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End of WW2
World War II ends, which also ends American-Soviet cooperation. -
Berlin Blockade
Berlin Blockade and consequent airlift increases tensions Berlin Blockade: A major crisis where the soviet union blocked all land and rivers into West Berlin to prevent anyone from coming. -
Marshall plan
Truman establishes the Marshall Plan to contain communist expansion (policy of containment) Marshall plan: An initiative enacted by America to rebuild destroyed regions affected by the war, remove trade barriers, prevent the spread of communism, and improve European prosperity. Containment: A U.S. foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism and Soviet influence -
NATO is formed
The NATO was created to deter any aggression from the Soviet bloc. NATO: A military alliance formed by the U.S., Canada, and several Western European promising mutual defense in case any member is attacked. Bloc: A group of countries with a common purpose or ideology. -
Korean War
Korean War begins after the USSR fails to show up for a veto in the UN, starting the first proxy war Proxy war: A conflict fought by one or more major powers that do not themselves become directly involved -
Warsaw Pact is created
Creation of the Warsaw Pact as a response to NATO through collective security. Warsaw Pact: A military alliance of communist countries led by the Soviet Union. Collective security: When a group of countries agrees to protect each other if one is attacked. -
Khrushchev calls for peaceful co-existence
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev suggests that the USSR and the West can avoid war and compete peacefully. Peaceful Co-existence: the belief that nations with opposing ideologies (capitalism and communism) can coexist without war. -
The Hungarian Uprising
Hungarians try to break free from Soviet control, but the USSR brutally suppresses the rebellion. Hungarian Uprising: A nationwide revolt against the Soviet-imposed communist government in Hungary. Liberation movement: A political movement rebelling against the government. -
The Berlin Wall is built
Berlin Wall is built to prevent further Western expansion in the region. Berlin Wall: A wall built in 1961 that separated communist East Berlin from democratic West Berlin. Expansion: The act of spreading influence or control into new areas. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis almost leads to a nuclear war between the superpowers due to brinkmanship Cuban Missile Crisis: a 13-day nuclear conflict between the soviet union and the U.S. Brinkmanship: A strategy where one or more nations push a dangerous situation to the limits to try to get the opposing side to back down. -
The Prague Spring ends and the Brezhnev Doctrine
The Prague Spring ends when the Soviet Union invades, followed by the Brezhnev Doctrine. The Prague Spring: A Period of time when Czechoslovakia tried to make communism less strict and more democratic. Brezhnev Doctrine: A rule the Soviet Union made that said it could take action if a communist country was changing too much. -
The Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty is signed
The Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty: A international treaty established to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology. -
End of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War ends, demonstrating the failure of containment and the Domino Theory Domino Theory: The idea that if one country becomes communist, nearby countries will also fall to communism. A war from 1955 to 1975 between communist North Vietnam (supported by the USSR and China) and non-communist South Vietnam (supported by the U.S.) to stop the spread of communism. -
Helsinki Accords provide a degree of détente during the Cold War
Helsinki Accords: An agreement signed in 1975 by 35 countries, including the U.S. and USSR, to improve relations and respect human rights. Detente: A time during the Cold War when tensions between the U.S. and the USSR were reduced through diplomacy and agreements. -
Afghanistan invasion
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan leads to an increase of hostilities Soviet invasion of Afghanistan: In 1979, the USSR invaded Afghanistan to help its communist allies, but it caused the U.S. and other countries to get involved by supporting the rebels, increasing Cold War tensions. -
Solidarity trade union organizes the pro-democracy movement in Poland
Solidarity: A union/group with common interests that fight for political change. Pro-democracy movement: A group or effort that tries to bring more democracy, giving people more say in how they are governed. -
The Berlin Wall is destroyed
Berlin Wall is torn down, a year later Germany is reunified -
START is signed
START is signed to reduce the number of nuclear weapons being created as a form of deterrence. START: A treaty between the U.S. and USSR to cut down their nuclear weapons. The idea of having powerful weapons to scare other countries from attacking you. -
The Warsaw Pact is dissolved
The Warsaw Pact is dissolved, with some members seeking to join NATO -
The Soviet Union ceases to exist
The Soviet Union ceases to exist, effectively ending the Cold War