-
Ho Chi Minh
Was a Vietnamese communist revolutionary leader who was also Prime Minister and President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
He was historically significant because he united the Democratic of Vietnam. -
United Nations
The United Nations is responsible for international issues such as: international law and security, economis development, social progress, human and civil rights, civil liberties, political freedom, democracy, and world peace.
The historical significance of this at the time of the Cold War was that they had an army and were able to come in to help. -
Iron Curtain
The Iron Curtain claimed that Eastern and Western Europe were divided by this "iron curtain", as said by Winston Churchill in one of his speeches.
It was historically significant because no one knew what was really happening in the Soviet Union causing the Red Scare. -
Truman Doctrine
Given by President Henry Truman, he said that the US would then support Turkey and Greece with financial aid to prevent them from going into communism.
This was important because it led into starting the Containment Policy which is said by some people to be responsible for starting the Cold War. -
The Marshall Plan
The United States was giving financial aid to Europe. The plan started off as the US giving any country aid if they promised to not follow with communism.
The historical significance was that it helped enforce the Containment Theory. -
European Economic Cooperation
And international economic organization that was made to create an economic progress and fix the ideas of the Marshall Plan. Made to increase trade and reconstruction of Europe after WWI.
It was historically significant because it helped to rebuild Western Europe. -
Berlin Airlift
The Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies access to Berlin, Germany. The Soviets basically wanted full control of the city. So the Western Allies flew over 200,000 flights in one year supplying Berlin with daily necessities. This was historically significant because it embarrassed the Soviets and lead to creating two separate German states: West and East Germany. -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Alliance between the US and West Europe.
It was historically significant because it was an alliance that had a large impact on the Cold War. -
People's Republic of China
It was led by Mao Zedong. This government also led the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.
This is historically significant because the country fell deep into communism. -
Korean War
War between South and North Korea and the US was allied with South Korea.
It was historically significant because it was the way the US and the USSR could fight indirectly. -
Explosion of First Hydrogen Bomb
The US detonated this bomb in the Pacific after Russia successfully detonated their atomic bomb. It is 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb. This was a big step in the arms race during the Cold War giving the US a short lead. -
Khrushchev
He was the leader of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. He was also the first secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He "de-Stalinized" the USSR.
He was historically significant because he was the only USSR leader to be removed from office peacefully. -
KGB (Committee for State Security)
It was the security agency for the Soviet Union and acted as the secret police force.
It was historically significant because it protected the border of the Soviet Union. -
Geneva Accords
It was supposed to be a conference to end the conflict between Vietnam and France. It included the US, USSR, UK, France, China, and North & South Vietnam.
It was historically significant because it divided Vietnam in the 17 parallel. -
The Warsaw Pact
A communist alliance in East Europe funded by the Soviet Union formed to retaliate against the United State's NATO.
The importance of this was that the USSR got to keep the East Europe allies under their military and political control. -
Vietnam War
It was between the allied North Vietnam and Soviet Union, and the United states and South Vietnam. North Vietnam wins against South.
The historical significance is that this was the US's first loss in war. -
Suez Canal/Nasser
It was a military confrontation between Egypt, Israel, Britain, and France.
This was important because it was the first time the United States and the Soviet Union worked together on something in the Cold War. -
Sputnik
The first artificial Earth Satellite sent to space by the USSR.
The historical significance would be that it started the space race between Russia and the United States. This was an important factor in the Cold War. -
Berlin Wall is Erected
The wall was built to separate Berlin into West and East. The East claimed that the wall was built to protect the side from fascist ideas. They were implying that the West wasn't fully de-Nazified. The historical significance of the Wall being built was that it took away Germans' freedom and prevented all emigration and travels. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13 day stand off between the United States facing Cuba and the Soviets. Basically, the United States had tried to overthrow Cuba twice before and Russia suggested that Cuba should have these huge missiles to insure the United States didn't try to invade them again. This was historically significant because it was the closest time the Cold War had almost been turned into a nuclear war. -
Brezhnev
He was the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He was a leader of the Soviet Union and spent an abundance of time on the countries military funding which eventually led to an economic decline. This was historically significant because he was responsible for Russia going into the Era of Stagnation. -
Tet Offensive
It was started by the Viet Cong against South Vietnam and the US troops. It was the use of guerrilla warfare.
The historical significance was that it was what won North Vietnam in the war. -
Helsinki Accords
The final act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation of Europe. Many areas in Europe as well as the US and Canada signed the declaration in attempt to improve relations between the Communist Bloc and the West.
It was historically significant because it was seen as a big step forward in reducing tensions in the Cold War. -
Iranian Hostage Crisis
52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days after a group of Islamist students took over the American Embassy in Tehran.
It was historically significant because it united Americans, but also starting Anti-Americanism causing high tensions between the US and Middle East. -
Russian Invasion of Afghanistan
People of Afghanistan rebel after USSR troops are sent there.
The historical significance was that the US gave Afghanistan everything to help them and helped train their troops as well. -
Moscow Olympics
The Summer Olympics were held here. The United States and 6 other countries boy-cotted the games.
It is historically significant because it led to 65 countries not participating in the next Olympics. It also led to the boycotts in the Summer Olympics in LA in 1984. -
Lech Walesa and the Solidarity Movement in Poland
Led by Lech Walesa. It was an independence labor union. Polish government outlawed the union & arrested him. He was later released.
The historical significance of this was that it won over 9.4 million members and is known for influencing the fall of communism during this time. -
Los Angeles Olympics
The Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. It was the second time Los Angeles had the Olympics.
This was historically significant because this was when the USSR, East Germany, and Cuba boy-cotted the Olympics. -
Perestroika and Glasnost
This was introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev. It was a dual program promoting the reconstruction of the government in the Soviet Union.
The economy could have improved if Gorbachev would have stayed in power. -
Gorbachev
He was the president of the Soviet Union. He was the only president to be born during Communism in the Soviet Union.
He was historically significant because he led to the end of the Soviet Union and started the Independent Democratic Party of Russia. -
Chernobyl
It was a nuclear plant explosion in Ukraine. Radioactive particles spread throughout the country and much of Europe. There was 400 times the amount of radiation levels at Hiroshima. This was historically significant because traces of radiation was found all over Europe. Many areas of land were contaminated. It was recorded as the worst nuclear power plant accident in history. -
Tiananmen Square
Students protested against China's political leadership. Troops killed many innocent civilians in Tiananmen Square,
This was important because it was seen as an act of terrorism. -
Berlin Wall Torn Down
The wall fell because residents of East Germany gathered and demanded that the checkpoints were to be opened. After being heavily outnumbered the guards had no choice but to allow them to go through. This was historically significant because it lead to reunification of Germany as one state. -
Yeltsin
He took over after Gorbachev and started a market economy.
He was important for being the first president of the Russian Federation. (instead of the Soviet Union...now Russia) -
End of the USSR
This was when the Soviet Union got renamed to Russia. It lost all the communist nations. This was historically significant because it marked the end of the Cold War and ended the hostility between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. -
Putin
He was the president of Russia from 2000-2008. He was relected this year to be president for the next 6 years.
He was historically significant because he supported the US after 9/11.
