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Russian Communist Revolution
Two revolutions swept through Russia, ending imperial rule and setting in motion political and social changes that would lead to formation of soviet union. -
League of Nations
It was an international organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Created after the first world war tp provide a forum for a resolving international dispute. Brought up by president Wilson as being part of his 14 points, for an equitable peace in Europe. United States never became a member. This relates to the Cold War because the whole point of the Cold War was territory and who could be more powerful, and this created an easier way to peacefully and responsibly handle the territorry in Europe. -
Treaty of Versasilles
Peace treaty that ends World War I, this treaty didn't solve the problem of reparations which led to the start of the Cold War. -
Yalta Conference
Purpose was to bring peace. Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill decided Germany would be divided into occupation zones controlled by allies. This agreement was broken by Stalin when he formed a dictatorship. -
Nuremberg Trials
Brought Nazi war criminals to justice by a series of 13 trials. Initiated a movement for aprompt establishment of a permanent international criminal court. effect on cold war. International order as it created an important interventionist precedent for situations involving the disruption of the international order and gross violation of human rights. -
Baruch Plan
Proposal by US government for the international control of atomic weapons to the United Nations. The failure of this plan led to the arms race between US and Soviet Union -
Nuclear Deterrant
US and Soviet Union refrain from using nuclear weapons which leads to mutual assured destruction (MAD). This led to the use of submarines, missles, and nuclear bombs. -
General Assembly
During Cold War the Soviet Union and countries of Eastern Europe formed one of the most cohesive blocs. The primary role is to discuss issues and make recommendations though it has no power to enforce it's resolutions or compel state action. -
Iron Curtain Speech
Given by Winston Churchill after not being redacted as Britains primeminister. Their speech changed the way the democratic west viewed the Communnist East. This speech is what made the division of eastern and western europe during the cold war known as the iron curtain. -
Truman Doctrine
Harry Truman asked congress for $400 million to aid Turkey and Greece. This policy enabled Turkey to resist Soviet pressure and helped Greece defeat Soviet-backed rebles. Soviets and US wanted to avoid war which led to Warsaw Pact and NATO -
Marshall Plan
Europe was economically depressed and communism appeals to people in hard times so to keep Europe from communism, US gave $13 billion but the catch was they had to spend the money on American goods. This was the American initiative to aid Europe during the Cold War. -
Berlin Airlift
Soviets block all roads/railways/cut off power to West Berlin which leads to a massive airlift of supplies to west Berlin. In 1949, blockades ends and west Germany unifies. This causes embarrassment for Stalin -
United Nations
Formed during World War II to combat axis powers. United Nations due to the structure of the security council and veto possessed by US and Soviet Union was largely sidelined during the Cold War which condemed the agression of North and South Korea. -
NATO created
North Atlantic Treaty. Organization, the prospect of further communist expansion prompt the US to make NATO. The Soviets and allies made a rival alliance called Warsaw pact that divided Europe, which provided framework for the military standoff that continued throught the cold war. -
Chinese Communist Revolution
Culmination of the Chinese Communist Party's drive to power. This revolution caused the rise of communism in China. -
Joseph McCarthy Speech
Claimed that there were large number of communists and Soviet spies and sympathizers inside the federal government and was censured by the US. During coldwar people were freightened by these spies. -
Korean War
This was a war between North and South Korea. The invasion across the 38th parallel was the first military action of the Cold War. US formed an armistice with the North Koreans, there was a fear of World War III but in 1953 the war ended. -
Warsaw Pact
Collective defense treaty amoung 8 communist states of Central and Eastern Europe in exsistence during the Cold War. This caused Eastern and Western Europe to become divided. Politicalo and military alliance between Soviet Union and Eastern European countries. -
Sputnik launch
Launched by the Soviet Union. Marked the start of the space race, technology achieivement that caught americans by surprise. This made US fear Soviets ability to launch satallites and ballistic missiles that could carry nuclear weapons from Europe to US. The US soon launched their own Explorer 1. This increased competition between US and Soviets in the cold war caused more fear with nuclear weapons. -
Bay of Pigs invasion
Unsuccessful attempt by CIA and Cuban train rebels to overthrow Castro due to his communism. Invaders were outnumbered by Castro's troops and surrendered after 24 hours. JFK believed Castro showed no real threat to America, but the new president believed masterminding the Cuban leaders would show how serious he is about winning the Cold War. -
Fidel Castro Proclaims Communist Cuba
Castro announced that under his leadership Cuba would be a communist state. Cuba's adoption of communism coupled with the country's proximity to America was a key element in the Cold War and continues to affect international relatiopnships. -
Building of the Berlin Wall
This was a wall built between East and West Berlin to keep western fascists from entering eastern Germany and underminding the social state. Western Germany was allies with the United States and felt that they were being abandoned. JFK believed that a wall was better than a war. This relates to the Cold War because building this showed the separation of communist and democrats. -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall primarily served the objective of stemming mass defections from east to west. Some people crossed freely, others brought hammers and picks and began to chip away at the wall. The Berlin wall became a symbol of the Cold War showing the division between communsit east Berlin and democratic west Berlin. -
Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)
doctrine of military strategy and national security policy in which a full scale use of high yield weapons of mass destruction would cause annihilation of both the attacker and defender. -
Cuban missile crisis
An American spy plance photographed missiles in Cuba, Kennedy placed a naval blockade around Cuba then demanded the removal of the missiles, US agreed not to invade Cuba and remove its nissiles from Turkey -
US sent troops to Vietnam
In response to the Gulf of Tonkin US sent ground troops to Vietnam. China and the Soviet Union threatened to intervine if US kept using it's military on behalf of the South Vietnamese. -
SALT I Strategic Arms Limitations Talks
Leaders met and decided to limit the development of offensive and deffensive stratigic systems to stabilize US and Soviet relations led to the signing of the ABM treaty and interim SALT agreement. -
Non-proliferation Agreement
Treaty to preventthe spread of nuclear weapondry and technology to further the goal of achieveing total disarmament. Treaty was a major success brought inernational cooperation. -
Apollo II
Major win for the US in the space race. US developed technology to be the first lunar landing. They beat the Soviets in the space race and placed an American flag on the moon to proove so. Major turning point for US in the cold war. -
Kent State shootings
Guardsmen fired 67 shots killing 4 and injuring 9. Students were protesting against the Vietnam War and the national guardsmen sprayed tear gas and began shooting. -
Fall of Saigon
One of the lowest points in recent American history. Helped set in motion the collapse of the soviet empire 15 years later. Fall of Saigon encouraged the Soviet Union to be over confident about goals for 3rd world. Saigon was captured by Vietnam. -
Deng Xiaoping
Leader of communist party wanted to make China 3rd super power by 2000, modernized China's agriculture, industry, military, science and technology. -
Pope John Paul II
huge force of the fall of commmunism and the new nations that were created. -
Margaret Thatcher
Prime minister of the United Kingdom and leader of conservative party from 1975-1990 lead the west to victory in the cold war. Her courage and leadership helped democracys defeat of communism, known as iron lady. Played a major role in ending the Cold War. -
SALT II
focused on limiting and reducing the number of multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicles (MIRV) and preventing both sides from making break throughs that would destabalize US and Soviet relationship -
Soviets invade Afghanistan
During cold war, Soviets send troups to Afghanistan, this was a water shed event of the cold war. This was the only time soviets invade a country outside eastern bloc. The US and European allies greatly critizied the Soviets move into Afghan, and devised numerous meausres to make Moscow withdraw. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
As the Cold war began to thaw across eastern Europe, east Berlin's communist part spokesman announced a change in his city's relations with the west. To this day the Berlin wall remains to be one of the most powerful and enduring symbols of the Cold War. -
Lech Walesa
Polish politician that founded the solidarity trade union group that helped in the fall of communism in Poland -
START I Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
a treaty between US and USSR that provided deep reductions of strategic nuclear weapons. -
START II
Start II included a provision that requires the president to seek senate approval of any strategic arms cuts that would reduce strategic arsenal to below start I ceiling before start II entered into force.
