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Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was when the United States, Russia, Britain and France all met up when World War II was coming to an end. The leaders decided that they would equally split up the conquered land of Germany. Not only that, but Stalin was going to permit free elections in Eastern Europe and enter the war against Japan. This event was significant because it sparked the start of the Cold War when Stalin took back his word on permitting free elections. -
Potsdam Conference
American, Britain and Soviet Union leaders all met up to discuss postwar decisions. They decided what they were going to do with Europe at the end of WW11. This meeting set the stage for the Cold War. -
Hiroshima
Towards the end of WWII, America asked Japan to surrender. Since they refused to do so, the Americans dropped a nuclear bomb on the city of Hiroshima. The bomb killed over 100,000 people. After the dropping of this bomb did not get Japan to surrender, the Americans dropped another bomb three days later. Finally, Japan surrendered. Stalin realized that America was becoming a threat, and this advanced the tensions between the countries further. -
Europe's "Iron Curtain"
Europes "Iron Curtain" Slide 7 The "Iron Curtain" was a metaphor that symbolized the conflict that divded Europe into two separate areas of political influence. Winston Churchill brought this symbolic term to light during one of his speeches. This set the tone for the Cold War because it showed the divison between the Communist nations and the Democratic nations. -
Second Red Scare
Second Red Scare Slide 9 The second Red Scare (otherwise known as "McCarthyism") was relevant right after WWII had ended. Senator Joseph McCarthy had brought awareness to the United States that communism could be happening in our own state deparment and U.S. army. Joseph McCarthy was accusing very prestigous people of supporting communism without having any actual evidence. This caused panic and fear and created a higher tension between the Soviet Union and the United States. -
The Truman Doctrine
This was a United States policy to stop the Soviet Unions expansion during the Cold War. It stated that the United States would help any democratic nations that were under threat. President Harry Truman stated the Truman Doctrine as the official declaration of the Cold War. -
Berlin Airlift/Blockade
Berlin Airlift/Blockade Slide 6 The Berlin Blockade was an attempt for the Soviet Union to gain complete control over Berlin. They cut off all their routes so they could not recieve external supplies or food. The Soviet Union figured that they would gain control over Berlin this way. The Berlin Airlift was the Western countries way of retaliating back at the Soviet Union. They had no choice but to fly in supplies. This event was important because it made the Western countries realize they had to stand up against the Soviets. -
NATO
The Soviet Union was gaining more and more power and people were afraid that they would begin taking control of other countires. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed as a result of this fear. This was an alliance between the treaties of North America and Europe. The purpose of this was so they could protect each other if the Soviet Union were to take control of their country. The leaders of NATO meet frequently to decide on big decisions and actions they want to take. -
The Warsaw Pact
This was a treaty signed by the Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria. It stated that each member would come to the defense of one another if they were attacked by an outside force. This was the result of the Soviet Union feeling threatened after the Democratic nations formed NATO. This pact moved the Cold War forward and divided the nations furthermore. -
Space Race
Space Race Slide 10 The Soviet Union put two sattelites into orbit. The United States became uneasy, since these satellites could carry missiles one day. They did not want the balance of power to be tipped off. Kennedy wanted the United States to be the first country to put a man on the moon. This sparked tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and they began competition in arms development. The Space Race installed a new-found fear in the United States towards the Soviet Union & their satellites -
Fidel Castro
On this day, Fidel Castro was sworn in as Prime Minister of Cuba. Castro brought communism to this part of the western hemisphere and was a very strong dictator. His communist beliefs began to take over as he tried to expand these ideas. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Bay of Pigs Invasion Slide 14Kennedy took Cuban exiles and trained them to invade Cuba (Bay of Pigs area.) He wanted other Cubans to see this revolt and join them in knocking Castro out of power. However, this invasion failed miserably. Castro found out they were coming and almost immediately the Cuban exiles surrendered to him. Since Cuba and the Soviet union were allies, Cuba allowed the Soviet Union to station nuclear missiles there. This event led to the Cuban Missile Crisis. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis Slide 17Cuba allowed the Soviet Union to station missiles on their island. John F. Kennedy notified his country about the presence of nuclear missiles in Cuba and the Soviet Union and the United States were in a nuclear stand-off for two weeks. Finally, this crisis came to an end when John F. Kennedy agreed to the Soviet leaders's request to not invade Cuba if they were to remove the missiles. This gave Kennedy great power and it advanced the United States forward in the Cold War.
