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Timeline Of Events
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Yalta Confernece
The Very start of the Cold War. Stalin wanted a buffer between East and West. Roosevelt wanted no buffer, as he didn't see the need for it. This is where the U.S. and Russia became enemies. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was an aid package to was torn Europe. The goal was simple. Help weak countries resist communism by helping them rebuild. Stop communism before it spreads. -
Truman Doctrine
This plan was U.S. President Trumans response to possible Soviet espansion in Greece. This was one wat to combat communism, give the country money as incentive. this added fule to the fire, as Russia saw this as a bribe. -
Berlin Airlift
Russia had blocked all supply routes into Berlin. The Allies wanted to help the starving Germans. The U.S., Britain, and France sent planes to drop supplies into Berlin. Russia could not and did not do anything to stop it. -
NATO
NATO was formed to provide security during the Cold War. Nato was made up of countries who were opposed to communism. If one member was attacked, all would come to its rescue. It was meant to defend small nations from the threat of communism. -
USSR Atomic Bomb
While the U.S. was the first country have an atomic bomb, Russia was not far behind. After Russia obtained their first atomic bomb in 1949, it set off an arms race between the two superpowers. By 1950, both countries had a large number of nuclear bombs. The fact that they hated each other didn't make eveyone else feel safe. -
Korean War begins
The Korean War began in 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea. This alone may not have been reason enough for the U.S. to go to war, but Russia was backing North Korea. U.S. forces fought against North Korea with the help of the South. The U.S. got involved in this war because they wanted to contain the spread of communism. -
Rosenberg Spy Case
In 1942 the Rosenberg couple passed information detailing the nuclear bomb to Russia. They were communist sympathizers turned spies. The information they gave to Russia allowed them to build their first atomic bomb. They are responsible for starting the nuclear arms race. -
Korean War ends
In 1953, Nixon signed a peace treaty with North Korea. All U.S. troops pulled out of Korea, eventhough they could have easily destoryed the North. Two years later, South Korea was under the control of the ommunist North. This was a big win for Russia, as it was spreading communism around the world. -
East German uprising
On September 20, 1953, east Germany revolted. East Germans were tired of communism in their country. They took to the streets in protests and riots. Communist leaders in Germany were helpless, and they called the Russians to help. Russia sent in tanks to stopo the protests. -
Nakita Kruschev comes to power
Following the death of Stalin, Kruschev became the new leader of Russia. While Kruschev disapproved of Stalin's past ways, he was in no way about to let Russia abandon communism. He especially wanted a barrier between East and West Germany. -
Warsaw Pact
Russia felt threatened by the formation of NATO. As a result, they formed the Warsaw Pact. Russia and all of its satellites made up the group. NATO and Waesaw Pact had split the world into two sides, Communism and Democracy. -
Hungarian uprising
On November 1, 1956, Hungarian leader Imre Nagy declared Hungary a free nation. Russia was not happy that one of its satellite states had tried to leave them. Russia sent its military to crush the uprising. Nagy was later executed, and Hungary was placed under communist control yet again. -
Sputnik
In 1957 Russia sent the first satellite into space. America was scared of the idea of Russian technology in orbit. Russia bomb the U.S with no warning. This set of the Space Race between Russia and the U.S. -
U2 incident
On May 1, 1960, A U.S. pilot was shot down in Russian air space. The Russian may have looked upon it as an accident by the pilots, if not for thwo things. First, he was deep in Russian air space. Second, he was piloting as stealth aircraft. This meant that it was intentional spying. Fortunately, the Russians allowed a trade for the pilot's life. -
Bay of Pigs invasion
Kennedy wanted to help overthrow the new communist government is Cuba. So, he formed a group of exiled Cubans to take the fight to Cuba. However, the invasion failed, with all the revolutionaries killed. The communist leader, Fidel Castro, asked Russia to help. Russia sent nuclear missiles. -
Berlin Wall building
Kruschev wanted a definitive line separating East from West Germany. His solution was the Berlin Wall. The wall kept people on both sided from leaving or entering. It was guarded by machine guns and dogs. This did not make Kruschev look promising to western leaders, as he showed an unwillingness to work together. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
After fidel Castro overthrew the old Cban government, he declared hinself the leader of Cuba. After the failed attempt of the Bay of Pigs incvasion, he called out to Russia for help. Russia placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, that were 90 miles from U.S. soil. Kennedy sent a blockade to Cuba, but a deal was made with Russia, who removed the nuclear missiles. -
Prague Spring
In January 1968, Alexander dubcek was elected first secretary of the communist party in Czechoslovakia. He believed in a more relaxed version of communism. However, russia didn't like his ideas. The Russian military was called in yet again, to remove him from power. The old communistic rules were reestablished, and a new leader was put in charge. -
Soviet Union invades Afghanistan
In December of 1979, Russia sent troops to Afghanistan. Russia had relation ties with Afghanistan since the time of the Czar. Afghanistan recently underwent a revolution. A communist leader became the ruler of Afghanistan. The leader asked Russia for help against the rebels who faught the government. Russia aided its long time friend. -
Lech Walesa organizes trade union Soldarity
In 1980, Walesa started a trade union called Solidarity. Solidarity had the support of the people and the church. However, he was arrested for a short while, but he returned to become the first president of Poland. His ideas were good, but the country still suffered under his plans. A former communist beat him in the next elections, but continued to help Poland recover economically. -
Mikail Gorbachev comes to power
In 1985 Gorbachev replaced Kruschev as leader of Russia. He signed a treaty with the U.S., agreeing to eliminate long range nuclear weapons. Under Gorbachev, tension between the two superpowers relaxed a little. After Gorbachev stepped down, Russia welcomed its first president, Boris Yeltsin. -
Berlin Wall taking down
On October 3, 1989, the Berlin Wall was taken down. People used sledgehammers, tractors, and anything they could could find to help destroy it. The wall was taken down, and the last sign of communist rule in East Germany had been destroyed. -
German Unification
On January 1, 1990, East and West Germany were reunited. The communist rule in East Germany had come to an end. Russia had lost its original satellite country. Families who had been split were reunited, eveyone was happy to be free again.