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Nuclear Arms Race
This was important because it led to the ever possible threat of nuclear war during the Cold War. The arms race was the major component of the war between the US and the Soviet Union, as they never directly went into the battle. This may be due to the Nuclear Arms race, which actually helped prevent war by meaning no side was prepared to attack for fear of the massive losses which would occur in the event of a nuclear strike. -
Espionage (date of CIA establishment)
Espionage was important in the Cold War because of the fact that it meant that opposing sides could each gain knowledge of what their counterpart was doing. This meant that there was less unknowns and less suspicion, although there was still plenty. Espionage assisted both sides advance their own operations or to work out how to weaken their opponent. -
Containment (date of Marshall plan being signed)
Containment is important because it was seen by the soviets as agressive. While the word 'containment' suggests that the two sides would co-exist in their seperate spaces, in reality the US wanted to limit communist power as much as possible, firstly by aiding countries with $17 billion to promote capitalism and trade in Western Europe. This increased tensions bewtween the two parties and was partly responsible for the use of 'salami tactics' which came to define the Cold war. -
Hungarian Uprising
This was important because it highlighted to other Eastern European countries that it was possible to fight the oppression of the Soviets. While it ultimately failed, it was still proof that the people could fight back, and this was extremely detrimental to the Communist regime. The US did not intervene for fear of retaliation, although the West clearly supported Hungary in the uprising and this event was important because it set a precedence for unrest in Eastern European countries for the enti -
The Building of the Berlin Wall
This event is important because the Wall came to be a physical representation of the Cold War, and often its most recognizable symbol. The impact on the people of Berlin, especially those situated in the east was severe, and the wall served to stop Berlin uniting which would have been detrimental to the soviets. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
This was a key event, because it made the Cold War feel exactly like that- a war. For thirteen days the world was on the brink of nuclear war, and the end of life as they knew it. Invading Cuba could have meant very serious implications on the US, and while neither side wanted war it was simply one bad decision away for either side, and luckily it was evaded. Sense from leaders on both sides allowed them to achieve common goals and come to a conclusion within two weeks of the crisis.
