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Stalin had two goals in Eastern Europe, First he wanted to spread communism in the area. Second was he wanted to create a buffer zone of friendly governments as a defense against Germany. On March 12, 1947 a policy known as the Truman Doctrine was made which limited communism to the areas already under Soviet control.The Marshall plan was to strengthen democratic governments.
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By 1949, the Soviet Union built nuclear weapons, by 1953, the United States and the Soviet Union had developed hydrogen bombs. In 1969, the United States and the Soviet Union Used the SALT to limit the number of nuclear weapons held by each side. In 1972 and 1979, both sides signed agreements setting these limits. During the 1980's Ronald Reagan launched a program to build a "Star Wars" missile defense against nuclear attacks. In 1991, the United States and Soviet Union signed the START treaty.
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In the 1950's Fidel Castro organized an armed rebellion against the dictator who ruled Cuba. By 1959, Castro had led his guerrilla army to victory. In 1961, John F. Kennedy supported the Bay of Pigs invasion. In 1962, the Soviet Union sent nuclear missiles to Cuba. President Kennedy imposed a naval blockade that prevented further Soveit shipments.
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Mao's communists triumphed for several reasons. Mao had won the support of China's huge peasant population.
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Berlin was a key focus of Cold War tensions. The city was split into democratic West Berlin and Communist East Berlin. In the 1950's a massive exodus of low-paid East Germans, unhappy with communism, fled into West Berlin. To stop the East Germans from leaving they built a wall in 1961 that sealed off West Berlin. The Berlin Wall was a massive concrete barrier, topped with barb wire and patrolled by guards.
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