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Joseph Stalin
Stalin became the Soviet Dictator in 1926 and began an effort to industrialize the country in 1927. He was a very hated man, known for his devistation and policy that collected farms during the 20's and 30's. An estimated 30 million Soviets died as a result of Stalin's policies and disregard for civilizations health. -
Iron Curtain
This was a line dividing Europe into two parts from 1945 (end WWI) to 1991 (end Cold War). There was a speech that Stalin gave prediciting Communism over Capitalism, when he told Communists to step forward and spread their systems. This was the SU's main attempt at solitude from the rest of Europe. -
United Nations
This was an international organization that replaced the League of Nations. having been established after WWI, the goal was to maintain peace and cooperation in the international communities. It was supposed to stop wars and fight the axis powers in 1942 (when it was formed). The first meeting had 50 reps and the UN charter was drawn, The UN agencies have now provided food and aide to millions around the world. -
Vietnam
Vietnam was politically isolated and joined together with a Communist government. They were not able to get back into a world economy until political reforms in 1986. These events led to a war in Vietnam and a lot of issues centered around Communism. -
Truman Doctrine
This was a policy made by the US that tried to contain spreads of communism. It helped in the stabilization of European economy. It also saved Greece and Turkey's governments. It helped Europe politically and economically and prevented what could have been another Great Depression. -
The Marshall Plan
This was the aide package that the US offered to Europe to help the countries rebuild after WWI. The US was mainly trying to stop the spread of Communism with this large-scale monetary support. This kept Europe operating and out of depression. -
European Economic Cooperation
This group wanted to control aide distribution and establish a joint recovery program for work assistance. It originated from the Conference of Sixteen (Conference for European Economic Co-operation) and the Marshall Plan. The significance is the newly offered cooperation with otther countries that played a major role in national issues. -
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Berlin Airlift
This was an event where the US supplied food and fuel to citizens of west Berlin when Russians closed off land access while still avoiding war with the USSR. Over 11 months and over 2 million tons of food, medicine, and coal that Berlin may not have survived without. Image: http://www.trumanlibrary.org/photos/berlin2.jpg -
Peoples Republic of China
This was the group that highlighted and documented the history of China. They kept track of everything. This showed the different aspects of communists in China verses the people's view on Chinese history. -
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Korean War
North Korea invaded South Korea in attempt to spread Communism so the US began trying to contain this again. The Soviet Union then involved themselves in spreading it again. In the end North and South Korea set a boarder at the 38th parallel. The spread of Communism was contained and did not take over large amounts of the country. https://media.azpm.org/master/image/2010/6/13/unsized-image/korean_war_begins_294_440.jpg -
Ho Chi Minh
Minh, a Vietnamese communist revolutionary leader, was prime minister and president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. He is a key figure in the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945. -
Explosion of the First Hydrogen Bomb
Code named Ivy Mike, this bomb was dropped by the United States on Eniwetok atoll in the Pacific Ocean. This showed that the United States had a nuclear weapon on their hands that ruined whole cities during World War II and set a new standard. -
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Nikita Khrushchev
He was the Leader of the Soviet Union during the Cold war, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the SU from 1953-1964, and Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Premier) from 1958-1964. Without him, there may not have been a de-Stalinization in the SU, a Soviet space program (early supporter), etc. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/images/khrushchev-1.jpg -
KGB (Committee for State Security)
This was the main security agency for the Soviet Union from 1954 until its collapse in 1991. It was the SU's secret police and protection, and possibly what kept their entire nation together. -
Geneva Accords
This Conference produced a declaration which supported the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Indochina. This involved foreign involvement in Indochina and furthered their advancements. -
Suez Canal/Nasser
This diplomatic and military confrontation in late 1956 was Egypt against Britain, France and Israel all together. The United States, Soviet Union, and the United Nations played major roles in forcing Britain, France and Israel to withdraw. It drew in many countries to fight and pick sides to continue on with fighting as allies. -
Sputnik
This was the name of the first artificial Earth satellite. There were multiple versions made and tested for the US. This was the first lead into space technology for the US against the race with China. -
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Cuban Missile Crisis
A 13 day argument between Cuba/SU and the US. It was one of the largest known confrontations of the Cold War. JFK made a naval blockade to stop SU and their missiles and halt Cuba. It was the closest point the war had been to becoming a nuclear conflict. http://wvcivildefensefreak.webs.com/cuban%20missile%20crisis.gif -
Leonid Brezhnev
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party for the Soviet Union. During his rule the Soviet Union's influence was greatly expanding, along with their military to enhance their power. -
Tet Offensive
This was a military campaign during the Vietnam War that was launched on January 30, 1968. The forces of the Viet Cong and North Vietnam joined together against South Vietnam, the United States, and their allies. This held a lot of surprise attacks throughtout South Vietnam and is viewed as a turning point of the war that made people hate it and see its danger. -
Helsinki Accords
This is viewed as the final act of the Conference on Security and cooperation in Europe held in Helsinki, Finland. It is important because it involved a lot of countries signing a declaration in an attempt to improve the Communist block and the west. -
Iranian Hostage Crisis
This diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States caused devistation and chaos. 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days by Islamist. This was taking in Iran as a hit against America. -
Russian Invasion of Afghanistan
This was a battle fought between Soviet-led Afghan forces and multi-national insurgent groups called the Mujahideen. This involved many countries in reality against the SU, cutting off some of their bonds and ties. -
Moscow Olympics
These olympics were held in Moscow in the Soviet Union during the Cold War issues. These were the first Olympics held in Eastern Europe, starting the continuous annual olympics. -
Los Angeles Olympics
The Olympics during the a lot of European crisis held right here in the US. During this time a lot of European countries boycotted or chose not to enter the Olympics which hurt aspects of money and national ties. -
Warsaw Pact
This was a response to the NATO from the west and it formed alliances between Poland, Bulgaria, Albania, East Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, and the SU. The SU was threatened for conquest and control of Europe. This gave both sides less ease and hightened their reluctance in pushing for a war. -
Perestroika and Glasnost
Mikhail Gorbachev's watchwords for the renovation of the Soviet politic and society that he controlled as General Secretary of the Communist Party from 1985 until 1991. These were secretative and used to hide things from other nations which could be a main reason the SU was still safe. -
Chernobyl
This was a disasterous nuclear accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Ukraine. There was an explosion and fire with radiation. The radiation spread into Western USSR and Euroupe, damaging their atmospheres and national life. -
Tiananmen Square
This was the location of student-led protests that were popular in Beijing in the spring of 1989. They were supported by city residents and exposed deep splits in China's political leadership but they were forcibly suppressed by leaders who ordered the military to enforce martial law in the country's capital. These were the first step in showing that the people weren't happy with their country and was the first time the peopel gave themselves a voice. -
Berlin Wall erected
The Berlin Wall was a division of West and East Berlin and West and East Germany. This event was symbolic as a boundary between Democracy and Communism. It was erected in the middle of night. It kept East Germans from fleeing westward for 28 years. -
Berlin Wall is Torn Down
The wall was not torn down completely in one day, but the night of the posted date is when people took sledgehammers and started to tear it down themselves. This symbolized people moving on and becoming equals. They were taking action into their own hands and doing things the way they believed was right. -
Mikhail Gorbachev
Gorbachev was the last General Secretary of the SU and tried to institute multiple reforms. He let the people speak and tried to restore the economy, but ended up weakening it and released political prisoners. He supported the use of more modern technology and signed the INF Treaty on Dec. 8 1987. -
Lech Walesa and the Solidarity Movement in Poland
This man was co-founder of the Solidarity Movement in Poland and served as the nations President. He was not very liked by the people. He is remembered mainly for the ways he transformed Poland. -
Yeltsin
He was a Russian politician and the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999. He was the first president of a free Russia. He provided a lot of de-stalinization and tried to improve Russia after the SU transformations. -
End of USSR
This was destroyed by the delcaration of the Soviet of the Republic of the Supreme Soviet. It brought the independence of 12 republics of the Soviet Union. It was the first time the Soviet Union had a democracy, which ended communism. -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (N.A.T.O.)
This was a mutual defense alliance that included 12 countries (US, Canada, Denmark, Portugal, Netherlands, Norway, Britain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Iceland) and strted April 1949. These countries made an agreement to help others under attack. This finally gave West Europe protection because of the past two attacks. -
Putin
He is a Russian politician and has been the President of Russia since 7 May 2012. Prior, Putin served as President from 2000 to 2008 and as Prime Minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000, and again from 2008 to 2012. Putin was also previously the Chairman of United Russia. He made a lot of changes in both the Soviet Union and Russia, advancing the nation to their greatness today.
