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Period: to
The Cold War
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The Atomic Bomb
On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first ever atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later, another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. These two bombs were responsible for the death of approximately 129,000 people and would signify the beginning of the arms race between the USSR and the USA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki. -
Iron Curtain Speech
After the dividing up of Germany and the city of Berlin in the conclusion of World War II, Churchill gave an iconic speech saying that the USSR was blocking the United States and its allies from assisting war-stricken Germany in giving supplies. http://history1900s.about.com/od/churchillwinston/a/Iron-Curtain.htm -
The Marshall Plan
On June 5, 1947, Secretary of State George C. Marshall announced the Marshall Plan which was to give aid to war-stricken nations across the continent of Europe. They delivered supplies and medical aid, which ulitmately upset the USSR executives. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/marshall-plan -
The Brussels Pact
By mid-March of 1948, nearly all of eastern Europe had been overtaken by the USSR and converted to communism. In order to help eliminate the growing USSR, several European nations signed the Brussels Pact which would lead to "increased European cooperation and shared military strength." http://www.brussels.info/brussels-pact/ http://www.brussels.info/brussels-pact/ -
Creation of NATO
With the growing fear of Communism, the United States along with several European nations formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Much like the Warsaw Pact and the Treaty of Brussels, this was an agreement to help with military strength. http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/formation-of-nato-and-warsaw-pact -
The People's Republic of China
During World War II, the Chinese were in the midst of a civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists who were led by Mao Zedong. After Mao exiled the Nationalists to the modern day nation fo Taiwan, he formed the People's Republic of China. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China -
McCarthyism in the USA
Starting in February of 1950, Senator Josephy McCarthy of Wisconsin began witch hunts against Communists in the United States. He made claims of having documents that held names of important individuals in the United States government who had Communist ties to the USSR. He was found to be bluffing and was discredited after the events. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism -
The Korean War
From 1950 to 1953, the United States became involved in a war in the Koreas. The Chinese were trying to conquer Korea and had successfully overtaken the northern part. The United States became involved and limited it to j;ust the northern part of Korea which created two separate nations: North and South Korea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War -
Sputnik
On this date, the USSR began the start of the space race. They launched into the Earth's orbit a satellite called Sputnik. This would begin the space race between the USSR and the USA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_1 -
Castro, Cuba and Communism
In the first month of 1959, Fidel Castro, a communist revolutionary, overthrew the Cuban government. Castro created a communist dictatorship which would pose an enormous threat to the United States through the 1960s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_Castro -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
In the early months of John Kennedy's presidency, the communist nation of Cuba posed an enormous threat to the United States. In order to control this threat, the United States CIA agency launched an attack on the nation of Cuba. This attack would ultimately fail and would lead to the Cuban Missile Crisis. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Pigs_Invasion -
The Berlin Wall
On this date, the largest symbol of the Cold War was being constructed. It was the Berlin Wall. It would divide the East from the West. It would stand for nearly 30 years as the symbol of separation. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/east-germany-begins-construction-of-the-berlin-wall -
Cuban Missile Crisis
This event was the closest the USA and the USSR came to a nuclear warfare. Following the Bay of Pigs invasion, the United States received information that Cuba may be housing missiles given to them by the Soviets. Ultimately, nothing happened. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis -
Tear Down this Wall
On this date, the Berlin Wall was demolished. This event symbolized the changing tides of the USSR and how communism no longer held the same strength. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall#Demolition -
End of the Cold War
On this date, the Soviet Union collaspsed and released control of all its entities. This event symbolized the end of the Cold War. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_the_Soviet_Union
