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Major Events of the Cold War
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George Kennan and Dean Acheson and Containment
Policy aimed at containining communist nations to small areas and disallowing them to expand. In a telegram to D.C. in 1946, Kennan outlined the Soviet mindset and possible precautions to take:
"Wherever it is considered timely and promising, efforts will be made to advance official limits of Soviet power. For the moment, these efforts are restricted to certain neighboring points conceived of here as being of immediate strategic necessity." (Kennan) -
Iron Curtain
Speech by Churchill on above date outlining the descending "iron curtain" dividing the East and West. Was an ideological, physical, and political barrier between NATO countries in the West and the USSR in the East.
Image of the Iron curtain and where it lies geographically. The path of the Iron Curtain is now a bike trail. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine, intoduced in a speech by President Truman, outlined the U.S.'s support of nations (specifically Greece and Turkey) threatened by communism. Directly involved the U.S. in foreign affairs.
"The Greek army is small and poorly equipped. It needs supplies and equipment... The United States must supply that assistance." ("Pres Truman's Address") -
Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Latin American Relations)
Also known as the TIAR or the Rio Treaty. This treaty outlined the policy of hemispheric defense, where an attack against one nation is an attack against all (allied Western Hemisphere). This included communist uprisings and was aimed at containment. -
Espionage (National Security Act)
The CIA was formed by the National Security Act (enacted on the aforementioned date because there is no date for "espionage"). The newly-formed CIA hunted for communists within America and spyed on Communist enemies abroad.
This is a picture of a U-2 plane, of the same type as the one involved in the 1960 scandal. A U-2 plane (American) was gunned down while in Soviet air space. The plane turned out to have been dispatched with the intent of spying on Communist activities. -
Marshall Plan
Also known as the European Recovery Plan (ERP) or Foreign Assistance Act (FAA). U.S. gave monetary support to WWII-ravaged countries in order to rebuild and restabilize economies and prevent the spread of communism.
"In considering the requirements for the rehabilitation of Europe... it has become obvious during recent months that this visible destruction was probably less serious than the dislocation of the entire fabric of European economy." ("Marshall Plan") -
Berlin Airlift
Soviet Blockade of Berlin was in place as an attempt to injure anticommunist forces, but NATO planes flew in supplies and aid to Berlin.
This image shows NATO planes flying into Berlin among cheering "Berliners". -
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 12 countries united against the threat of communism: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the UK, and the USA.
This map shows the original members of NATO as well as the extent of countries united under the Warsaw Pact. Later memebrs are in lighter colors. -
Division of Germany
West and East Germany divided: the Federal Republic of Germany to the West and the communist German Democratic Republic (in October of the same year) to the East.
This map shows the Iron Curtain, the physical and ideological division between East and West Europe. This map shows Germany split down the middle. Blue nations are NATO allies and pink ones are Soviet or Warsaw Pact ones. -
РДС-1 (RDS-1)
First Atomic bomb to be detonated by the Soviets. Surprised Americans, who were expecting Russian atomic bombs no earlier than the 1950s.
Image of "First Lightning", which was basically a copy of the American "Fat Man" bomb. -
McCarthyism
Senator McCarthy claimed to have a list naming around 200 supposed commnists (many of them inside the US government). This was the start of a major "Red Scare" and the fear of communists residing within American borders.
"I have here in my hand a list of 205 [State Department employees] that were known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping the policy of the State Department." -Sen. McCarthy -
한국 전쟁
Lasted about 3 years. Communist North Korea invaded South Korea. US (under MacArthur) invaded and, together with S. Korean forces, pushed back the communist forces to close to the Chinese border. However, China joined the mix and pushed American and S. Korean forced back to the old border.
This image is of General MacArthur at the Incheon landing. MacArthur criticized Truman for his reluctance to use nuclear force and subsequently got fired. -
Domino Theory
Speech given by eisenhower outlining his fear that a communist victory in one nation would lead to a chain reaction of communist victories. Many Americans were afraid of this happening in Asia and the South Pacific.
This picture demonstrates Eisenhower's suggestion for how Asian nations would "fall" to communism. -
Warsaw Pact
Soviet and Communist nations united: included some Asian nations, but not Cuba.
This image shows the countries, in red, included in the Warsaw Pact. -
Chiến Tranh Việt Nam
Tensions in Vietnam were high, since South Vietnam ws united with the US and North Vietnam (under Ho Chi Minh) sided with the USSR. Guerilla groups such as Viet Cong in S. Vietnam, as well as the proximity of a communist nation, threatened S. Vietnam. The US got involved to prevent the spread of communism. The war ended in 1975.
This picture shows a protest against the Vietnam War, which, after 18 years and lost of lost lives, was radically unpopular. -
Bundeswehr
FRG joins NATO and forms the Bundeswehr, which is the first German army since the end of WWII.
Insignia of the Bundeswehr, an organization that still exists today. -
John Foster Dulles and Brinkmanship
Dulles, US Secretary of State under Eisenhower, defined this as "The ability to get to the verge without getting into the war" ("Uproar"). Brinkmanship is essentially a country creating the impression that it is prepared to do whatever it takes through whatever means necessary. -
Hungarian Uprising
Displays popular dissent with Soviet rule. The uprising was defeated ultimately by USSR forces.
The head of a destroyed sculpture of Stalin in Budapest, showing tensions mounting within the USSR. -
Eisenhower Doctrine
U.S. willing to use military might against aggressors and to give aid to countris opposing communism.
EIsenhower awarded TIME's "Man of the Year" for this bold move that embodied the anti-communist "Cold Warrior" opinions of many Americans. -
Sputnik Crisis (Space Race)
Soviet satelline Sputnik I was launched successfully. No real threat posed, but Americans were on edged because the Communists had succeeded in sending something into orbit (American “Vanguard” missions had failed).
Newspaper headline shortly after launch; showed American paranoia regarding the Russian satellite. -
Bay of Pigs
CIA sponsored an American attack on Cuba aimed at overthrowing Fidel Castro. The US tried to claim it was uninvolved with Cuba, as no war had been formally declared. The mission failed and led Castro to reach out to USSR, ending in the Cuban Missile Crisis.
This cartoon shows public opinion of JFK's plans litrally blowing up in his face. -
Berlin Wall (antifaschistischer Schutzwall)
Kept East Germans (GDR, communist nation) from fleeing into West Germany. Erected overnight and divided city of Berlin. "Death zones" were created to either side of the wall, where buildings were demolished and any trespassers were shot.
This is an image of guards at the Berlin wall, watching for potential bordercrossers. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
This was the closes the US came to nuclear war. Soviet forces in Cuba and US forces in a nuclear standoff, which was narrowly avoided through negutiations between JFK and Khrushchev.
This is an image of Cuban leader Fidel Castro with Nikita Khrushchev. Castro turned to Khrushchev for help supporting its communist government. Arguably the cutest picture of any dictators since the photo of Hitler in Lederhosen. -
"Ich Bin Ein Berliner"
Lasting example of cultural misconceptions. During his speech in West Berlin, JFK used an incorrect term when attempting to relateto his audience. The speech was intended to lay out his strongly anticommunist ideas and policies and was definitive to his New Frontier program. If only he hadn't declared himself a jelly donut in the middle of it.
A picture of an actual Berliner Pfannkucken. -
China allowed to join UN
The People's Republic of China had previously been banned (the old Republic of China was not), but this decision showed the calimg of Chinese relations with the US and other NATO countries.
General Kai-Shek signing the original UN Charter in 1945, representing the ROC. -
Détente
Henry Kissinger (National Security Adviser under Nixon) looked for relaxed tensions between the US and China. Détente means essentially that: an easing of strained relations. Kissinger neotiated in SALT and Anti-Ballistic Missile talks. He conversed with Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong of China, leading to the 1972 summit on the above date between Nixon and Chinese leaders to stabilize relations between the US and the PRC.
This is the cover of the July 1974 issue of TIME showing Nixon's détente. -
SALT
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. Negotiations between US and Soviet Union intent on demantling the nuclear or intercontinental ballistic missile development programs.
President saking hands with the Russian leader at the SALT I talks (SALT II was in '79). -
Helsinki Accords
Agreement to respect sovereignty, refrain from using force, peacefully settle disputes, and respect human rights/human freedoms, signed by 35 nations, including many European states (USSR was one). Relieved many Cold War tensions and strengthened international relations.
Schmidt and Honecker, leaders of West and East Germany respectively, beside US president Ford and Austrian chancellor -
Camp David Accords
Egyptian and Israeli deal agred upon by Jimmy Carter. Led to Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty and dealt with relations between Palestine-area nations.
Menachem Begin (Israel), Jimmy Carter, and Anwar El Sadat (Egypt) standing side by side. -
Double-Track Decision
NATO agreement which allowed the US to station nuclear warheads in West Europe if Soviet negotiations over limiting nuclear weapons ended badly. Only minorly contradictory.
This cartoon shows two nations fighting with bows and arrows while they have massive military reserviors that they refuse to use "because the enemy might retaliate". -
Carter Doctrine
Outlined in a State of the Union Address. Carter claimed that the US was willing to use militaty force to get involved in the Persian Gulf and protect national interests if necessaty.
"An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force." (Carter) -
Nicaragua and Latin American policy
"Nicaragua, where the United States backed not a counter insurgent state but anti-communist mercenaries, likewise represented a disjuncture between the idealism used to justify U.S. policy and its support for political terrorism" (Grandin 89).
The US provided aid to anti-communist guerillas and uprisings (see Reagan Doctrine), but some of those, such as the support of the Nicaraguan "contras" that has been widely criticized due to the revolutionaaries' use of violent and horrific means. -
Star Wars
Formally known as the "Strategic Defense Initiative," this program under Reagan was to start the development of global missile defenses. Anti-Ballistic missile, X-ray laser, and intercontinental ballistic missile programs were rumored.
This is a photo of Darth Vader, the villain of the science fiction series "Star Wars" from which this program got its popular name. -
Reagan Doctrine
(The date is when the term was coined). The US would provide aid (either covert or not) to anti-communist guerillas and minority groups in communist nations in an attempt to lessen the influence of Soviet nations. Reagan called his policy "rollback."
"My idea of American policy toward the Soviet Union is simple, and some would say simplistic. It is: We win and they lose" (Allen) -
Fall of Berlin Wall
German citizens wanted a total revolution againse commiunist East German government (GDR). Communism had lost its grip on many eastern European nations.
"General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization... tear down this wall!" (Reagan) -
Dissolution of USSR
Acknowledged independence of all former members of the USSR. Gorbachev had resigned the day prior and handed over keys to Soviet nuclear program (more or less).
This cartoon depicts the USSR as a sinking ship, surrounded by fleeing individual nations.
