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A man named Vladimir Lenin overthrows the Russian government with the help of the Bolshevik party, he then creates a Communist dictatorship in Russia. He uses his power to take over all private businesses, and jails anyone who stands in his way. In the early stages of the revolution, The United States backs the anti-communist forces.
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After an allied victory in Europe, the allied powers needed to decide what to do with Germany and other European countries, also the allies needed to win the war in the pacific against Japan. The United States and England wanted free democratic elections for European countries, whilst Russia wanted Communism for all of Europe.
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After the allied victory in Europe, the United States needed to end the war in the Pacific against Japan. Two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, one on Hiroshima and one on Nagasaki. The Soviet Union was upset at the United States that they used the bomb so quickly and without thought. The Leader of Russia, Joseph Stalin, knew that his massive Red Army was outdated and stood no chance against US atomic bombs.
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Winston Churchill gives a speech describing an "Iron Curtain" created by the Soviet Union descending across the continent. He was speaking about how the Soviet Union had taken these countries and annexed them into the USSR under communist rule.
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The Molotov Plan was a plan created by the USSR to rebuild eastern European countries after WW2. It incorporated the Eastern European countries into the USSR.
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President Truman announced this foreign policy to congress, it stated that the United States would contain the spread of communism and support countries that were fighting communism.
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After the implementation of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), 10 Hollywood actors and industry people were accused of being communist supporters, when they were brought in for questioning they refused to answer questions, citing the 1st amendment. They were convicted of contempt and sent to prison.
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The Marshall plan was an act that gave aid to European countries that were devastated after the war. It would provide massive economic assistance for Europe, totaling 13 billion dollars.
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After the end of World War 2 Berlin was divided up into 4 sections, controlled by France, Britain, The United States, and The Soviet Union. Not only did the Soviet Union want all non Soviets out of their controlled sector, they also were upset at the United States for introducing a new form of currency called the Deutschmark, Lenin considered it a form of Economic Imperialism.
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After the Soviet Union blocked off their section of Berlin, many people within that part of Berlin were starving. The United States sent airplanes loaded with food and supplies over to the USSR controlled portion of Berlin. They then dropped the supplies to civilians.
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed as group of countries that would defend one another if one member was attacked. NATO has 29 members
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In Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan, the USSR sets off its first successful atomic bomb codenamed "First Lightning". One month later President Truman announces the detonation to the public.
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State Department official Alger Hiss is accused of being a communist spy that gave documents to the Soviet Union allowing them to build an Atom Bomb. He was convicted of Perjury.
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North Korea invaded South Korea. The United States acting as the principle force of the United Nations was sent to help South Korea, whilst China and Russia sent help to the communist North Korea. Once the North Korean forces were pushed out of South Korea the United States pushed into North Korea and were about to fight on the Yalu River but a large force of Chinese troops attacked, putting the UN forces in retreat. An Armistice was signed, the war ended.
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The trial of Ethel and Julius Rosenburg begins. They are accused of sharing nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union. They were both sentenced to death by the electric chair.
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In northern Vietnam, Communist leader Ho Chi Minh defeats the French at a stronghold at Dien Bien Phu. This was seen as the end of French influence in Indochina.
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Senator Joseph McCarthy starts hearings on the US Army, accusing them of being soft on communism. News channels are allowed into the hearing, allowing the public to see McCarthy as a reckless bully. After these hearings McCarthy fell from political prominence.
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Representatives for the worlds powers come to Geneva to discuss the situation in Vietnam, this is immediately after the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu by the North Vietnamese. It was decided that France would withdraw all troops from Vietnam, and Vietnam would be divided at the 17th parallel until both sides could find a leader to re-unite the country.
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Created in response to NATO, and comprising of the Soviet Union and many of its satellite states. It stated that all countries involved would defend one another in case of an attack.
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Thousands of Hungarian protesters take to the streets to protest Soviet oppression. The Soviets send tanks and troops into Hungary to stop the protests, thousands are killed.
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An American U2 spy plane was shot down over Soviet Russia by a surface to air missile. The pilot parachutes to safety but is captured by the Soviet Union. The United States is forced to admit that the plane was gathering intelligence, it is a national embarrassment.
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1400 US trained Cubans launch an invasion of Cuba through the Bay Of Pigs. The invasion fails completely due to Cuban military superiority. The invaders surrendered after 24 hours and were captured.
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A guarded wall constructed by the Soviet Union is created to provide a physical barrier between East and West Germany.
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US spy planes fly over incomplete nuclear missile silos in Cuba. These silos are created by the help of the USSR, Cubas ally. After tense negotiations and a blockade of Russian ships, the US and USSR comes to an agreement that if the USSR dismantles nuclear devices in Cuba, the US will do the same in Turkey.
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South Vietnamese forces overthrow Diems government, then arrest and kill him. The United States becomes more involved with South Vietnam as the Communist North begins to attack the South more frequently and more prepared.
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President John F. Kennedy of the United States is assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas Texas. Lyndon B. Johnson becomes president of The United States
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Congress passes the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, allowing President Lyndon B. Johnson to take any measures he believed necessary to keep peace in southeast Asia. This allows US troops to enter Vietnam, this is the start of the Vietnam war.
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President Lyndon B. Johnson approves Operation Rolling Thunder, allowing US bomber planes to bomb vital supply routes for the North Vietnamese. 643,000 tons of bombs are dropped on North Vietnam, 900 aircraft are lost during this operation.
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A series of coordinated North Vietnamese attacks on 100 cities in South Vietnam is covered heavily by American news teams. Even though the offensive was repelled and considered a military victory for South Vietnam, public opinion of the US involvement in Vietnam drops. This is a main turning point in the Vietnam war.
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African American civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is shot and killed in Memphis Texas by James Earl Ray.
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Senator Robert Kennedy, brother of John F. Kennedy, is shot and killed after winning the California presidential primary. He was assassinated by 22 year old Sirhan Sirhan. After the assassination, then president Lyndon B. Johnson stated that he would not run for another term as President.
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The Warsaw Pact decides to invade Czechoslovakia, 137 Czech civilians are killed, 500 are seriously wounded.
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Anti Vietnam war protestors at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. After the Democratic party could not decide its official stance on the Vietnam war, public opinion of the Cold War shifts.
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Running a campaign of "reuniting America", republican candidate Richard Nixon wins the presidency. He vowed to end the Vietnam war.
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The Ohio State national guard opens fire on student protesters at Kent State University, killing four students and injuring nine others.
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President Richard Nixon flies to the communist Peoples Republic of China to discuss normalizing relations between the two countries.
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President Richard Nixon declares a ceasefire in Vietnam, also stating that the US would with withdraw all troops within 60 days if all US pows were released within the same time period.
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NVA forces begin their final attack on the South Vietnamese city of South Vietnam. This is the final day of the Vietnam war, and the beginning of the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule.
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Republican Candidate Ronald Reagan is elected president. Running his campaign on reuniting America and beginning peace with the Soviet Union.
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The Strategic Defense Initiative is announced. It is an initiative that plans to defend America from nuclear attack, the plan includes satellites equipped with lasers that can shoot down warheads. The plan is also known as "Star Wars"
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United States President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev meet for the first time in Geneva Switzerland. No agreement is met at the conference, however Reagan and Gorbachev form a friendship.
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US President Ronald Reagan gives a speech in front of the Berlin wall, demanding that Mikhail Gorbachev tear the wall down to open the barrier dividing East and West Germany
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Crowds of Germans begin dismantling the Berlin wall, that had for 30 years symbolized the divide of Europe. Mikhail Gorbachev on his last day in office dissolves the Soviet Union, and the Cold War ends.
