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The Yalta Conference4
A conference at Yalta, the Crimea, also known as Livadiya. This conference between President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Premier Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin was to plan the future for post-war Europe. One main aim was that European countries will have free elections, and decide their own futures. The effect that this conference had on liberalism is that there was no change, as Stalinization was installed in the east countries making east countries communist. -
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The Potsdam Conference
A conference was held in Potsdam, Germany by President Truman, SU leader Stalin, and Britain PM Churchill to discuss reparations to restructure Germany. Japan was also warned to surrender or face the consequences which in this case was an atomic bomb. Britain and the US also had rising concerns about Soviet growth and influence. How this changed liberalism was due to the fact that if Soviet influence grew to a great extent, people would lose their freedom. -
Hiroshima Bombing
The bombing of Hiroshima happened in Hiroshima, Japan during the end of World War 2. It involved the Japanese and the US, and since the war was coming to a close, the US had wanted to end the war in Japan quickly and also get them back for the bombing of Pearl Harbour. There was no change in liberalism as the US had bombed Hiroshima out of their own self-interest. -
Nagasaki Bombing
The Nagasaki bombing had happened 3 days after Hiroshima. Again, involving Japan, the US, and the addition of the Soviets. The reason Nagasaki had been bombed was mainly for the US to get the attention of the Soviet Union to prove that they were superior. However, this was also the precursor for the start of the Cold War. There is a slight increase in liberalism, with the US demonstrating a bold statement of superiority to the Soviets. -
Molotov Plan
The Molotov Plan was the Soviet alternative to the Marshall Plan that only involved the East countries otherwise known as the countries that followed in the Soviet ideology. This was a bilateral trade agreement to consolidate the countries that were communist. This would solidify the soviet presence in those countries. There was a change in where there was less liberalism due to the locked trade, and there could only be trade between the soviet countries. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman doctrine, created by President Harry Truman of the United States. Fought ideological conflict by creating alliances and giving aid. $400 million was provided in aid to postwar Greek and Turkey Governments requested support for dealing with the appeal of communism in those countries. The way this affected liberalism was that there was less, as the US had practically given Greece and Turkey money to be on their side. -
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Marshall Plan
The Marshall plan was a proposed plan from the West aimed at European countries who were ravaged by war during the Second World War whether communist or democratic. About 17 European countries benefited from the plan. There was an increase in liberalism, as free-market policies were imposed for European aid. Which in turn led to an incompatibility with Soviet ideology. -
The Brussels Treaty
The Brussels Treaty was signed in Brussels, Belgium. This treaty involved Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The aim of the Brussels Treaty was to create a collective defence alliance to demonstrate to the US that the western European countries could cooperate and in turn encourage the US government to play a role in the security of western Europe. -
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Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade was a crisis that happened mostly in Germany's capital Berlin. What happened here was that Soviet Forces had blocked rail, road, and water access to the allied control forces of Berlin or also known as the west side. The US then instituted an airlift that had brought supplies from the US to the west side of Berlin to aid them. This had encouraged more liberalism in the west side as the US had wanted Germany to restructure itself, but angered the Soviets. -
NATO
NATO, also known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Was an intergovernmental alliance between 28 European countries, 2 North American Countries, and one Asian Country. During the Cold War, if the SU were to attack an ally, each country that was allied with NATO would attack as well. The effect this had on liberalism was that there was less due to the added government involvement. -
Creation of Soviet Nuclear Weapons
The Soviet Union had gained the motivation to create nuclear weapons due to the US government's Manhattan project which produced the first nuclear bomb. In turn, the Soviet Union wanted to prove more strength to the US which lead to brinkmanship. There was an increase in liberalism due to the self-interest that the SU and US had pursued when making the bombs and trying to one-up each other. -
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The Korean War
The Korean war was a three-year event that had involved the US, South, and North Korea. What had happened was that South Korea had been invaded by North Korea, in an attempt to spread communism and take over the Korean peninsula. The US had intervened as Japan was important for trade. In the end, no victor was decided as it was a continuous push back between the North and South. There was a strong increase in competition, as the US wanted to contain communism, and the US wanted to expand. -
The Death of Stalin
The death of Stalin was one of the most significant events in Soviet Russia. Stalin had died from a stroke at the Kuntsevo Dacha and was given a state funeral which had four days of natural mourning. Stalin's death had a shift in terms of liberalism, as it had basically marked the end of the Soviet Union, and once Nikita Khruschev had aimed to destalinize Russia. This in turn would give Russia more rights, freedoms, and more privacy. -
The Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was a treaty agreement between Eastern European countries. One to name specifically was Poland, as the pact was signed in Warsaw, Poland. The Warsaw Pact had the same intentions as NATO, although, it was to mainly maintain Soviet influence in the countries that were allied with the Warsaw Pact. Liberalism was effected in the manner that there was a change towards less because of the ideology of the SU. Meaning more government intervention, and collectivized property. -
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The Vietnam War
The Vietnam War involved the countries of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and the US. The main aim of the Vietnam War was to unite the country under one singular communist regime modelled after the SU and China. The south, however, wanted to preserve its alignment with the West. The Vietnam War ended when communist forces had seized South Vietnam the following year Vietnam became unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Once again there is another increase in liberalism due to the competition. -
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The Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution happened in the Hungarian People's Republic, Hungary. The revolution sparked as a result of Hungary's post-war state, along with attempts of Moscow's Soviet policies and oppression. The main aim of the revolution was to have a more democratic political system and freedom from Soviet oppression. However, the SU had rolled out tanks to defeat the independent country, which restored the Soviets. There was an increase in liberalism as the Hungarian's pursued a self-interest. -
NORAD
NORAD is a binational military command or a united air defence system responsible for aerospace warnings. Countries that were involved included Canada and the US, which mostly took place along the shores of Northern Canada. There was little change in liberalism, but more safety was assured by the government in the form of aerospace warnings. -
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Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion happened in the Bay of Pigs, the south coast of Cuba. This invasion was mostly between the US and Cuba, more specifically its leaders. Fidel Castro, and John F. Kennedy. The Bay of Pigs was to primarily topple Fidel Castro's government and the CIA had financed and trained Cuban exiles to attempt to do so. The invasion failed, and the troops were outnumbered by Castro and surrendered. Liberalism increased since the exiles wanted to be spoken by for by the US -
Creation of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin wall was built in Berlin, Germany. The creation of the had involved East and West Germany. The SU had intentions of building the wall to keep supposed western fascists from entering East Germany, as it was under Soviet control, and it would slowly get rid of the Soviet ideology. Mass defections from East to West had also stemmed. This led to a decrease in liberalism, as the individual right to defect from East to West had been restricted by the Soviet Union. -
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End of the Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis took place in mostly Cuba and the Caribbean Sea. Countries that were involved were the US, SU, and Cuba. Prior to the end of the crisis, Nikita Khrushchev wanted to install medium-range ballistas that would put the eastern United States in range of attack. How it ended, was by a deal proposed by Khrushchev to JFK that he would remove the missiles from Cuba, if the US stopped attacking Cuba. The effect this had on liberalism was that there was no change. -
Solidarity in Poland
This was the first trade union that took place in Poland between Poland, and the East. Solidarity in Poland was when Poland became the first labour union that was part of the Soviet Bloc. Subsequently, because of solidarity, a coalition government had been formed with Poland's United Workers Party. Non-violent anti-communist movements were allowed as well and dismantled communism. This was a great increase in liberalism as Poland was given more individual rights and freedoms. -
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Czechoslovakia Revolution (Prague Spring
The Czechoslovakia Revolution, also known as Prague Spring happened in Prague, Czechoslovakia. It involved the SU and the Czechoslovakians. The cause of the revolution happened due to Alexander Dubcek's reformist rules and gave additional rights and freedoms to the people. The SU had talks that were unsuccessful and invaded the CSSR. The reforms had been reversed after. There was an increase and then a decrease in liberalism as Dubcek wanted to give more freedoms, but the Soviets took it back. -
The Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty
This treaty had involved the United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union, and 59 other states, approximately 189 had signed it. The aim of this treaty was to move closer to nuclear disarmament and to use nuclear power for good and in better alternatives, One more reason was to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. There was a change in liberalism, in that there was more with rule of law is taken into effect and the safety and freedom of individuals. -
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Fidel Castro taking Power
Fidel Castro had overthrown the former Cuban president Fulgencio Batista, because of Bastista's abuse of power. Batista was a corrupt leader and political participation usually lead to opportunities for the wealthy to engage in chances for wealth accumulation. Castro had then led a revolution to overthrow Batista. There was an aim towards less liberalism as Castro wanted to stray away from private property and economic freedom. -
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The Soviet-Afghanistan War
The Soviet- Afghanistan War was fought by Afghanistan rebels called the Mujahideen, Soviet-supported Afghanistan governments, and the SU itself. The reason the Soviets had invaded Afghanistan was to uphold the friendship treaty of 1978. US intervention happened to support the Afghanistan rebels, overthrow the communist government, in turn preventing the spread of communism. The effect that this had on liberalism was to increase it, as they wanted to get rid of Soviet influence in Afghanistan. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin wall involved Germany, but mostly the West and Eastside. During this time the Cold War was starting to die down across eastern Europe. So the spokesperson of the East Germany communist party Günter Schabowski had announced a change in the city's relations with the west. During midnight of the announcement, citizens of the East were able to cross into the West. -
The End of the Cold War
The end of the Cold War involved the West, East, and those who were aligned with the superpowers. What led to the end of the Cold War was the Berlin Wall being taken down, opened borders, and free elections had outmatched communist regimes. The Soviet Union had also dissolved into its component republics, finally collapsing on December 26, 1991. There was a massive increase in liberalism for the East since the communist ideology had collapsed,