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The Common Enemy is Defeated
In May of 1945 Hitler is finally defeated, and Germany is split between the Allies. Communist Russia gains control of half of Germany and the democratic powers gained the other half. While Allies in the War, The Big Three, Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin, did not have the same viewpoints. Without the common enemy to bring them together, the Alliance begins to fall apart. -
Potsdam Conference
In July-August of 1945, the major powers of the world met; however, Roosevelt had just died and now Truman is in office. Truman is very suspicious of Stalin and his Communist ways and even goes so far during this conference as to announce that Americans have successfully tested an atomic bomb. Churchill was replaced by Clement Attlee. Without Churchill to moderate, Truman and Stalin butted heads and very few things were accomplished. Truman disagreed with many policies Stalin wanted. -
Korea is split
USSR controls north, while USA controls south -
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Mutual Assured Destruction
Both Soviets and Americans were destined to obliterate each other if the other were to launch a nuclear strike. -
The Iron Curtain
By 1946, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania had conformed to communism under Stalin. Stalin insisted that these countries were brought under his rule simply for the safety of his country; however, Truman and other democratic countries were suspicious of Stalin aspiring to the totalitarian domination of Europe. -
Truman Doctrine and Marshall Aid
The Truman Doctrine marked a new area of American attempts to contain communism. It started in 1948 with the Marshall plan, a seventeen-billion dollar plan over four years to finance Europe. The plan’s objective was to fund poor, struggling European countries in order to help them resist the onslaught of communism. A large portion of the funds went to West Berlin and West Germany. Stalin wanted Germany to remain crippled, so this funding angered him. -
Berlin Blockade and Berlin Airlift
In June of 1948, Stalin cut off all railways and roads into West Berlin. Since West Berlin was deep in East Germany, democratic countries had no control of this. West Berlin would most definitely fall to Communism without the support of democratic countries, so the democratic countries formed together as NATO and organized the Berlin Airlift. Millions on tons of supplies were flown into West Berlin. Over ten months, planes were averaged to land every thirteen minutes. Stalin had lost this ba -
China falls to Communism
In 1949 Mao Zedong seizes control of Chinese government. -
Nato Is Formed
The North Atlantic Treaty Orginization formed to protect European States against the Soviets. It included Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, and the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. -
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Korean War
Korea had been under the rule of Japan until 1945 when both the USA and the USSR liberated Korea. The USA liberated the southern half and installed an anti-communist government, while the USSR liberated the northern half and installed a communist government. While attempts were made to unify the two halves, hostility was too prevalent. In 1950, open war broke out when North Korea invaded South Korea. -
Joe McCarthy
Begins his campaigns against communist infiltration in the government. -
First Satellite launched into orbit
Soveits are the first ones to launch a sattelite into orbit around Earth -
America Launches its first Satellite
Explorer 1 is Launched into orbit. Four months after the Soviets launched theirs. -
U2 Incident
May 1, 1960 Gary Powers was shot down in his U-2 spy plane while on a reconnaissance mission: locating ICBM missile sites in the Russian cities Sverdlovsk and Plesetsk. Russians had captured the pilot without the Americans knowing. On top of this American officials lied to Russian officials saying the plane was on a weather mission and the pilot was experiencing Oxygen issues; tensions between Soviets and Americans were greatly heightened. -
Bay of Pigs
Cuban exiles launched an attack against Castro. It failed quickly without American help. -
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Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall seperated East and West Germany. This was a visiual of the tensions between the Soviets and the Allies. The wall severly hurt East Germany's economy. During its reign people died and fought to try to get across the wall. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
For a 13 day period after a U2 spy plane discovered Soviet, Nuclear Missiles in Cuba, the world was as close to nuclear war as it has ever been. In the end a blockade by the American's persuaded the Soviets to remove missiles from Cuba. -
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
After difficult negotiations, the Soviets and the Americans finally agreed on the treaty to ban all testing nuclear explosions. -
U.S. Marines sent to Dominican Republic to fight Communism
United States is exerting its influence to again protect against the spread of communism. -
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Vietnam War
The American's involvement in Vietnam was extensive. Huge bombing attacks, jungle killing and burning, and invasion were commenced. The American's did not succed in suppresing the vietcong however. The war was long and costly. It was also very unfavorable by the common people. -
Soviet troops crush Czechoslovakian revolt
The Soviets show their power and crush the rising anti-socialist rebellion in Czechosovakia. -
First man on the moon
The United States send the first man to the moon succesfully. Bringing America ahead in the space race. -
SALT I signed
Brezhnev and U.S. President Richard Nixon, meeting in Moscow, sign the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) agreements. Designed to limit Arms buildup. -
United States helps overthrow Chile government
The United States exerts its power to gain a new ally and protect against the spread of socialism. -
Salt II Signed
U.S decided not to ratify this treaty as Soviets invaded Afganistan during this time. -
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Iranian Hostage Crisis
An angry mob of young Islamic revolutionaries overran the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. More than 60 Americans hostage. Carter to blame. -
Gorbachev ends economic aid to Soviet satellites
Soviet satellites are no longer dependent on help form Russia. Soviet satellites begin to rebel and become non-commiunist. -
Chernobyl Accident
A nuclear reactor melted down, and burned for many days befored Soviet athorities ordered an evacuation. Soviets must be feeling very vulnerable as to risk many lives in order to preserve their pride. -
Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan
This shows Soviet acceptance that they lost the battle in Afghanistan. Even if they don't admit it outright. This is the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union. -
Soviet Union Falls
Soviet Union officially falls apart as communist rule falls apart and sub nations dissolve.
