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Russian Communist Revolution
The Russian government, led by Czar Nicholas II, was very corrupt and filled with problems. The economy was in terrible shape, the people were hungry, and the Russians were losing tons of men on the battlefield. The people rebelled against the czar. The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, helped the people and installed the first-ever communist government. -
Treaty of Versailles
On the 28th of June, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed- officially ending World War I. This treaty stated that Germany must accept full blame for the war, reduce its armed forces, lose land, and pay heavy reparations. The League of Nations was also established, and new nations created- ultimately leading to WWII. At the end of the second world war, the U.S. refused to harshly punish Germany. This was a source of tension between the Soviet Union and the U.S.- leading to the Cold War. -
League of Nations
After World War II, we wanted to try to prevent another World War from breaking out. The League of Nations was officially created in 1920, in an effort to keep peace all around the world. Members could not agree, and the lack of important nations (such as the U.S.) proved the League ineffective in discouraging World War II. -
Yalta Conference
Early February of 1945, the leaders of the top three world powers met to discuss their plans for the world after the end of the war. Stalin wants Germany to pay heavy reparations for the war, while Roosevelt and Churchill agree that that could only end badly. The only compromise made during this time was for Germany and Berlin to be divided into four zones. This conference showed some the first signs of Soviet and American disagreements which would later lead to strain between the two countries. -
The United Nations
In the June of 1945, the United Nations was created to try to prevent conflict and promote peace throughout the world. Fifty nations from around the world joined the board. Two decision-making bodies were formed. However, the United Nations quickly proved ineffective, due the tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. This resulted in the UN never taking action on anything, as the Soviet Union tended to veto anything that the United States, and the rest of the board, desired to do. -
General Assembly
The General Assembly is one of the two decision-making bodies of the UN. Originally, the Security Council had more power in important decisions and was much smaller. The Security Council always contained the US and Soviet Union. Aa the pressure between these two countries increased, the Soviet Union began to veto every decision the US was for- rendering the Security Council useless. The General Assembly was used in an emergency to forgo the Security Council if something had been vetoed. -
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a serious of trials to convinct Nazi war criminals responsible for the attempted genocide of the Jews. They lasted until October of 1946, and resulted in two-hundred tried for their crimes. Almost all of these men were found guilty and sentenced to death or imprisonment for life. -
Iron Curtain Speech
On the 5th of March, 1946, the Prime Minister of England gave a speech that would alter the world's veiw of the Soviet Union. In his speech, Winston Churchill described countries under Soviet rule as being "under the iron curtain". Since an iron curtain is anything that prevents the free exchange of ideas, adding to the negetive connotation associated with communism. This created more fear and tension between the Soviet Union and United States. -
Baruch Plan
Proposed by Bernard Buruch in June of 1946, the Baruch Plan was a plan that would have given the control of all atomic energy and weapons to the United Nations. The Soviet Union adamantly refused the plan, as the growing competiton between them and the United States made them wary of allowing the U.S. to dominate the rules of nuclear energy. -
Truman Doctrine
In 1946, a US Diplomat, George Kennan, came up with a Foreign Policy for the United States. This policy, known as containment, had the the goal to "keep the lid on communism". Essentially, to stop communism from spreading. Truman adopted the policy and gave it his name. Using the military and money, it was successful in curbing the spread. By backing goverments in both Greece and Turkey, we were able to keep the Soviet Union (and their supporters) from gaining control in either situation. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was created to help rebuild the economic infrastructure of Europe after World War II. These depressed countries were extremely vulnerable to communism, as communist leaders promise change. Also needing markets for our goods, we give $13 billion in aid to West European countries- on the condition that they spend the money on US goods. These countries' economies flourished! Eastern European countries, under Soviet rule, did not accept the money and suffered in comparison. -
Berlin Airlift
In the late June of 1948, the Soviet Union completed blockaded West Berlin. The Soviet Union was trying to force the Allies out and prevent them from unifying West Germany. Over the course of 324 days, two million tons of vital supplies were airlifted into West Berlin. By the end of the blockade in May, nearly a year later, West Germany was unified and Stalin embarassed. The United States felt as if they had a definite victory. -
Chinese Communist Revolution
The Chinese Communist Revolution ended the civil war between the Chinese Communists (Zedong) and the Chinese Nationalists (Chiang Kai-shek). The U.S. backed Kai-shek, as it seemed to be the only way to keep China from becoming communist. Yet, communist victory appeared to be inevitable, and in October of 1949, Mao Zedong declared the creation of the People's Republic of China. When China became communist (and Soviet-backed) the United States severed diplomatic relations for many years. -
NATO Created
NATO, or North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created after World War II to proactively prevent war and control Soviet threats. Western European democratic countries had already joined together and needed the United States to help cement the new unity. NATO discouraged nationalist millitarism and Soviet agrression, but before long it had become much more involved in the millitary. -
Joseph McCarthy Speech
Joseph McCarthy, a Republican senetor from Wisconsin, gave a speech on 2-9-1950 about the supposed commuists in our Department of State. He never provided any proof of their being any communists. America was becoming increasingly suspicious of communitst activity within the nation. McCarthy fed this fear and soon, the search for communism within the United States became known as McCarthyism. This fear associated with communism would prove to be a fuel for hatred towards the Soviet Union. -
Korean War
Considered the first millitary act of the Cold War, the Korean War was the result of the communist North Korean Army crossing the 38th parallel and going into the South. The Soviet Union supported the North Koreans, and the United States supported the Southern Republic. Nearly a month after the start of the war, the U.S. entered the war, fighting with South Korea. In July of 1953, the war ended, but Americans continued to attempt to contain communism and fight its prescene throughout the world. -
Warsaw Pact
In the May of 1955, a treaty was signed in Warsaw Poland. Eight communist states from Eastern Europe joined together in a military alliance. These treaties officially divided West from Eastern Europe. They pleged to defend each other when attacked. NATO is the Western equivalent of the Warsaw Pact. -
The Launch of Sputnik
On the evening of October 4th, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first-ever artificial satellite, into space. This event was the first of many that would later collectively be called "The Space Race". During the Cold War, this Space Age would serve as a competition to prove the power of the United States and Soviet Union. It was a way to show off- without the use of destructive nuclear weapons. -
Nuclear Deterrent
The theory of Nuclear Deterrent essentially states that if a country were to attack the United States with nuclear warfare, that they could expect a nuclear retaliation. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
When Castro became dictator, many citizens who did not agree with him had to flee the country. After a few years, President Kennedy backed these refugees and aided them in invading Cuba. -
Fidel Castro Proclaims Communist Cuba
Castro came to power early in 1959, as a result of sending the prior dictator into exile. Castro originally claimed he would instate a democratic government, so the U.S. supported him. However, soon after the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Castro declared Cuba a communist state- thus recieving Soviet aid. This only strained the terse relationship between the United States and Soviet Union. -
Building of the Berling Wall Begins
On August 13th, 1961, the communist government of East Germany began building a wall. The unsturdy wall, made of concrete and barbed wire, was essentially built to keep people from leave. Huge numbers of young people were leaving East Berlin, and yet the German Democratic Republic declared that they didn't want Western "fascists" getting in the borders. After a more permanent wall was put up, it became very difficult for common people to cross the border. The United States was not happy. -
Berlin Wall
While Americans were upaet about the Berlin Wall going up, the government tried to use it to the advantage of the West. Kennedy is quoted as saying: "A wall is a hell of a lot better than a war". Very early on, the United States government even claimed the Berlin Wall as a "victory". -
MAD
MAD, or "mutually assured destruction" is a doctrine that states that if we attack, or are attacked, by nuclear weapons, both sides will retaliate in a way that results in the complete destruction of both parties. Created to warn the Soviet Union, and to make sure that the United States does all in its power to abstain from the use of nuclear weaponry. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
In October of 1962, the United States discovered nuclear missiles hidden in Cuba by the Soviet Union. These missiles, aimed straight at the United States, posed a huge threat to the safety of the American people. Kennedy and Khrushchev were both fully aware of the result of a retaliation by the U.S.- a world-wide nuclear war. Finally, after thirteen days, a decision was made to trade our nuclear weapons in Turkey for the Soviet's in Cuba. This was one of the tensest times during the Cold War. -
U.S. sends troops to Vietnam
Communist Ho Chi Minh and his followers began leading attacks, rebellions, and spreading communism throughout Vietnam. Anti-communist South Korea resisted until a rebellion against the government broke out. The Soviets and North Koreans backed the rebellion, and The United States eventually entered the war and sent troops in support of South Korea. -
Non-Proliferation Agreement
Adoppted on the 12th of June, 1968, the Non-Poliferation Agreement was created to prevent the furthering of nuclear weapons and nuclear technology, to promote non-violent use of nuclear energy, and to try to completely erradicate the need for nuclear weapons. -
Apollo 11
The 1960's were an era of tension between the U.s.d the Soviet Union, and the so-called "Space Race" only accentuated this stress between the two countries who were both hurrying to develope new space technology. Originally, this mighty show of power seemed to be going to be won by the Soviet Union, but the U.S. ended up being the first to successfully send a ship, the Apollo 11, to the moon and back. -
Kent State Shooting
May 4th, 1970, demonstrators at Kent State University gathered to protest the dispatch of an additional 150,000 U.S. soldiers to Vietnam. The protesters set fire to a building and the National Guard was called in. However, panic broke out, and four students were shot and killed. Our involvement in the Vietnam War, which is what caused this protest, is a result of the spread of communism in the East. This event only strengthened America's hatred for communism. -
SALT I/II
The first SALT talk was finalized on the 26th of May, 1972. "SALT" stands for "Strategic Arms Limitation Talk". SALT I was created to limit the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine launched ballistic missiles that the U.S. and Soviet Union could have. The goal was to get the U.S. and Soviet Union to an equal number of missiles, so that the arms race could be over. SALT II (1979) was never finalized, but would have limited the developement of nuclear capabilities. -
The Fall of Saigon
The United States had occupied the capital of Vietnam for a long time in the favor of South Vietnam. On April 29, 1975, we withdrew our troops from Saigon. The North Vietnamese Army promptly took control, and the country of Vietnam succumbed fully to communism. -
Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping came to power in 1978 after the death of communist leader Mao Zedong. Deng signifigantly changed the economy of China, by opening China with to trade with other countries. He focused the country on technological and economic developements. -
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II was a supporter of the trade movement in Poland known as solidarity. This movement helped end communism, as it spurred the need for political change throughout Europe. Pope John Paul II was in power until his death on the 5th of April, 2005. -
Margaret Thatcher (1925- 2013)
In 1979, Margaret Thatcher was elected as the Prime of Minister of Great Britain. Thatcher was the head of the Conservative party of Britain. She believed and enforced laissez-faire capitalism and reducing the welfare system. Thatcher remained Prime Minister until she resigned on the 23rd of November 1990. She was directly against communism with her belief in capitalism, which was important in Europe during the Cold War. -
Soviets Invade Afghanistan
In late December, the Soviet communists invaded in an effort to aid the new communist government springing up in Afganistan. The new goverment lacked support, and the Soviet wanted to change that. The used brutal tactics to try and change the minds of the people. The anti-communist rebels, known as the "mujahideen" were backed by the United States. They gained strength, causing tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Cold War was nearly over, and tension between the United States and Soviet Union was winding down. November 9th, 1989, it was announced that starting at midnight anyone could travel across the border. Huge street parties were thrown, and the people rejoiced. The wall was torn down by cranes, bulldozers and eager citizens with hammers and picks. A year later, West and East Germany would be officially reunited. -
Lech Walesa
Lech Walesa led a Polish trade union that held labor strikes and frequent protests all throughout the 1980's. On the 22nd of December, 1990, Walesa became president- after winning the election by a landslide! Walesa played a large part in helping erradicate European communism and is credited with "lifting the Iron Curtain". -
START I
START, or Strategic Arms Reduction reaty was a complicated treaty that helped end the Cold War. START I was created to reduce the number of nuclear weapons that the United States and Soviet Union possesed. -
START II
START II was another Strategic Arms Reduction Treat that was created to bring an end to the Arms Race between the United States and Soviet Union. Specifically, the treaty would get rid of two important U.S. and Soviet Union nuclear missliles. START II never actually went into place.
