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A Slow Beginning
Harry S. Truman states that he will be tougher against the soviets. Unknowingly this is the beginning to a lengthy Cold War. -
Clifford-Elsey Report
This is a document Truman recieved that informed him of a number of soviet wrong doings. It lead to an increase in tension between the two nations. -
The Berlin Blockade
The Soviet Union blocked roads, railroads, and other supply paths in Germany. The Allied forces reacted by using an aircraft to carry supplies to West Germany. -
The Korean War
The North Koreans invading South Korea was seen as the first military action of the Cold War. As a communist country the U.S. opposed North Korea and fought along side South Korea -
Senator Joseph McCarthy
Accuses the CIA of having communists and begins creating a public fear of communists. Later it was made clear that this senator was a radical and his ideas were unsupported. -
Sputnik Launches
This Russian launched satellite was the first ever to be launched and orbit the Earth successfully. This lead to the U.S. increasing its space programs and an increase in fear from the American people towards Russia. -
U-2 Reconnaissance Plane
This spy plane was shot down over Russia and inreased the tension between nations. More than anything the whole incident was an embarassment to the U.S. -
Bay of Pigs
President Kennedy had the CIA train 1,000 Cuban refugees in hopes to over through the Communist leadership Cuba was under. The mission failed, was an embarrassment, and was seen as a negative act towards Russia because Cuba is a communist nation. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was the most tense part of the Cold War. Cuba is close enough to the United States to launch missiles and hit nearly every major city. As an ally of Russia, a known nuclear weapons owner, this was a problem. The United States reacted by blocking off Soviet ships going to Cuba. -
Cut back on nuclear weapon production
United States president Lyndon B Johnson and the Soviet premier both agree to cut back on the production of nuclear weapon related material. Although it was a good sign in the Cold War, the change in Soviet leadership and the beginning of the Vietnam war reignite this conflict. -
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
There were two rounds of talks between the United States and Soviet Union concerning the massive build up of arms. The talks lead to an agreement between the country to place a specific limit on the nuclear weapons either side could have. This was a step forward during a time when the Cold War had been moving rather slowly. -
The Soviets invade Afghanistan
Within Afghanistan a number of different groups were involved in a war. One of these sides was backed by the Soviets, but another side was highly financially funded by the United States. While the two countries did not fight personally, their Afghanistan counterparts fought on behalf of them, -
Mikhail Gorbachev Elected
The Cold War was a lengthy event that spanned a number of different U.S. presidencies. In Russia their last leader during the Cold War was elected over 15 years before the end. This date marks the beginning of the last USSR leader. -
INF Treaty ratified
This was one of the most progressive steps forward taken by Ronald Raegan and Mikhail Gorbachev. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty affected a number of ongoing U.S. and Soviet military operations, but was aimed towards increasing the peace and decreasing tensions. -
Germany Reunited
Eastern and Western Germany were reunited for the first time in over 25 years. The announcement showed the end of a communist controlled Eastern Germany and pointed towards the end of the Cold War. -
Malta Summit
This meeting of European leaders, Soviet leader Gorbachev, and U.S. leader George W. Bush was aimed to end the cold war. In fact, the two declared that the war was over, but it was more of the beginning of the end. -
Gorbachev Resigns
The Soviet leader Resigns and with his resignation comes the end of the USSR. The Soviet Union dissolved into Russia and a number of other countries shortly after. This event marked the closing of this chapter in U.S. history.
