-
Founding or the USSR
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) is established after the Russian Revolution was ended. The Bolsheviks led by Vladimr Lenin take control and create the world's first communist form of government. -
End of WWII
After fighting ended in Europe during World War II, the "Big Three" Allied leaders (FDR, Stalin, and Churchill) met at the Yalta Conference in February of 1945. Here, the leaders discussed how Post War Europe and Germany would be divided. -
The "Iron Curtain" Falls
After the War in Europe ended, Germany and its capital, Berlin, are occupied and divided up among the United States, Great Britain, France, and the USSR. Immediately tension rises between the USSR and the Western Allies. The USSR establishes and the Eastern Bloc as a sphere of influence under Soviet power. -
Marshall Plan
Named after Secretary of State George Marshall, the United States provided $13 billion to help European nations recover after the War as well as prevent these nations from resorting to Communism. The US offered this same support to the USSR who refused. -
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
Joseph Stalin and the USSR blocked all incoming/outgoing travel from the Soviet bloc of Berlin in June of 1948 to create a dependency on the USSR for vital supplies. In response, the Western Allies airlifted goods and supplies for almost a year straight. This was a measure to provide necessary materials to the citizens as well as show up the USSR. -
NATO vs. Warsaw Pact
In 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created to form a mutual military alliance between the US and Western Europe. In response the USSR created the Warsaw Pact which included the parts of Eastern Europe that were part of the Soviet Sphere of Influence. -
Korean War
The United Nations became involved in its first international conflict when Communist leader of North Korea, Kim Il-Sung, went past the Demilitarized Zone established at the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea. The UN supported the Democratic South while the North received aid and reinforcements from fellow Communist nation, China. -
Vietnam War
The small Southeast Asian nation was divided along the 17th parallel after a communist revolutionary named Ho Chi Minh forced the French of its former colony. Eventually the United States became involved in the conflict as it looked to "contain" communism and prevent Vietnam from falling like a "domino" under a communist regime. The Communists eventually drove the US out of the controversial and the US supported South Vietnam fell to communism. -
Bay of Pigs Scandal/Cuban Missile Crisis
In 1961 President John F. Kennedy allowed for a CIA -organized attempted overthrow and assassination of Cuba's Communist Dictator, Fidel Castro. This operation failed miserably and backfired leading to Castro calling for Soviet protection. In response, the USSR sent nuclear missiles to Cuba to be pointed directly at the United States. Eventually, President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev came to an agreement to remove the Soviet missiles from Cuba after they were on the brink of nuclear war. -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was constructed by the Soviets in East Berlin marking a physical and psychological barrier between East and West Berlin. It was tore down in 1989 marking a symbolic end to the Cold War. -
Détente
A period of de-escalation in the Cold War was referred to as détente. This is where tensions lessened and leaders began to talk. In the early 1970s President Nixon visited the Communist nations of China and the USSR. -
End of the Cold War
After the period of détente, the Soviet Union starting shifting more and more away from their communist philosophies. The ideas of "glasnost," or openess, and "perestroika," restructuring, helped shift the USSR back to having a market economy along with aspects of a democratic government.
