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The Cold War began to take shape as tensions escalated between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Key events included the end of World War II, which left Europe divided into Soviet and Western spheres of influence. The U.S. and its allies began implementing policies to contain Soviet expansionism, while the Soviet Union sought to spread its communist ideology. The division of Germany and the onset of the Berlin Blockade in 1948 -
African soldiers returning from WWII demanded freedom, sparking nationalist movements as colonial powers weakened. -
Leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and Jomo Kenyatta gathered in Manchester, UK, to strategize African liberation from colonial powers. -
Malagasy rebels launched an uprising against French colonial rule. Although suppressed, it ignited the anti-colonial movement in Africa -
The Cold War saw heightened tensions with several key events: the Korean War (1950-1953) ended in a stalemate, dividing the Korean Peninsula; the Suez Crisis (1956) involved military intervention by the UK, France, and Israel, but was resolved through U.S. and Soviet influence; and the launch of Sputnik (1957) by the Soviet Union sparked the space race and increased U.S. defense efforts. -
The Mau Mau rebellion against British colonial rule in Kenya began, marking a pivotal moment in the struggle for independence. -
Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from Britain, led by Kwame Nkrumah. -
Held in Accra, this conference united African leaders to promote independence movements across the continent. -
Cameroon gained independence from France, marking a significant step in decolonization in Africa. -
In the 1960s, the Cold War was marked by intense confrontations and pivotal events. The Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 brought the U.S. and Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war over missiles in Cuba. East Germany built the Berlin Wall in August 1961 to stop defections to the West, symbolizing the deepening East-West divide. Meanwhile, U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War escalated significantly following the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964. -
African leaders established the OAU in Addis Ababa to promote unity and cooperation among newly independent states. -
Kenya officially gained independence from British colonial rule, with Jomo Kenyatta becoming the first Prime Minister. -
The Cold War experienced a phase of détente with significant milestones such as the SALT I Treaty and the Helsinki Accords, which aimed to ease U.S.-Soviet tensions and improve East-West relations. However, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 reignited Cold War hostilities and led to increased U.S. support for Afghan resistance, marking a shift back to heightened confrontation. -
Equatorial Guinea gained independence from Spanish colonial rule, with Francisco Macías Nguema becoming its first president. -
Mozambique gained independence from Portuguese rule, with Samora Machel of FRELIMO becoming the first president. -
Angola achieved independence from Portuguese colonial rule after a long struggle, with the MPLA's Agostinho Neto becoming the first president. -
The Cold War intensified with a renewed arms race and strong anti-Soviet measures from the U.S. Under Gorbachev, the Soviet Union introduced reforms, leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and signaling the end of the Cold War. -
Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) achieved independence from British colonial rule, with Robert Mugabe becoming Prime Minister. -
Seychelles gained independence from British colonial rule, with James Mancham becoming the first President. -
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) overthrew the Marxist Derg regime, ending a period of brutal repression. -
Nelson Mandela was released from 27 years in prison, marking a pivotal moment in South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy. -
Namibia gained independence from South African rule, marking a significant victory in the fight against colonialism and apartheid in Southern Africa. -
Reunification of Germany in 1990 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, which marked the end of the Cold War. The U.S. and Russia signed the START I treaty in 1992 and START II in 1995 to reduce nuclear arsenals. NATO's Partnership for Peace program began in 1994 to engage with former Soviet states. The period also saw the Yugoslav Wars and NATO's 1999 bombing campaign of Yugoslavia, reflecting ongoing international -
The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) overthrew the genocidal government, ending the horrific genocide and paving the way for recovery and rebuilding.