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Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima
The first Atomic bomb dropped by the US that caused massive destruction. Most importantly it began the nuclear race between US and Soviet Union -
End of WWII
The end of the war left two superpowers the USSR who wanted to remain control of the Eastern Bloc States it already had and the US who wanted to provide contaiment and not allow the USSR to gain more power -
Period: to
Cold War
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Beginning of Contaiment
George Kennan wrote a telegram detailing the need for the US to containment to prevent USSR from spreading communism across the world. This was important as the US needed to remain a firm and strong hold against the tendencies of Russia -
Iron Curtain Speech
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill describes the division of the Continent and behind this line are the old states of Central and Eastern Europe. It was a division after WWII until the end of the Cold War. These states are part of the Soviet influence and are subject to their influence and control. The term symbolized efforts by the Soviet Union to block itself and its satellite states from open contact with the west and non-Soviet-controlled areas. -
Truman Doctrine
In a speech that became to be known as the Truman Doctrine the President said that any nation threatened by Communism will receive assistance from America. This established the contaiment worldwide of Caommunism which was a vital American national security interest. -
Marshall Plan
American plan to aid countries after the war to help them rebuild. It was developed by George Marshall and offerred to both Eastern and Western Allies to assist them. It was declined by the Eastern Allies as it would give the US control over the economies in the communist countries. -
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
This was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. In Berlin Germany it was divided into two sectiions once controled by Russia the other by the Western Allies, The USSR blocked all railway, water and road access to Western Berlin. Airlifts were performed to carry supplies to the people in West Berlin. This lended May 12, 1949 -
NATO formed
NATO was a alliance between several countries that helped to provide a unified defense against Soviet agression. The formation of NATO greatly increased American influence in Europe. -
Soviet drops first Atomic Bomb
This caused great fear in the US as the Soviets had now entered the nuclear arms race -
Fear of Nuclear Attack by the Soviets
Greater Defense spending was called for in a National Security Report due to the imminent threat of a Soviet Nuclear Attach -
Start of Korean War
Tensions heated up with US and Soviets -
Warsaw Pact Forms
This Pact included Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria as members. The main purpose was that any state was to come to the aide of member attacked by an outsider and all troops put under one central command of the Soviet Leader. This was done in direct response to NATO agreement signed and concerns that W. Germany had been allowed to join NATO and could be a threat to Eastern Bloc countries influenced by the US. -
Vietnam War US openly involved in War
US became involved to ensure that North Vietnam which was under communist rule did not take over South Vietnam which was not communist and supported by the USA -
The Race to Get to Space
The US and Soviet Union were racing to see who would get to space first. The Soviets went first with Sputnick showing Soviet supremacy in technology and fire power. -
U-2 Reconnaissance Spy Plane
Tjhe Americanspy plane shot down while spying over the Soviet Union. This derailed an important summit meeting that was to happen later in May between President Eisenhower and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev -
Invasion of Cuba Bay of PIgs
It was an attempt to remove Castro from power, show China and Russia that the US was important and show it's power. This invasion ended only 24 hours after it's start badly. -
Building of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall was one of the most powerful and remembered item of the Cold War. It was built to seperate East and West Berlin by the communist party to keep ideas from being introduced into the communist part of Berlin but more importantly to keep people from defecting to West Berlin -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The US and Soviets risked a nuclear war do their discriminate to place intermediate-range ballistic missiles in Cuba.
Pres Kennedy considered an air attackand amphibous invasion as reconniasance had shown Soviet technicans and missiles sites already in place. Kennedy chose to blockade the island and work on diplomatic maneuvers
Soviet leader Khrushchev agreed to remove missiles and Kennedy agreed to not invade island
This agreement averted a possible nuclear war -
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)
An important first step in slowing the nuclear arms race. The threat of nuclear war was always a possiblity when the Soviet Union became an atomic power -
Soviets invade Afghanistan
The Soviet invade Afghanistan which became a pseudo war between US and Soviet each who supported a differnt group of people in the country -
Visit to Berlin Wall by President Reagan
President Reagan visits Berlin Wall to show his continued support for the people of West Berlin. He wanted theSoviet Leader to tear down the wall to help with the Soviet Leaders desire to bring about more solidarity with Eastern Bloc countries. -
INF Treaty Signed
The INF treaty was signed by leaders of USSR and USA to eleminate Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces thus lessening the chances of nuclear war between the two super powers -
Wall Falls in Berlin
In Central and Eastern Europe reform movements toward democracy were gathering strength. The communist party saw that the Warsaw Pact's day were drawing to an end.
In October 1989 Germany’s communist government fell and on November 9, 1989 -
Mikhail Gorbachev Comes to Power in USSR
President Gorbachev come sto power he is a change in Soviet leadership letting the citizens have more liberties. Willing to have less nuclear powers -
START Treaty Signed
The reduction of the most dangerous arms began unlike in the past were it was increase in arms were seen during the Cold War -
Soviet Union Dissolved
This led to the long standing hostitlity between NATO countries and the WARSAW Pact Countries
