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Russian Revolution
The people of Russia started a revolt against the Tsar, who was the imperialistic leader of Russia. He made them eat less food while working harder, in order to support the war. First was the February Revolution; in which people asked for a higher bread ration. Many joined this rebellion. The Tsar would be overthrown and put into prison. Later on, in Switzerland an exiled Russian, Vladimir Lennon was planning his own Revolution. He returned to Russia to lead a group known as the Bolsheviks. -
Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference was a meeting between the three leading ally powers of World War Two; Harry S Truman, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin. This meeting was held to discuss the future of the world. Control of Germany, post war boundaries, winning war with Japan, and securing a lasting peace for Europe were all the main topics. Churchill and Truman wanted peace and prosperity representing one side. On the other side Stalin wanted to dominate all of Europe and make it a communist continent. -
Atomic Bomb-Hiroshima/Nagasaki
The U.S decided to drop two bombs on Japan on August 6, and August 9, 1945. One in the city of Hiroshima and another in the city of Nagasaki. These weapons of destruction killed 100's of thousands and in the end gave Japan no other decision than too surrender. This was the first nuclear weapon in world history. It revolutionized the future of all wars. -
Iron Curtain
The Iron Curtain was the option by the Soviet Union to seal themselves off from everyone else so there could be no communication. This created a boundary, dividing Europe into two areas. This lasted from the end of World War 2 until the end of the Cold War. This was called the Iron Curtain, because in a speech by Winston Churchill, he stated that an iron curtain had fallen across the continent. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was a U.S foreign policy created by President, Harry S. Truman, designed to stop the Soviet Union from further expansion of the world and to stop the spread of communism all together. This was first announced when Truman gave his speech in March of 1947. It lasted two years before becoming the bigger/better version known as NATO. -
Hollywood 10
The Hollywood Ten was a group of ten men who worked for the Hollywood film industry. These men consisted of screenwriters, film directors, and producers. They publicly ignored any questions from the HUAC organization, about possible ties with the communist influence being shown in their motion pictures. In the end they received jail sentences and were banned from making any more motion pictures. -
Molotov plan
The Molotov Plan was created by Soviet foreign minister, Vyacheslav Molotov. This was the idea that the Soviet Union would help rebuild there fellow allied countries in Europe and Asia. They would rebuild there economy as well as there military to get these countries back into fighting form. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall plan was an idea given by secretary of state, George Marshall. The Marshall Plan, or other wise described as the "recovery program", spent over 13 billion on a recovery effort for Europe's economy. This lasted from 1948-1951. President Truman signed the document in April sealing the deal. In the picture below, it signifies that the U.S started with helping Europe, but that they are more than happy to help other countries out. -
Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade was an attempt by the Soviet Union to limit and or stop the British, France, and U.S from traveling to certain parts of Berlin. This blocked all the Western Allies railways, roads, and any access to canals. The Soviets Wanted to keep this side of Europe under Russian power and communist influence. -
Berlin Airlift
The U.S navy and Air Force took supplies such as, clothes, food, water, health essentials, and other important needs. Since Eastern Europe has been taken over by the Soviets, they aren't giving any job opportunities to people so America figured they needed to help out in somewhat of a secretive way. They would land real quick into Berlin, drop off the supplies, and quickly fly away before being scene. -
Alger Hiss Case
In 1948, Whittaker Chambers an ex communist, testified before HUAC, charging Alger Hiss of being a communist between the 1930's and 1940's. He was also confronted about sharing secrets to the Soviets about certain top secret reports. Apparently, Hiss passed the documents onto Chambers, but at the time Chambers went by a different name. So when presented to the trial, Hiss said he did not know Chambers. Eventually he was found guilty in 1950. -
NATO
In 1949, because of the communist ways spreading across the world, the United States and 11 other western nations formed to create (NATO) North Atlantic treaty Organization. In answer, Russia and their allies created their own organization called the "Warsaw Pact". This continued between both sides until the end of the Cold War in 1991. -
Soviet Bomb Test
On August 29, 1929 the Soviets successfully detonated an atomic bomb, the first ever by a country other than the U.S. This worried many people all over the world, because the USSR now had full blown power against any enemy besides the U.S. One person named Klaus Fuchs, that worked in the organization that made the atomic bomb in America, was confronted and later imprisoned for passing on documents and blue prints to the Soviets. He was charged with nuclear espionage. -
Korean War
The Korean War began when about 75,000 soldiers from North Korean ran across the 38th parallel. This began the first military attack in the Cold war. By July time the Americans had come over and helped the South Koreans take on North Korea. At this point many feared this battle would start the beginning of World War 3. Thankfully the Korean War ended in July of 1953. About 5 million civilians and soldiers lost their lives that day. -
Rosenburg Trial
The Rosenburg's were a husband and wife, that were convicted of espionage, specifically from selling nuclear secrets to the Russians. At this time treason wasn't an option since the U.S was not at war with the Soviets. David Greenglass, Julius Rosenburg's brother in law, confessed that while he was a part of developing the atomic bomb, Julius asked him to pass along highly confidential documents about the bomb. This was the only evidence court had. The Rosenburg's were executed on April 6, 1951. -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu began on March 13, 1954 and ended May 7, 1954. Even though the Battle only lasted two months this was part of an already long 8 year war. This battle was so significant because it was a major turning point for the Vietnamese. The Vietnamese won back their independence, while France lost and had to agree to that. This led into an even bigger war 5 years later. -
Army-Mccarthy Hearings
The Hearings began on April 22, 1954 and ended in June, 1954. Senator Joseph McCarthy creates the hearings to investigate into the American Army's lack of willingness and aggression towards the Soviets. He believed there were over 200 communists in the Department of State. He shortly had much power and was feared, but quickly became a political liability. He departed weeks later and his fame had vanished. -
Geneva Conference
The Geneva Conference took place on April 26, 1954 and ended on July 20, 1954. United States, the Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, France, and Great Britain met together to discuss/solve several problems in Asia. An agreement was made where France would withdraw troops from northern Vietnam, but that Vietnam would be divided at the 17th parallel. This was to allow the new nation to decide on new presidency and start over. U.S and France didn't sign, but they would abide by it. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was formed on May 14, 1955. it was made up of the Soviet Union and seven of it's European Satellites. This included the Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria. It was a defense organization. Basically, whenever one nation was attacked, the others must come over and defend that nation. This was made right after the U.S and others created NATO. This Pact ended in 1991. -
Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian began on October 23, 1956 and ended November 10, 1956. Thousands took the streets protesting the fact that they a more democratic and free political system. One man was appointed to try and deal with it in a peaceful way, but he soon to demanded the withdrawing of Hungary from the Warsaw Pact. He announced an attack that next day. 2,500 Hungarians were killed and 200,000 fled as refugees. -
U2 Incident
In May of 1960, the USSR shot down an american U-2 plane in Soviet air space and captured the American pilot, Francis Gary Powers. After president Eisenhower found out about the capture, he was forced to tell the USSR that the American CIA had been flying above them for several years now. Powers was sentenced to ten years in prison. But two years in, he was released in exchange for a soviet prisoner held in the U.S. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
This invasion began April 17, 1961 and ended two days later on April 19th. The Cuban Exile began an attack at an isolated area by the southern shore known as the Bay of Pigs. To say the least, it was a huge failure all around. Many ships sunk because of coral reefs, paratroopers landed in the totally wrong spot, and now everyone was pinned by Castro's army. The army barely lasted a day. 114 killed and 1,100 taken prisoner. -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was constructed and finished August 13, 1961 and was destroyed November 9, 1989. The wall was created from barbed wire and concrete twelve feet high and 100 miles long. This isolated west Berlin. East German Border controls were ordered to shoot to kill and they did exactly that. The economic stability in the east now went way up after the wall was built. This averted war in Europe all together for the moment. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis began on October 16th, 1962. Soviet Ships crossed the Atlantic ocean traveling to Cuba. They carried military weapons, troops, and nuclear weapons. This would be capable of striking anywhere in the U.S. The U.S got ready with their own army and nuclear weapons ready, in case the Soviets actually do launch their missiles. If missiles were launched, the U.S was ordered to launch all missiles at all of Russia's major cities. On October 28th, 1962 the missiles were removed. -
Assassination of Diem
President Ngo Dinh Diem and his government were overthrown on November 1, 1963. The very next day an unknown group of soldiers arrested him and his brother and both were killed that same day. Diem's death actually caused a wave of excitement for many South Vietnamese. Unfortunately, this lead to a chaotic political system, meaning the U.S felt they had to step in. The U.S said they had no role in Diem's death, but later was found out that U.S officials met with generals who organized the plan. -
Assassination of JFK
While riding in a Lincoln Convertible, JFK waved his hands at the fellow people in downtown Dallas. JFK decided to visit Dallas Texas on a political outing. His wife, Governor Connally, and Vice President Lyndon B Johnson accompanied him on this trip. At the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository around 12:30 p.m, Lee Harvey Oswald fired three shots directly at the president, killing Kennedy and his officer J.D Tippit. Oswald was killed two days later while being transferred to jail. -
Tonkin Gulf resolution
Allegedly on August 2, and 4th there were two attacks on two U.S Navy destroyers; The U.S.S Maddox, and U.S.S Turner Joy. These two ships were roaming the Gulf Tonkin. These were meant to support the Southern Vietnamese military raids against Northern Vietnamese. This scare cause president LBJ to pass the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. This was right before the start of the Vietnam war. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was the code name for an American bombing journey during the Vietnam War. Between 1965 and 1968 U.S aircraft's targeted all of North Vietnam. This was meant to pressure North Vietnam's leaders into making a decision against the South Vietnamese. This attack was the first assault in North Vietnamese territory. This really expanded U.S involvement in later wars and events. -
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a number of attacks by the Northern Vietnamese on over 100 cities in South Vietnam. The main goal rebel versus the population of Southern Vietnamese and make the U.S back off it's involvement in Vietnam. The South Vietnamese and U.S defended the attack but they both ended with heavy casualties. For the North, this marked a huge turning point in the war itself. The Tet offensive ended September 23, 1968. -
Assassination of MLK
On April 4, 1968 Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. His death shook the world, for he had 100's of thousands of followers throughout his life. He was most famously known for his leadership of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950's. His death angered many, both black and white. This helped speed up and create the bill that was the final achievement of the Civil Rights Act. -
Assassination of RFK
On June 5, 1968 Robert F. Kennedy, brother of John F. Kennedy, was murdered in a hotel in Los Angeles. He was pronounced dead the very next day. Senator Kennedy was liked for his integrity and dedication to the Civil Rights Act. He was predicted to go against Richard Nixon as the new up and coming President of the United States. Both Kennedy brothers had now been assassinated within three years of each other. -
Invasion of Czechoslovakia
On August 20, 1968, 200,000 troops from the Warsaw Pact, including 5,000 tanks, invaded Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia was no match for the soviet army. The soviets took over their whole government and forced communism onto them. -
Riots of Democratic Convention
On August 28, 1968, tens of thousands protest in the streets and end up being in a battle with the police. At the same time, the democratic convention was in a very heated disagreement over the stance of in Vietnam. The U.S and USSR relationship was now very cold, and it may not be peaceful again. -
Election of Nixon
This was now the second time Nixon had run for president. After losing to JFK in 1960 he decided to run for governor of California two years later. At this point most believed Nixon's career was just about done for. But in 1968 right after the death of Robert F. Kennedy, Nixon pulled out a victory. -
Kent State
At Kent State protesters faced off against the Ohio state national guard. 4 students afterwards were presumed dead. These people were angry about Richard Nixon's speech about the U.S being pitiful, helpless giant. -
Nixon Visits China
On July 15, 1971, Nixon shocked the world when he announced on live TV, that the following year in February, he would be visiting China for the first time in over 20 years. This allowed all Americans to see photos and videos from China. This was a huge step for the U.S, for we are now trying communicate and gain peace with China for many years to come. This week of talking would change negotiations between them forever. The exchange ended on February 28, 1972. -
Ceasefire in Vietnam
The actual cease fire went into effect on January 27, 1973. Nixon announced on January 15, 1973 that he would end the Vietnam War for good. This was after he got a peace proposal. He ordered a cease fire of all aerial bombings. -
Fall of Saigon
The outside of Saigon had now been reached by the North Vietnamese. At this time some Americans were still stuck in Saigon, so we evacuated them out, before the Northern Vietnamese got there. Saigon was taken over very quickly and was renamed Ho Chi Minh city. -
Reagan Elected
Ronald Reagan, a former actor and governor, of California, was elected as the 40th president of the United States. He served two terms; 8 years total. He was one of the more popular presidents to ever serve. He helped tremendously to end the cold war. He died at 93, in 2004. -
SDI Announced
SDI, aka, (Strategic Defense Initiation), was an idea that the U.S use a space like anti-ballistic missile that will shoot down other nuclear missiles coming from different countries. This was also named Star Wars, for many related it too the fictional movie. This idea was long from being made and many Americans put it behind them, but other countries saw it as a major threat. -
Geneva Conference with Gorbachev.
In the fall of 1989 President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union leader, Mikhail Gorbachev meet for a conference to discuss their relationship and problems in the world. During this conference they each found that their relationship got much closer. The whole meaning of the meeting was to have better relations with the U.S, and create a border of peace. -
"Tear Down This Wall" Speech
Ronald Reagan traveled to West Berlin right in front of the Berlin Wall. He was representing the protesters of West Berlin and telling Gorbachev to tear down the wall if they want peace. The tear down of the wall would represent a sign of alliance between U.S and Soviets. Many advised Reagan not to go, but he was determined to make things the way he wanted them to be. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
After the speech from Reagan, Gorbachev thought a lot of what he said, and 5 months later he made the decision to allow people to cross the borders. More than two million tore through the wall that weekend, with pick axes and hammers. Now Berlin was reunited for the first time since 1945.
