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Soviet Creation of Nuclear Weapons
Who: SU, Klaus Fuchs
Where: SU
What happened: The SU began experimenting with nuclear weapons in 1943, and began testing them in 1949, Klaus Fuchs was a German spy that stole information from the US, British, and Canadians and supplied it to the SU during the Manhattan project
How did it effect liberalism: This removes liberalism as it brings all nations closer to MAD which means everyone must be extremely careful, and as he was a spy he was infringing on people's privacy and violation them -
Yalta Conference
Who: The Big Three (Soviet Union, Britain, United States/Stalin, Chruchill, Roosevelt)
What happened: The Big Three met to re-draw the map of Germany, and one principal agreed upon was that after the war European countries would be able to have free elections and decide their own futures
Where: Yalta, Ukraine
How did it effect liberalism: Increased liberalism as the citizens were promised free elections. -
Potsdam Conference
Who: The Big Three
Where: Potsdam, Germany
What happened: The Big Three met to discuss the future of Germany. The leaders agreed on reparations and the resutrcturing of Germany, however disagreed on the idea of free elections, they also warned Japan to surreneder or face the consequences, recognized as the start of the Cold War
How did it effect liberalism: This effect German citizens liberalism as they were now being forced to pay reparations and their nations lines were being redrawn. -
Hiroshima Bombing
Who: USA and Japan
Where: Hiroshima, Japan
What happened: The USA detonated one nuclear bomb on the city of Hiroshima - little boy, and to this day it remains the only use of nuclear weapons
How did it effect liberalism: This catalyzed the growing tension between the "East" and the "West" and this would only lead to freedoms being removed as stronger ideologies were a result from this conflict --> stereotyping, stricter rules and more screening -
Bombing of Nagasaki
Who: USA and Japan
Where: Nagasaki, Japan
What happened: Three days following the attacks on Hiroshima another bomb was dropped by the USA - Fatboy
How did it effect liberalism: Same as the Hiroshima bombing this would create more tension, possibly more restrictions on Japanese native people in "West" nations -
Truman Doctrine
Who: President Truman, USA
Where: USA, Greek, and Turkey
What happened: The US helped fight against its ideological opposition (Communist) by creating alliances and relieving nations and supporting aid. The US provided $400 million to the Greek and Turkish governments when they asked for support in defeating the push for communism in their country
How did it effect liberalism: It was positive and negative, allowed them to express themselves as capitalist, may feel obligated to agree with the US -
Molotov Plan
Who: Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania
Where: Eastern Europe, Soviet Union
What happened: It was a trade agreement between Soviets and their satellite states, it was to sopport the nations and provide aid that were aligned with the Soviets, this was to solidify the Soviet Presence in Europe
How did it effect liberalism: Like NATO this takes away liberalism as countries have under it have to support each other and align to one another -
Period: to
Marshall Plan
Who: US, 17 European countries
Where: US, 17 European countries
What happened: The Americans required that the recipients of the support submit an economic assessment plan and participate in a unified European economy, free market (opposite of communism) they planned to help the recovery of countries - communist or democratic=13 billion dollars
How did it effect liberalism: This removes liberalism as nations in need will accept aid from the US. This translates to them becoming capitalist -
Period: to
Brussels Treaty
Who: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the UK
Where: Brussels, Belgium
What happened: These Western Nations came together to create a collective defence alliance, the goal was to show the US that western European nations could cooperate thus encouraging the US to help in the security of western European nations
How did it effect liberalism: This again collectivizes the nations which means that they had to work together and had to cooperate and help defend other nations -
Period: to
Berlin Blockade
Who: Soviet Union, East and West Berlin, USA
Where: Berlin
What happened: Stalin cut off all access to West Berlin, this included 2.1 million West Berliners being cut off from all supplies and trade, in response American, British and French forces flew in food, coal and gas along with others supplies
How did it effect liberalism: This removed liberalism as Stalin cut off the Capitalist Berliners from all trade and other outside sources they had no excess to anything other then resources flown in -
Period: to
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Who: Countries bordering the North Atlantic
Where: North Atlantic Countries
What happened: Canada became a founding member of NATO, a military alliance designed to defend its members from SU attacks and their allies
How did it effect liberalism: It would remove liberalism as all the allies are now collectivized and they are likely to be influenced to join in a war or political dispute to help defend their other NATO members -
Period: to
Korean War
Who: North and South Korea, China, SU, United Nations (21 countries) US
Where: Korea
What happened: The communist leader of North Korea wanted to reunify Korea, attack South Korea the US thought it was supported by the Soviets -> policy of containment
How did it effect liberalism: Displayed how the US was committed to their policy to containing the spread of communism, this removes liberalism as it shows how the US is not allowing anyone to convert to Communism whether they wish to or not -
Stalin's Death
Who: Stalin
Where: Kuntsevo Dacha, Moscow, Soviet Union
What happened: Joseph Stalin died of a stroke
How did it effect liberalism: The death of Stalin came with more freedoms and an increase in liberalism, even though they were still a communist state, they took away some restrictions as the leaders believed that Stalin was too intense with his regulations -
Period: to
Warsaw Pact
Who: Soviet Union, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland and Romania
Where: Soviet Union and other Eastern Europe
What happened: The Soviet Union and seven other Soviet nations under their sphere of influence established a collective defence treaty. This is the Soviets version of NATO
How did it effect liberalism: This removes liberalism in the same way as NATO, it collectivizes all of the nations underneath the treaty to help each other in an emergency -
Period: to
Vietnam War
Who: France US China Soviet Union Laos Cambodia South Korea and Other US Allies Vietnam
Where: Vietnam
What happened: North Vietnam desired to unify their country under one communist nation, similarly to the Korean war, South Vietnam wanted to aligned their beliefs more closely to the US -> the US stepped in to contain the spread of communism
How did it effect liberalism: Like the Korean war this removes liberalism as the US stepped into fight to ensure they stopped the spread communism -
Period: to
Hungarian Revolution
Who: SU, Hungary
Where: Hungary
What happened: Thousands of Hungarians began to fight for a more democratic political system and to be released form the Soviets, the new premier tried to abolish the one party rule and told the Soviets he would withdraw from the Warsaw pact, on Nov 4 the Soviets put and end to the uprising
How did it effect liberalism: This removes liberalism as Hungary did not want to be recognized with the Soviets, wanted a more democratic system the Soviets did not allow this -
Period: to
North American Aerospace Defence Command
Who: Canada and United States
Where: North America
What happened: Canada and US cooperated in building a air defence treaty along Canada's northern shores. It included the Distance Early Warning (DEW) line, this gave the US early warning of a missile from the SU
How did it effect liberalism: This would remove liberalism as satellites were utilized to monitor other nations and help to see if there were incoming threats -
Fidel Castro taking over
Who: Fidel Castro, USA, Soviets
Where: Cuba
What happened: Castro led socialist revolution and overthrew the government -> broke up large land holdings, restricted foreign land ownership, redistributed land. When Cuba agreed to buy oil from the Soviets American refineries in Cuba refused to process it -> led to nationalized refineries, relations between US and Cuba were broken
How did it effect liberalism: Restricted the sales of US, and other relations as they no longer work with each other -
Bay of Pigs
Who: USA, Cuba
Where: Bay of Pigs, Cuba
What happened: Cuban exiles trained by the US military landed on coast of Cuba, poor planning & US military support, the assumption that the fight would cause others to join in and rebel against Castro led to the failure of the attack,-> greater mistrust in the US and strengthened relationship with SU
How did it effect liberalism: Cuba and the US were no longer on good terms this would cause even more tension between the two and give citizens less choice -
Creation of the Berlin Wall
Who: SU, East & West Berlin, USA
Where: Berlin, Germany
What happened: East German troops locked down the border between East and West effectively surrounding West Berlin The West saw this as an attempt to slow down the movement of East Germans onto their side as the Soviets were upset because on the West side the have access to NATO and prosperous economic opportunity
How did it effect liberalism: Literally cutoff West Berliners from the outside world, thus restricting their freedom of movement -
End of Cuban Missile Crisis
Who: Cuba, USA, SU
Where: Cuba, Atlantic
What happened: SU missile bases were being built in Cuba, ships carrying missiles that may have been armed with atomic warheads were travelling across the Atlantic to Cuba -> JFK ordered naval blockade, tensions were extremely high, JFK agreed not to invade Cuba and remove their missiles form Turkey if SU removed theirs from Cuba
How did it effect liberalism: Both superpowers realized how close they were to MAD -> tensions lowered and restrictions lowered -
Period: to
Nuclear Arms Treaties
Who: NATO and Warsaw pact members
Where: Earth
What happened: This put a stop to production, trade, and acquisition of new nuclear weapons, this included 189 countries, this was a movement towards disarmament, the right to peacefully use nuclear tech it also included the Hotline, Partial Test Ban, Strategic Arms Limitations Talks, Helsinki Accords
How did it effect liberalism: Removed liberalism as countries were no longer able to buy, sell and test nuclear weapons, -> citizens have more liberty -
Period: to
Czechoslovakia Revolution (Prague Spring)
Who: Czechoslovakia, Alecander Dubcek, SU
Where: Czechoslovakia
What happened: Alexander Dubcek came into power and granted more rights and freedoms to his citizens, loosened restrictions on media, speech, and travel, an limited secret police's power, start of 10 year transformation -> democratic system, 4 Warsaw nations invaded and reversed Dubcek's reforms
How did it effect liberalism: This removes liberalism as they were on the brink of change then the SU invaded and reversed their plans -
Period: to
Afghanistan/Soviet War
Who: SU, Afghanistan, US
Where: Afghanistan
What happened: The Su invaded Afghanistan in 1979, and in response the CIA equipped them with weapons and rifles form WW1, this would cost the US $5million/year, rose to $750 million/year
How did it effect liberalism: This took away liberalism as the SU was trying to expand and impose their ideologies onto other nations, and in response the US was supporting them with money, supplies, and weapons, which is going to make them more likely side with them -
Solidarity in Poland
Who: Lech Wałęsa, Poles
Where: Gdańsk, Poland
What happened: A broad anti-Soviet social movement was created ranging from people involved in the catholic church to anti-soviet leftist, utilized methods of civil resistance to help promote workers rights and change in society
How did it effect liberalism: This promotes liberalism as people are fighting for individualism, more rights and freedoms, and are standing up against the SU. Eventually they will have less restrictions and more freedoms -
Berlin Wall Falling
Who: East West Germany
Where:Berlin Germany
What happened:Misinterpreted info a East German leader opened the border for travel, failed to state that restrictions would remain West media wrongly reported the border was flooded with people people just began to pass through this was the first step in German reunification and weakened the already weak East German government
How did it effect liberalism:This allowed more liberalism people are given the right to travel no longer restricted to a side -
End of the Cold War
Who: USA and SU
Where: Earth (mostly Europe and Asia)
What happened: Following the collapse of the Berlin wall, the SU's influence and sphere began to weaken. When Gorbachev allowed multi-party elections this further catalyzed towards the failure of communism in our world
How did it effect liberalism: This positively effected liberalism for all people throughout the world, as the superpowers no longer had such a strong hold on all of their recovered nations