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The Marshall Plan
Was an American program created to aid Europe in rebuilding their economy after the war was over. It was also used as a method of containment from the Soviet's communism, because after they recieved the funds from the US, they were encouraged to start a Democracy if they weren't already, as well as a capitalistic economy. -
Creation of NATO
(North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Was made to create a collective defence system, where an attack on one nation in the group would be considered an attack on all. -
Soviets test first Atomic Bomb
Modeling the American "Fat Man" atomic bomb, the Soviets had finally detonated their first atomic bomb. This was a big deal because we did not think anybody would have this type of technology yet other than the US. -
The Korean War
This was the first fighting of the Cold War itself. The Russian Backed North Koreans had crossed the 38th parallel, the boundary between North and South Korea. By July, Americans were already in South Korea, fighting against what they thought was "International Communism itself". to this day, there is still a barrier at the 38th parallel, and the casualties mounted up to about 5 million civilians and soldiers. -
US creates first Hydrogen bonb
After the soviets created their first nuclear bomb, the US felt the need to step it up. So, on Nov. 1st, America had tested their first thermonuclear bomb, estimated at 1000 times more powerful than the original nuclear devices. -
Warsaw Pact
Was a defence treaty between all of the communist states in Europe created by the Soviet Union. It was created as a reaction to West Germany joining NATO -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a very long lasting war, reaching almost 20 years of action. Ho Chi Minh, leader of Northern Vietnam and backed by the Communist nations, had launched an attack on Southern Vietnam in an attempt to reunify the country. The United States had joined to fight against communism as usual, but opposition against the war back in the United Stated had mounted up to the troops withdrawl in 1973. by 1975, North Vietnam had captured Saigon and taken full control over Vietnam. -
Soviets Launch Sputnik
The Soviets had started a new race in the Cold War when they launched Sputnik 1 in October 1957. Very soon after, the Americans had wanted to build things bigger and better to launch into space, thus starting the great Space Race. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
about 1,500 Cuban exiles trained by American forces had attempted to reclaim Cuba from its new dictator Fidel Castro, but were immediately defeated by the Cuban dictator. The failed attempt was an embarassment to the US and it pushed the Cubans towards siding with the Soviets, our enemy. -
The Berlin Wall Goes Up
Since there was a steady flow of East Berliners fleeing to West Berlin, the Soviets put up a makeshift wall overnight to prevent many more able bodied workers from leaving. the wall was countiuously upgraded and made more effective until its eventual fall in 1989. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
A 13 day confrontation where an American U-2 spy plane took a few photos of Missiles being erected towards the continental US. this caused the US to create a blockade around Cuba and the confrontation ended with the Soviets removing their Missiles and the Americans ending their blockade of Cuba. The Americans secretely also removed their missiles from Turkey and Italy that were pointed towards the Soviets. -
USSR Invades Afghanistan
Referred to as the "Soviet Union's Vietnam War", this was a 9 year battle between the Soviet led Afghans as well as their own troops against the Mujahideen, a multi-national insurgent group supported by many Democratic nations. after 9 years of an undeterminable war, the Soviets had pulled their troops out, leaving Afghanistan in a civil war. -
US invasion of Grenada
After a Marine barrack was blown up in Beirut, US forces responded to the uprising within days. Their goal was to kick Cuban influences out of the country and to stop the rebel uprising. After not even two months of fighting, the Americans and the Caribbean Peace Force came out with a decisive victory. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
After 28 long years of Berlin being divided, Officials from East Berlin had decided to open up checkpoints for people to orderly get through. Once this news was spread, people from both sides had started to immediately tear at the wall until it crumbled and Germany was reunited. -
Collapse of the Soviet Union
On December 25th, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned, giving the Soviet nuclear missile launch codes to the new President, Boris Yeltsin. The day after this, Russia had now noticed the independence of all 15 different republics of the Soviet Union. This event marked the end of the Cold War.
