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Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution was a period of political and social revolution in the Russian Empire which started when the Tsar was overthrown and concluded with the establishment of the Soviet Union by the Bolsheviks and the end of the Civil War -
Chinese Communist Revolution
Led by Mao Zedong and the Communist Party of China, they wanted to change the high rent rates, usury and taxes concentrated wealth into the hands of a tiny minority of village chiefs and landlords. They came to the conclusion that communism was the only solution -- which resulted in the communist takeover, People's Republic of China established in mainland China, and the Government of the Republic of China evacuated to Taiwan. -
The Potsdam Conference
A conference in which President Truman informed Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, that the United States has successfully detonated the first atomic bomb. -
Atomic Bomb - Hiroshima/Nagasaki
Hiroshima
The US modified a B-29 plane to carry it long distance over the Pacific Ocean. The first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, devastating the targets immediately killing between 90,000 and 146,000 people.
Nagasaki
3 days later, the US dropped another on Nagasaki killing between 39,000 and 80,000 people in Nagasaki. A great majority of deaths occurred immediately, while many people kept dying years later from radiation. -
Iron Curtain
The "Iron Curtain" was a concrete barrier built by the Soviet Union used to separate them from the West, it's allies and other non-communist areas. Popularized by Winston Churchill in his speech where it coined the name "Iron Curtain." -
Long Telegram
George Kennan writes a telegram recommending what to do about the Soviet Union. He recommends the US to take time containing them because they find the US intimidating. -
Molotov Plan
A system created by the Soviet Union offering to rebuild Eastern Europe that were politically and economically equal to them. After refusing the Marshall Plan, the foreign minister proposed the Molotov Plan. The purpose was to reorganize their trade. Countries like Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and East Germany. -
Truman Doctrine
A foreign policy created by President Harry Truman signifying that the US would aid any country trying to resist communism. This includes $400 million, military aid and industrial imports. The Truman Doctrine was a massive part of containment. -
Marshall Plan
An American initiative to help rebuild western Europe which was destroyed by the war, originally called the European Recovery Program. They rebuilt war-torn areas, removed trade barriers, modernized industry, and stabilize and prevent the Europeans from turning to communism. The US funded them over $12 billion which is nearly $100 billion now. -
Alger Hiss Case
Alger Hiss was a suspected spy working for the United States' government. He was accused of espionage and later perjury because of the "Red Scare," where the US was paranoid of the spread of communism. Many were falsely accused of having communist beliefs even though there is no way to prove. Alger Hiss was put in Federal prison, sentenced to two 5-year sentences but ended up only serving 3.5 years. -
Berlin Blockade
The first physical conflict of the Cold War. The Soviet Union attempted to block all imports coming from Berlin's allies. Tactics include blocking western railways, canal access and roads. The United States Air Force, the Royal Air Force, the French Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and the South African Air Force started dropping supplies from above aka the Berlin Airlift. -
Berlin Airlift
Soviet forces blockaded rail, road, and water access to Allied-controlled areas of Berlin. The United States and United Kingdom responded by airlifting food and fuel to Berlin from Allied airbases in western Germany. -
NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization
A formal alliance between the territories of North America and Europe. The purpose was to ensure defense from spreading Soviet Union influence (communism). Signed by Great Britain, Belgium, Italy, Iceland, Luxembourg, United States, Canada, Netherlands,
Denmark, Portugal and Norway. -
First Soviet Bomb Test
Extremely similar to the United States' first atomic bombs. Flyorov wrote a letter to Stalin urging him to start this program in 1942. Initial efforts were slowed due to the German invasion of the Soviet Union and remained largely composed of the intelligence knowledge gained from the Soviet spy rings working in the U.S. Manhattan Project. -
Rosenberg Trial
Julius Rosenberg was a convicted Soviet spy working for the United states government and passed along information about the Manhattan Project. Sending information to his home country about how to build an Atomic Bomb, the US soon found out and was executed alongside his wife in 1953. -
Korean War
A war between communist North Korea and capitalist South Korea to contain the spread of communism.. North Korea had the support of China and the Soviet Union while South Korea had the support of the United States.
