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Yalta Confrence
Meeting consisting of Winstons Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin, where, after Germany's surrender, it was decided to split Germany into four occupation zones (Soviet, British, French, and American). http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/history/yalta-conference.html -
Churchill's "Iron Curtain" Speech
A speech that signified the beginning of the Cold War, the "Iron Curtain" symbolizing the Soviet Union blocking itself from contact with that US and areas that were not under their control. http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/history/cold-war-the-iron-curtain-containment.html -
Truman Doctrine
President Harry Truman's response to Greece and Turkey's need for military and economic aid, extending out to any other country in need of protection from Communism. http://dictionary.factmonster.com/truman-doctrine -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Established by The North Atlantic Community, including the US, Portugal, The Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Luxembourg, France, Britian, Iceland, Denmark, Canada, and Belgium, this organization was designed to protect the community of countries against Soviet armed forces in the event of an attack. As allies, the group held the mentality that if one counrty was attacked, it was an attack on all the countries. http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/history/north-atlantic-treaty-organization.html -
The Warsaw Pact
Signed in Warsaw, Poland, it was the Soviet's response to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and included The SOviet Union, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Bulgaria, and Albania. http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/history/warsaw-treaty-organization.html -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
An unsuccessful invasion of communist-controlled Cuba, supported by the US government, to try and overthrow communist leader Fidel Castro. The Cuban army easily overtook their opponents, and this loss sparked anti-US protests in other communist countries in Latin American and Europe. http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/history/bay-pigs-invasion.html -
The Berlin Wall
A concrete wall was built on the border between East and West Germany to prevent East Germans from fleeing to the West, as communist tension was building between the two sides. http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/history/berlin-wall.html -
US Involvment In The Vietnam War (1961-1973)
US soldiers were heavily increased in non-communist South Vietnam to help defent against communist controlled North Vietnam. US involvment in the war ended after peace agreements were reached in 1973, but the Vietnam war remains one of the longest wars in American History. http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/history/vietnam-war.html -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuba's response to Bay of Pigs and the US's involvment with Italy and Turkey, Russia was going to give Cuba nuclear missiles in secret. When President Kennedy found out, he announced a blockade on Cuba and warned of a full retaliation against Cuba if they were to attack. Russia took back their missles and the crisis was over, as the US promised not to invade Cuba. http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/history/cuban-missile-crisis.html -
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
After North Vietnamese boats attacked US destroyers without provocation, Congress gave President Lyndon B. Johnson permission to send troops to South Vietnam. http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/history/tonkin-gulf-resolution.html -
Six Day War
The US is blamed for encouraging Isrial to attack and seize the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem, West Bank, SInai Penninsula, and Golan Heights. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/850855/Six-Day-War -
Strategic Defence Initiative
Soviet Union accuses the US of violating the Antiballistic Missiel Treaty, where this strategy would utilize space to defend against missles. May people were critics of the SDI, fearing it would lead to the militarization of space and was still unable to defend them against may weapons. http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/history/strategic-defense-initiative.html -
Mikhail Gorbachev Elected Soviet Leader
After the death of Konstantin Chernenko, Gorbachev was elected leader of the oviet Union, and worked to move away from the Communist regiem, starting to focus on openness and restructuring, or "perestroika". http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/people/gorbachev-mikhail-sergeyevich.html -
Berlin Wall Falls
After many Eastern Germans fled westward to escape the communist country, East Germany decided to destroy the wall as an attempt to keep their power. This attempt failed, and the wall was dismantled and East Germany became part of the Federal Republic of Germany. http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/history/berlin-wall.html -
Cold War Ends and Soviet Union Dissolves
Between the destruction of the Berlin Wall, the more leniant leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev, and Germany becoming whole again, the Soviet Union was broken up into independent rebpublic, subsequently ending the Cold War. http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/history/cold-war-detente-end-cold-war.html
