidency
JFK was nominateed by the Democratic Party to be president of the U.S. He was elected due to the new televised general election. This election ended with the loss of Nixon by 0.1 percent of the nations votes. Source -
Vietnam War - American Involvement
South Vietnam signed a military and economic aid treaty with the U.S. It was signed to get help from the U.S. and get protection from North Vietnam. This offensive resulted in a loss for South Vietnam and the U.S. Source -
First Man in Space
Russian Soviet pilot and cosmonaut, Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, voyaged into space. He went on the voyage in an attempt to further advance science and engineering. The voyage resulted in his death in space. Source -
Bay of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs invasion begins when a CIA-financed and -trained group of Cuban refugees lands in Cuba. It was created due to attempts to topple the communist government of Fidel CastroThe attack resulted in a failure. Source -
Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint along the Berlin wall. Was given this name because it was the best-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War. This led to escapes from East Berlin into West Berlin. Source -
Berlin Wall
East German authorities begin building a the Berlin Wall to permanently close off access to the West. The wall was built to prevent easterners from traveling to the prosperous west. The construction of the wall led to revolts among German citizens who could no longer see their families, or go to their jobs. [Source](http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/berlin-wall-built) -
JFK Assassination
U.S. President JFK was assassinated while traveling through Dallas, Texas, in an open-top convertible. JFK was gunned down by Lee Harvey Oswald for reasons unkown. This resulted in Vice President Lyndon Johnson being sworn in as the 36th president of the United States. Source -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
A joint resolution that the United States Congress passed on August 7, 1964, in response to the Gulf of Tonkin incident. It was passed in reaction to two allegedly unprovoked attacks by North Vietnamese torpedo boats on the destroyers Maddox and C. Turner Joy of the U.S. Seventh Fleet in the Gulf of Tonkin on August 2 and August 4. It gave the U.S. president an opportunity to wage war, but was later shot down. <a href='http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/249172/Gulf-of-Tonkin-Resolution' > -
Prague Spring
Period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II. The reforms were an attempt to grant additional rights to the citizens of Czechoslovakia in an act of partial decentralization of the economy and democratization. The result was Alexander Dubcek the Prime Minister becoming a forestry worker. Source -
Nixon Presidency
Richard Nixon was elected 37th president of the U.S. He was elected because he ran on a campaign that promised to restore "law and order". Nixon succeeded in ending American fighting in Viet Nam and improving relations with the U.S.S.R. and China. [Source](https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/richardnixon) -
Apollo 11
Spaceflight that landed the first humans on the Moon, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Apollo 11 was launched in a competition during the Cold War known as the Space Race. This resulted in several other nations wanting to also land on the moon. Source -
SALT I
Signed by the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and was intended to restrain the arms race in strategic ballistic missiles armed with nuclear weapons. This led to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and an interim agreement between the two countries. Source -
Tiananmen Square Massacre
Chinese troops storm through Tiananmen Square in the center of Beijing, killing and arresting thousands of pro-democracy protesters. It occurred as a result of student-initiated demand for a social reform to bring better employment conditions and opportunities for the working class. It resulted in the massacre of activists in China. Source -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The head of the East German Communist Party announced that citizens of the GDR could cross the border whenever they pleased. This was created since the problems with east and west Germany were no longer as bad as they had been before. This resulted in rejoice among both sides of the wall and slow steps towards the unification of Germany. Source -
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
Acknowledged the independence of the erstwhile Soviet republics and creating the Commonwealth of Independent States. The Soviet Union fell due to growing tensions within the nation, and pressure from other nations to break apart. This reulsted in the creation of Soviet Republics. Source
