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Communism is seen as a larger threat in the U.S.
Stalin was a firm believer in Communism and governed the Soviet Union with harsh policies. Stalin was responsible for more deaths than Hitler was for his role in WWII.
Source: www.crwflags.com
http://www.manythings.org/voa/history/165.html -
Lend-lease Aid
After much cooperation and compromise, President F.D.Roosevelt signed the Lend-lease bill into effect. This provided much aid and materials to help in the Soviet's fight against Germany in World War II.
source: http://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/LendLease -
Official Alliance During World War II
The U.S. had agreed to help Brittain and the Soviet Union months prior to this. But everything changed after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. officially entered WWII and formed an alliance with the Soviet, and England. Winstons Churchill, FDR, and Josef Stalen are seen from left to right. -
WWII Ends
After suffering much loss, Americans celebrated Japan's surrender. A few months earlier, Germany had surrendered as well. This was the dawn of the post war era. Both the U.S. and the Soviet Union had emerged as superpowers.
Source: http://www.history.com/photos/end-of-world-war-ii/photo7 -
Creation of the United Nations
The United Nations became official in 1945. 29 pariticpating nations ratified the charter. A couple of years prior to this, FDR had met with Stalin to suggest that there be a forum to be able to discuss economic and social issues; and to secure an international platform that dealt with some of those issues.
Source: http://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/UN
www.fcpablog.com -
Germany Divided
Once the war was over, the allied nations divided Germany up. Because of the differences in governmental styles tensions rose between the Soviet and the U.S.
Source: www.theworldorbust.com -
The Berlin Blockade
In efforts to control Berlin, Stalin closed off roads and highways leading into the city, which had supposedly been divided amongst the allied nations. As a way to go around Stalin, the U.S. and England sent airplanes to drop the much needed supplies over the city. Eventually Stalin gave up that tactic when he saw that it didn't work and that the U.S. would not be swayed into succumbing to his demands.
Source: kids.britannica.com -
NATO is created
The North Atlantic Treaty was signed in Washington D.C. in 1949. The U.S. along with other countries such as Canada, Portugal, Italy, Denmark, and Norway all agreed to back eachother up in the chance that any participating country came under attack. This alliance forms the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Source: www.ait.army.mil -
The Korean War Commences
After much conflict between North and South Korea, war was declared and North Korea invaded South Korea. After tensions continued to rise, the U.S. sent in support for the South Koreans who adopted an anti-communist sentiment, while the Soviet Union aided the North who adopted Communist sentiments. The war ended in a stale mate on both sides in July of 1953. There is still tensions between the two at present.
Source: www.mtholyoke.edu -
The Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was made after the USSR attmpted to join NATO. The pariticipants in NATO did not agree with Soviet propositions to relinquish West Germany and allow armament. The Soviet on the other hand was worried that external forces could invade their territory; which was done previously by the Nazi regime. the Warsaw Pact was made between the USSR, Albania, Hungary, and Poland to name a few.
Source: www.learnnc.org -
Space Race
The Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I, the worlds first satellite in space. Although a great break through for science and engineering, many Americans were fearful that the Soviet Union had the ability to launch warfare from space.
source: www.coalwoodwestvirginia.com -
The Berlin Crisis
The Soviet Union demanded that the Western Armed forces be withdrawn from West Berlin. President Dwight Eisenhower refused to give up the U.S. legal rights of the occupation of West Germany. A wall was constructed to keep immigration from East to West from happening.
Source: www.aacps.org -
Perestroika
Mikhail Gorbachev intorduced reforms meant to restructure his country and increase the economy of the Soviet. This restructuring was called a peretroika. Along with leniency in policies regarding personal properties and businesses, Gorbachev also allowed gasnost (openess) with the press and communication between East and West Europe.
Source: www.scu.edu -
Down With the Wall
The Berlin wall is taken down. After almost 29 years of separation between the East and West Germany, people were allowed to cross the borders freely.
Source vapolitics.us -
The War is Over
The Malta Summit was were Gorbachev and President George Bush officially ended the Cold War. After decades of paranoia and loss of life, the two countries agreed to not wage a war against one another and to put all war tactics behind them.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/3/newsid_4119000/4119950.stm
