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Period: to
Cold War
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End of World War II
The major wars ends with an uneasy alliance between the U.S.S.R. and the west. Germany is divided between the powers and the Soviet Unior and its communist ideology begins to look frightening. -
The Red Scare of the 1950s
As the Cold War progressed, increased panic about Communists within America brought about Truman's Loyalty Order and investigations by Sen. McCarthy and J.Edgar Hoover. This era is asociated with Hollywood censorship and wide-spread suspicion of neighbors. -
Berlin Blockade
BBC's Berlin Blockade
In 1948, the powers occupying divided Germany unified their pieces into West Germany. Russia owned and controlled the Eastern block of Germany and East Berlin. Immediately following the birth of West Germany, Russia cut of roads leading into west Berlin. The Western powers decided to fly in supplies to West Berlin to avoid being forced to surrender to Russia. -
Formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact
History.com "Formation of NATO"
By creating two separate groups of economic and political agreement, Europe was officially split in to two rival camps, with NATO supporting the U.S. and Western democracy and the Warsaw Pact supporting Communism and the U.S.S.R. -
Beginning of the Korean War
The Korean War was a civil squirmish between North and South Korean where the north was aided by China (and the USSR) while the south was aided by the U.N. and the United States. -
Death of Joseph Stalin
The leader of the U.S.S.R. dies of a brain haemorragh and his right-hand man, Nikita Khrushchev takes control of the country. -
End of the Korean War
A demilitarized zone was created between North and South Korea after the signing of an armistice. -
Vietnam War Begins
Vietnam War
Beginning as a fight between communist North Vietnam and the Western-supported South Vietnam, this conflict lasted until 1975 and was one of the most unpopular proxy wars during the Cold War era. -
Space Race
The U.S.S.R. was the first to launch a satellite into space (Sputnik). Shortly after, the United States launched into a full rivalry with the U.S.S.R. for space and further weapon capabilities. -
Bay of Pigs Fiasco
Bay of Pigs
A group of CIA-trained operatives invade Cuba and attempt to overthrow the communist regime of Fidel Castro. The attempt was a failure. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The U.S.S.R. had built missile-launching sites in Cuba and the United States set up a blockade around the island to keep Russia from bringing in more military supplies. Eventually the two nations agreed to dismantle the stations, Russia's in Cuba and the United States' in Turkey. -
Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT)
Different SALT talks took place at different times, but full-scale negotiations between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. to slow the arms race officially began in 1969. -
Soviet Union Invades Afghanistan
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
To calm the Afghani civil war and bring another country to the side of the Soviet Union, they rapidly deployed military control of the nation, to the condemnation of the West. Eventually this became another proxy war, with the U.S. providing weapons and training to rebels fighting the U.S.S.R. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
What was the Berlin Wall?
In 1989, the wall dividing West and East Berlin was torn down and the people kept separated were finally able to flee U.S.S.R control into West Berlin. -
Ukraine, Belarus and Russia declare Independence
The End of the Cold WarAt the end of 1991, the Soviet Union had no more countries identifying with it and it dissolved. Americans were very happy to no longer be frightened of the Soviet Union.
