Cold War Timeline

By saunders.mackenzie

  • Mao Zedong takes control of China

    Mao Zedong was a communist leader in northern China. He wanted all of china to follow communism, so he tried to overthrow the Nationalist forces in southern China. He succeeded in doing so which contributed to the Cold War.

  • Korean War

    This war was caused by the division in Korea. The North wanted to conquer the South, and the south wanted to conquer the north. Their political parties were Republic and Democratic. This war lasted a long time. The United States entered into it but quickly retreated.

  • Soviet Union invasion of Hungary

    The Soviets invaded Hungary because at the time Hungary was a weak country because of all the rebellions going on Nov 3, 1956 the Soviet army closeed the country's boarders.

  • Vietnam War

    The Vietnam War was fought between Southern Vietnam and Northern Vietnam. Southern Vietnam was aided by the United States. Northern Vietnam was supported by communist forces. At first the north used guerrilla warfare, but in 1975 they launched an invasion on the south.

  • Cuban Missle Crisis

    The United States heard rumors that the Soviets were making missiles in cuba. In response, the US put Cuba on lockdown.

  • Bay of Pigs Invasion

    This was when the United States tried to overthrow Fidel Castor, the dictator of Cuba. They did not succeed, they were defeated on the Bay of Pigs on April 27th, 1961.

  • Fidel Castro Takes Over Cuba

    Castro led two failed attacks on the Moncada army. Castro went into the mountains for two years gatherong support and training in guerrilla warfare. Castro named himself dictator of cuba. With castro in charge, Cuba's economy went downhill and the country declined.

  • Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia

    On August 20, 1968 the Soviet Union, east Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland invaded the Czech Republic. They did this in violation of the Warsaw Pact.

  • SALT Treaty Talks

    This took place because there were a lot of talk and controversy about nuclear bombs and other weapons. This was also known as the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks.

  • Nixon Visits China

    President Nixon goes to China to clear up the relationship between the two countries. He wanted a peaceful relation.

  • Civil War in Nicaragua

    The civil war in Nicarague started in 1981 and lasted until 1989. It was a war between the Sandinista and the
    Contras. The United States aided the Contras. . Each side built mines to prevent the other from gaining territory. After the civil war Nicaragua started to demine itself.

  • Revolution in Iran

    This happened because Iran started to westernize its country which caused it to go into poverty. The civilians were not happy and wanted to kill the shah.

  • Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

    This conflict was again over the controversy to westernize their country. On Dec. 25th, 1979 Russian troops invaded the capital of Afganistan. A holy battle was fought.

  • Iran/Iraq War

    This war was the first chemical warfare since WWI. it was also the longest and bloodiest war since WWII. there were over 1 million deaths from both sides. The war ended in 1988.

  • Mikhail Gorbachev takes control of USSR

    On march 11, 1985 Gorbachev was elected gerneral and the new leader of the Soviet Union. He wanted to change the economy and strengthen it, one being a reform in the Soviet economy.

  • Fall of the Berlin Wall

    The Berlin wall separated east and western Germany. When the wall fell, this caused Germany to become united again. The berlin wall was completely torn down on Oct 3, 1990.

  • Soviet Union Falls Apart

    The Soviet Union finally fell apart in 1991 when Boris Yelton gained control after a failed government take over.