Cold War Events

NATO + Warsaw Pact

1949

NATO was a treaty where allies of the US would support each other when threatened by the Soviet Union. In 1955, The Soviet Union's responded to this with the Warsaw Pact, another treaty to help establish Soviet power and defenses. This was essentially the Soviet Union's version of NATO. These treaties helped reveal the who was on what side of the war, and how many.

Vietnam War

1956

In 1956, a vote would be held to decide whether or not the Vietnam barrier would be removed to reduce animosity. The South Vietnamese leader refused, which made the Vietcong (a South Vietnamese rebel group) overthrow him. Since they were communists, America sent out many soldiers to remove any communism in both Vietnams, although the North was supported by the SU and China. However, the US failed and both sides of Vietnam would create a Socialist Party together. About five million died.

Nikita Khrushchev steps into power.

1958

When Joseph Stalin had a stroke and died in 1953, someone had to quickly replace him in this new war. That person was Nikita Khrushchev, a man who had opposed Stalin's ideas for years and who gave more social and political liberties, such as rejecting the government. Nikita became Premier of the Soviet Union five years later.

Cuban Missile Crisis

1962

In the 1960s, both opposing sides had lots of nuclear force, and the US was still trying to contain communism at all costs. Once their previous "ally", Cuba, had a new communist government, the US had an incredibly unsuccessful invasion, leading to Cuba turning to the SU. From then on, the SU had missiles in Cuba, and the US were constantly trying to stop them. For two weeks both nations were under nuclear threat, but after a calm discussion and a close call Soviet presence was gone from Cuba.

America Wins The Space Race

1969

In July 1969, the US revealed Neil Armstrong walking on the moon, winning them the space race. This was a huge victory for America, leading to an era of technological development in space.

Citations:

1970

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Warsaw Pact". Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/event/Warsaw-Pact. Accessed 14 May 2021. “Apollo 11 Mission Report.” NASA, NASA, www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/A11_PAOMissionReport.html.
Editors, History.com. “Nikita Khrushchev.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/topics/cold-war/nikita-sergeyevich-khrushchev.

Citations 2:

1970

Editors. “Vietnam War: A Timeline of U.S. Entanglement.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 15 Sept. 2017, www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/09/11/vietnam-war-timeline-u-s-involvement-over-decades/653693001/.
Kiger, Patrick J. “Key Moments in the Cuban Missile Crisis.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 17 June 2019, www.history.com/news/cuban-missile-crisis-timeline-jfk-khrushchev.