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The cold war started as the Unites States and the Soviet Union entered an era of hostility. The cold war was a power struggle between the two super powers. -
in early 1947 Soviet-backed Communists were threatening the governments of Greece and Turkey. Using this President Truman made the Truman Doctrine which was a pledge to provide economic and military aid to oppose the spread of communism. -
War related economic problems existed throughout much of Europe similar to what was happening in March 12, 1947. George Michel made The Marshall Plan which provided $13 billion for rebuilding Europe. -
The Soviets blocked off all land, rail, and water routes into West Berlin. To solve the issue of no exports and imports Western leaders started a massive effort to supply west Berlin by air. -
In the aftermath of the airlift the United States, Canada, and most western European countries joined together in a military alliance. This alliance was called the North Atlantic treaty organization was designated to counter soviet power in Europe. -
Russia and the United States were locked into an arms race which is a struggle between nations to gain an advantage in weapons. The United states soon had far more nuclear weapons than the soviet union and it was clear that a nuclear attack by either side would lead to terrible destruction. -
With the arms race in full effect the United States tests the first hydrogen bomb. With spectacular results the hydrogen bomb completely vaporized the island it was tested on. -
To combat the NATO forces and create their own force, the communist nations of eastern Europe formed their own alliance known as the Warsaw pact. -
Salt 1 and 2 were Strategic arms limitations talks where the United States and Soviet leaders met to discuss limitations on their nuclear weapons. Salt 1 sought to limit the number of Anti-Ballistic Missiles which were designed to shoot down nuclear missiles. Salt 2 was a meeting in which both sides sought to impose a restriction on the manufacturing of nuclear weapons. -
When the Berlin wall came down, the soviet union dissolved and the 15 republics that the soviet union managed broke free from the communist grasp. Right after this the iron curtain was lifted and the cold war came to an end.