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The Beginning
This is a time where it could go either way. Some would say that this is a time of low tension, others could argue that is is high. I am on the no train because a lot of things haven't happened yet to increase tensions, such as the arms race, space race, Korean War, Vietnam war, Soviet–Afghan War. (green for low tension) -
The Bombing of Hiroshima
The United States drops an untested atomic bomb on Hiroshima in Japan and it causes destruction never seen before. This starts to raise tension in the USSR because the U.S. has the "monopoly" of nuclear weapons. The Soviets then declare war on the Japanese.
(yellow for rising tension) -
The Second Bombing: The Bombing of Nagasaki
This was the second atomic bomb used by the United States and this time it was on Nagasaki. Now the tensions are really starting to rise within the USSR because they know that the U.S. can make these weapons of mass destruction fast and nobody else in the world knows how to make them. At this time the tensions are pretty high.
(red for high tensions) -
The End of WW2
After the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan from the U.S., and rising military threats from the Soviets, the Japanese surrender. While the U.S. and Soviets are both happy that WW2 is over, the tension is still there. -
Stalin Speech
Now if there was any doubt about there not being any tension, it has been erased. With this speech from Stalin, one can now realize that he does not like capitalism at all and wants it gone. Erased. (fire for super high tensions) -
"Iron Curtain" Speech
When Winston Churchill gave this speech, it was the first acknowledgment of a cold war. It also condemned the Soviet expansion of their ideologies. Now everybody is aware of the high tensions. -
US Atomic Testing
This was the first time Americas atomic arsenal had been displayed and while the whole world already knew what these weapons could do, this was still raising fear in the Soviets. -
Start of Containment
This was the year that the US started practicing the containment policy to contain Soviet ideology expansion. The US starting getting active in the Greek civil war, enact the Marshall plan, and make the Rio Pact. -
Space Race is Won
USSR wins the space race with Vostok rocket launched 1st ICBM. This was not a time of very high tensions. -
Communist Takeover
The communists takeover Czechoslovakia. Tensions are still pretty high. -
No More Spies
President Truman creates Loyalty Program to catch spies. Although, this is ironic to me because if they were good spies, they wouldn't be caught lol. But, this is a time of medium tension because there are now less spies to worry about... right? -
Brussel... Sprouts? Nope, Pact
This was a pact put into place to protect Europe from communism. Although there was a pact named after food to stop communism from leaking into Europe, there was relatively low tension. -
Berlin Blockade
This was an event that raised tensions once more. This was an attempt by the Soviet Union to limit the ability of the United States, Great Britain and France to travel to their sectors of Berlin, which lay within Russian-occupied East Germany. The USSR blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control. -
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was organized to provide collective security against the Soviets. It was a time of kind of low tensions. -
USSR tests their first atomic weapon
Russia tested its first atomic bomb and now the Western powers have nothing to keep the USSR in check. This raises tension and worries for the Western powers. -
Communist China
Communist Mao Zedong takes control of China and establishes the People's Republic of China. This keeps tensions high because now the spread of communism is hard at work and it has taken over another country. -
Hydrogen Bomb
President Truman approved H-bomb development since the Russians have successfully tested an atomic bomb. This raises not only international tensions but tensions within the US. Scientists were split on the development of the bomb. -
The Korean War
Korean War begins. Stalin supports North Korea who invade South Korea equipped with Soviet weapons. This is one of the proxy wars fought in the cold war. Tensions were pretty high. -
Britain Gets Armed
In 1952, Britain gets armed with their atomic bombs. This is one measure of reassurance now that the Soviets have their own. Tensions are kind of low. -
Stalin Dies
Stalin died and Khrushchev took over. Tensions were pretty low. -
End of Korean War
The Korean war was ended and tensions have started to fall but are still existing. -
H- Bomb Test
The United States successfully tested their hydrogen bomb in the Marshall islands. This raised tensions once again. -
USSR in Afghanistan
USSR sent military aid to Afghanistan and this is another proxy war in the cold war. Tensions are high here especially after the US gave support to the anti-communist mujaheddin. -
Sputnik
Sputnik is launched into orbit. Tensions are still pretty low. -
Sputnik 2
Sputnik 2 was launched into space but sadly, the dog aboard, Laika, died in space. Tensions are still pretty low. -
Project Mercury
NASA began Mercury project using Atlas rocket. Project Mercury was the first human spaceflight program of the United States. Its goal was to put a man into Earth orbit and return him safely, ideally before the Soviet Union. Tensions are still pretty low. -
Explorer Launched
The US sent its first satellite into space. Tensions are still relatively low. -
France is Armed With Atomic Bombs
France gets armed with its own arsenal of Atomic Bombs. Tensions are on the rise again. -
US Spy Plane Shot Down Over USSR Territory
The USSR announces that a spy plane of the US was shot down over Soviet territory. Tensions are still high. -
Cuba Falls Without Falling
Cuba "falls" to communism but they didn't actually fall because they chose to follow the Soviets ideologies. This does nothing to lower tensions and they are still high. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union initiated by the American discovery of Soviet ballistic missile deployment in Cuba. Tensions are sky rocketing. -
US in Vietnam
US military involvement in the Vietnam war increases along with the tensions. -
Assassination of JFK
President Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald who defected to the Soviet Union. This made tensions sky rocket again. -
China Gets Better Armed
China gets better armed with the making of atomic bombs. Tensions are still high. -
US Troops Have A Lot Of Work
1965 was a year where many troops were deployed. In April, Marines were sent to the Dominican Republic to stop the spread of communism there and then in July, the announcement came that 200,000 troops were being sent to Vietnam. Tensions were high. -
Northern Vietnam Gets Bombed
Communist Northern Vietnam gets bombed by US B-52s. Tensions are still high. -
Czechoslovakia Revolts
Czechoslovakia revolts but their revolution fails as they get stopped by the Soviets. Tensions are still high. -
Apollo 11
The US get a point in the space race as Apollo 11 lands on the moon. Tensions aren't all too high. -
SALT
The salt treaty was signed by the US and USSR where one point of the treaty required both countries to limit the number of deployment sites protected by an anti-ballistic missile system to one each. This lowered tensions a little bit. -
Armistice
In Vietnam there was a cease fire between North Vietnam and the US. This lowered tensions a little. -
Southern Vietnam Falls
North Vietnam conquers South Vietnam and all of Vietnam is now communist. Tensions rise again. -
Agreement?
President Reagan and Gorbachev resolve to remove all intermediate nuclear missiles from Europe. Tensions are started to decline. -
More Agreement?
Reagan and Gorbachev agree to remove all medium and short-range nuclear missiles. Tensions start to fall even more. -
The Year Of Communism Decline
This year was full of actions that declined the power of the Soviets. In January, Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan. In June, Poland becomes independent. In September, Hungary becomes independent. In November, Berlin Wall is demolished and East Germany allows unrestricted migration to West Germany. In December, Communist governments fall in Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Rumania. Tensions were pretty low. -
Full Decline
This year was pretty much the end of the Soviet's communism and other ideologies. In March, Lithuania becomes independent. In May 29, Boris Yeltsin elected as President of Russia. In October 3, Germany reunited. Tensions are almost non-existent. -
The End
Hooray! The Soviet Union falls and the Cold War is over. Bye Bye tensions.
