Cold War (The war was called the "Cold" War because neither the US nor Soviet Union declared war on one another with direct military action. It was a time of fear and panic of the destruction of new weapons that existed between two superpowers).
By braelynnwood
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Formation of the Eastern Bloc
During WW2, the Soviet Union invaded several countries in Central and Eastern Europe, naming them to be Soviet Socialist Republics. This was formed in the agreement of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany. It was considered the most prominent nation and everything Russian was encouraged. It was occupied by Communist and Warsaw Pact republics. The Warsaw Pact helped strengthen the Soviet Reign and establish this bloc. The Eastern Bloc crumbled with the collapse of the Soviet Union. -
Postwar Occupation and Division of Germany
After unconditional German surrender in 1945 after WW2, the Allies issued a declaration, claiming their inevitable rule over Germany. Germany was split in 4 pieces, one for each power- the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. The conference in Casablanca opened the taking of Eastern Germany for the Soviet Union. At the Yalta Conference, it was then decided what France would occupy. Berlin, originally in communist territory was also divided between the powers. -
Enactment of Marshall Plan
In the beginning of April in 1948, President Truman signed the Recovery Act of 1948, which would also become known as the Marshall Plan. It was named after the Secretary of state, George Marshall, who supported the plan to rebuild postwar Western Europe. It also enhanced the geopolitical influence of the United States on Western Europe. Over 15 billion dollars were given to Europe, which is over 113 billion dollars in today's money. It built American ideals in Western Europe as well. -
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
Upon thinking that the Allies broke the several agreements made, the Soviet forces in Eastern Germany blocked off all rail, water, and road transportation between Berlin and the West. With everyone having limited resources inside, the US and other Allied powers began flying and dropping food, fuel, and supplies into Berlin. After hundreds of millions of dollars spent, the Soviet Union eventually lifted the blockade and the airlift became the representation of opposition to communism. -
Chinese Communist Revolution
In early October, Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong created the People's Republic of China. When the People's Liberation Army and the Republic of China Army went into war within themselves, it brought and end of the feud between the communist party and the Kuomintang (the nationalists). When the Chinese Communist party came to be victorious, this split the power within the Chinese. They then, in countries such as East Asia and the United States, tried to spread communism. -
Korean War
The Korean War started when the Communist North Korea crossed the 38th parallel and invaded non-Communist South Korea. General MacArthur from the United States came to South Korea's aid. The US intervened through the UN to act as a peacekeeping force. MacArthur was eventually taken out of command by Truman, which was extremely unpopular. Communism was contained and a peace treaty was signed in Panmunjom in 1953 which ended the war. No side actually won, but peace was kept and tension rose. -
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was led by Fidel Castro to topple the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. Batista ran for a second term, but when he lost, he killed many people whom he thought interfered. On the 26th of July Movement, Batista's forces found out, however Castra escaped. Freedoms and liberties were taken away from the people. With his power declining, Batista was fled in 1959. Castro then took power, eliminating all Batista supporters within his range. -
Overthrow of the Mossadegh Government in Iran (Middle East)
In 1951, the elected government or Iran, Mohammad Mossadegh, nationalized the oil industry, causing problems with Britain. Britain then offered for a coup to overthrow the government, but Truman refused. However, when Eisenhower took office, it was reconsidered. Run by Kermit Roosevelt, his and the CIA helped undermine riots as well as the Iranian government. Mossadegh was overthrown and sentenced to prison, leaving Iran left under the dictatorship of the Shah. -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a war between Communist North Vietnam and non-Communist South Vietnam and its ally, the United States. North Vietnam wanted to unite Vietnam as a whole communist country. Un soldiers poured into the south and China and the Soviet Union fled supplies to the north. The US was losing too many troops and were withdrawn in 1973. Eventually, South Vietnam was invaded by North Vietnam and fell. Not until 1995 would the two regain diplomatic relations. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion (Americas)
When Fidel Castro took power of the Cuba, people were very concerned with his relationship with Khrushchev, the leader of the Soviet Union. When John F Kennedy came to be the US President, he devised a plan that would enact Cubans to go against their own government and overtake Castro. This invasion failed on account of the United States and left a mark on the Kennedy Foundation. The invasion force, Brigade 2506, left tragedy and some were imprisoned and some were killed. -
Building the Berlin Wall
After World War 2, Berlin was split into an Eastern Soviet section (Soviet Union) and a Western non-Communist section (US, France, Britain). The Berlin Wall was built by the Soviet Union in order to keep the Communist peoples of Eastern Berlin from freely going into the West. People wanted freedom and liberty from the west, something the Soviet's couldn't give. The wall was lined with barbed wire and deathly consequences for anyone who tried to cross. However, this only existed on the east. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
In October of 1962, an American U-2 spy plane noticed Soviet Missiles being brought into Cuba, photographing them. Castro (leader of Cuba) allowed Khrushchev (leader of the Soviet Union) to place missiles in case of a supposed invasion. Upon hearing this, Kennedy ordered a blockade of Cuba. Because Cuba was so close to the Florida border, Kennedy didn't want to take any chances. In November, the Soviet's backed down and removed their missiles for Cuba. Nuclear conflict had never been so close. -
Prague Spring (Europe)
Prague Spring was a time in Czechoslovakia when leader, Alexander Dubcek, wanted to democratize the nation and make it so Moscow didn't decide much on the nation's affairs. Czechoslovakia was hits with political and economic issues, so reforms in constitutional amendments were made. Dubcek wanted the communist part to still be the main party, but not act as dictatorial. The acts of the movement caused a Soviet invasion because the Soviets could not handle the more lighthearted form of communism. -
Overthrow of the Allende Government in Chile (Americas)
The United States was very suspicious of the rule of Allende, whom headed a socialist coalition in Chile, thus getting the CIA involved. President Nixon ordered the Marshal's Baton in order to try and stop Allende from being inaugurated. The destabilization of this rule grew and the US got on board with Chile military professional to organize a coup to overthrow the government. Allende and many of his supporters died in the attack. After the end of his reign, a dictatorship formed within Chile. -
Soviet War in Afghanistan (Middle East)
In 1979, the Soviet Union sent thousands of troops into Afghanistan to take control of many large areas. Afghanistan had split control within two parties called the Khalq Party and the Parcham Party. There was internal conflict between these Mujahedeen groups. Large unpopular support for the rule led to internal coups and riots. This support led the Soviet Union to invade. A corrupt government meant that the Communists could invade and impose their own government. They ended up with drawling. -
Solidarity Movement in Poland (Europe)
Solidarity was an act for social change pushing for an anti-authoritarian government. Overall, it helped reduce Communism in the Eastern Bloc, then crumbling such ideals and beliefs. The Polish Trade Union became the first independent trade union with Soviet ties. It ended up forming a coalition government with Poland United Worker's Party, dominating the national government. Strikes in the work place led to more fair practices and gave more power to the people. Jobs suddenly became safer. -
Tiananmen Square Massacre
In June of 1989, Chinese troops stormed through Tiananmen Square in Beijing, killing and arresting thousands of democracy supporters. Starting in that may, millions of Chinese protestors would align in Beijing, claiming that the Communism in China had gone too far and a democracy was needed. On the day of June 4, the protest was stormed, 10,000 being arrested and nearly 1,000 were killed. To punish them, Bush decided to put sanctions on the economy to the Republic of China. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
Communism was starting to crumble and the Communist side of Berlin as well as Eastern Germany was incredible unstable. President Kennedy made a very important speech on the West side of Berlin, denouncing communism as a whole. People tried crossing the wall, getting killed in the process. In November of 1989, the leader of Eastern Berlin accounted that people could not go freely between the two sides. At midnight, more than 2 million people fled, attacking the wall with hammers. -
Fall of the Soviet Union
In 1991, leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, stepped down. His policies and leadership ways had started to become very unpopular, leading to his inevitable decline of power. Leaving Boris Yeltsin in leadership. Suddenly, the worlds largest communist state formed into 15 independent republics. The Commonwealth of Independent States appeared when Gorbachev stepped down. The destruction of communism lead to a more modernized, Western world. However, was somewhat reintroduced with Putin. -
9/11 Attacks
The September 11 attacks were a series of 4 attacks carried out by the Islamic extremist network al-Qaeda against the United States. At attack to destroy and dispose the government of the United States, 19 terrorists attacked by plane. 2 planes hit one of each of the Twin Towers in New York City. Another hit the Pentagon in Virginia. The final was supposed to hit the US Capitol building, but ended up landing in Shanksville, PA after passengers overtook the hijackers and saved the capitol.