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Stalin
Joseph Stalin started gaining power in the Soviet Union in 1922, but eventually became dicator of the USSR in 1929. He forced collectivization of agriculture, as well as huge industrialization. Stalin is historically significant because his rule was known as the Reign of Terror; millions of Russians died or were exiled at his command. -
Iron Curtain
The Iron Curtain was a political, military, and idealogical wall set up after World War II. It divided the Allies and most of democratic Western Europe from those communist countries in Eastern Europe. The iron curtain was historically significant because no one was sure what was going on the eastern side, and this fear and doubt caused the Cold War. -
The United Nations
The United Nations is the world's largest international organization. It was founded after World War II to replace the League of Nations. It's primary cause is to maintain world peace. The United Nations is historically significant in the Cold War because during the war in Korea, they actually had a military force to do something to stop it, unlike the League of Nations. -
Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh was the president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam from 1945-1969. He supported the North Vietnamese in the Vietnam War, and formed the Viet Cong. He is historically significant because he unified Vietnam as one communist state, which he had set out to do. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was President Harry Truman's international policy to support Greece and Turkey so they would not fall to communism. President Truman did not want the Soviets to have anu influence on these countries because of their strategic location on the Mediterranean Sea. The historical significance of the Truman Doctrine is that it showed the Soviets that America was fighting communism. It started the Cold War. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was the United State's program that gave financial aid to countries after WWII. It was in the hopes to prevent the spread of communisam. The historical significance of the Marshall Plan is that it helped Western Europe grow and prosper while Eastern Europe was failing. -
Berlin Airlift
During the Berlin Airlift, the Western Allies flew over and gave the people in West Berlin supplies. This embarrassed the USSR and helped West Berlin start to grow and prosper. The Berlin Airlift was historically significant because it prevented the spread of communism. -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NATO was a military alliance between North America and Western Europe. This alliance is historically significant becuase it was a system of defense for the other countries in the treaty to back them up if they were ever attacked. -
People's Republic of China
The People's Republic of China was a one-party state ruled by the Communist party. It is also the most populous country in the world. Its historical significance is that even though China fell to Communism, the US and China still have diplomatic relations. -
Korean War
The Korean War was from 1950-1953. North Korea, China, and the USSR fought against South Korea and the United States. This war is historically significant because it allowed the US and USSR to indirectly fight each other. -
Explosion of the First Hydrogen Bomb
The United States conducted the explosion of the first hydrogen bomb on an island in the Enewetak Atoll. It destroyed the island and left a crater 175 feet deep. The historical significance of this event is that the hydrogen bomb was the most powerful nuclear weapon invented at that point-far more powerful than the atomic bomb. -
Khrushchev
Khrushchev was the first Secretary of the Communist Party in the Soviet Union. He later became the Chairman of the Counicl of Ministers. He was historically significant because he was responsible for destalinization. -
KGB (Committee for State Security)
The KGB is the security agency for the Soviet Union. They provided security for the borders and protected state officials. The historical significance of this group is that they were the Soviet version of the CIA and were in charge of collecting foreign intelligence. -
Geneva Accords
The Geneva Accords was a conference between the UK, the US, the USSR, China, and others to attempt to unify Vietnam. They also wanted to restore peace to Indochina. The historical significance of this event is that they decided that Vietnam would be divided and free elections would be held. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was a peace treaty between communist countries in Eastern Europe. It was the USSR's counterpart to NATO. The historical significance of the Warsaw Pact is that entangling alliances like this one and NATO are one of the main causes of war. -
Vietnam
The Vietnam War was between the communist North Vietnam and anti-communist South Vietnam. The Soviet Union helped North Vietnam and the United States aided South Vietnam. The United States and South Vietnam wanted the two to be united into one country. The historical significance of the Vietnam War is that is allowed the USSR and US to fight indirectly with each other. -
Suez Canal/Nasser
The Suez Canal is a man-made ccanal located in North Africa that connects the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. This event was a confrontation between Egypt and Britain, France and Israel. The historical significance of this event is that the United States and the Soviet Union actually worked together to solve these nations from fighting. -
Sputnik
Sputnik was the first artificial Earth satellite launched into space by the Soviet Union in 1957. Information collected from it allowed scientists to learn about Space. Its historical significance is that is started the space race between the US and the USSR. -
European Economic Cooperation
The EEC was an alliance between Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany. This was a sign of economic unity in Western Europe. The historical significance of this alliance is that they lowered the tariffs for trade between these countries. -
Berlin Wall is Erected
Wall built dividing East and West Berlin. Built because so many citizens from East Berlin were trying to escape to West Berlin. This was historically significant because it separated the democratic countries from the communist countries. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was when the Soviet Union tried to deliver missiles to Cuba. The United States tried to prevent it in a naval blockade and the Bay of Pigs invasion, which caused high tensions between the two superpowers. This event is historically significant because this was the closest the Cold War ever came to becoming a nuclear war. -
Brezhnev
Leonid Brezhnev was a supporter of the Communist Party and the fourth leader of the Soviet Union. He also served in the military for a few years. Brezhnev is historically significant because he brought back Stalin's ideas, after destalinization had occured. -
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a series of Viet Cong attacks on the South Vietnamese and American troops. These were suprise attacks on military and civilian control centers in South Vietnam. The historical significance of the Tet Offensive is that even though the Viet Cong's surprise attacks were effective, the United States and South Vietnamese were still victorious in the end. -
Helsinki Accords
The Helsinki Accords was a conference that attempted to improve relations between Eastern Europe and the West. All European countries except for Andora and Albania signed the agreement. The historical significance of the Helsinki Accords is that it was an attempt to improve overall relations and to solve problems in Southeast Asia. -
Iranian Hostage Crisis
The Iranian Hostage Crisis was when 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days in Iran. This led to poor relations between US and Iran when the US military failed at missions to bring them back. This event is historically significant because we ended up trading weapons to get the hostages back. This is ironic because they turned those weapons and used them against us on 9/11 and throughout the Afghan War. -
Russian Invasion of Afghanistan
The Russian Invasion of Afghanistan was when Russia invaded Afghanistan to improve the state itself. Soviets and Afghans then fought the Mujahideen (aided by the US) for control. The historical significance of the Russian invasion of Afghanistan is that it resulted in the Geneva Accords. -
Moscow Olympics
The Moscow Olympics was the first time the Eastern bloc hosted the summer olympics. This event was historically significant because 65 countries, including the US, boycotted the games because of the Soviet War in Afghanistan. -
Lech Walesa and the Solidarity Movement in Poland
Lech Walesa was the second president of Poland. He also co-founded the Soliditary Movement. He was historically significant because the soliditary movement was the Soviet bloc's first trade union. -
Los Angeles Olympics
The Los Angeles Olympics was the second time the US had hosted the Olympic games in Los Angeles. This event was historically significant because 14 Eastern European countries refused to participate in the games because of anti-Soviet beliefs in the US. -
Gorbachev
Gorbachev was the first president (not dictator) of the USSR. He was also the last, because after him The Soviet Union became Russia again. He was historically significant because he tried to reform the Soviet Union and he helped end the Cold War. -
Perestroika and Glasnost
Pesestroika and Glasnost were Gorbachev's terms for the renovations of the Soviet Union's society and politics. He used these terms during his campaign, and implemented them in his reign from 1985 to 1991. The historical significance of perestroika and glasnost was that Gorbachev implemented these ideas, and they actually helped to improve the Soviet society. -
Chernobyl
Chernobyl was the location of an explosion at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant after an unexpected power surge. The explosion caused significant damage to the city. Chernobyl was historically significant because it was one of the worst nuclear power plant accidents in history. -
Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square was where students led protest against the government in Bejing. The government enforced martial law in order to stop demonstrations. The historical significance of Tiananment Square is that of June 3-4 troops with weaponry fired at the crowd of protesters, wounding thousands. -
Berlin Wall Torn Down
The Berlin Wall was torn down in 1989 by Gorbachev. Citizens were now able to go back and forth freely. This event is historically significant because it was a symbol of the reunification of Germany. -
Yeltsin
The first president of the Russian Federation from 1991 to 1999. He opposed Gorbachev and communism. Yeltsin's historic significance is that he was the founding father of democracy in Eastern Europe. -
End of the USSR
The end of the USSR occured when Mikhail Gorbachev resigned. All of the states in the Soviet Union broke apart, and it became Russia again. This event is historically significant because this ended the Cold War. -
Putin
Vladimir Putin reigned as President of Russia from 2000-2008, and was recently elected again in 2012. His historical significance is that is ended the Russian economic crisis in the 1990s.
