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Winston Churchills "Iron Curtain" Speech
This speech was one of his most famous war speeches. The speech changed the way the democratic West viewed the Communist East. People think this speech was the beginning of the Cold War. His phrase "the iron curtain" was used before, but he explained it about how the Western powers were divided and the about the area controlled by the Soviet Union. -
Truman Doctorine
The Truman Doctrine was a policy proposed by Harry Truman in a speech. The Doctorine was to help Greece and Turkey with economic and millitary aid. This was to prevent the spread of Soviet communism which was a method called containment. In 1952 both countires joined NATO so they were guarenteed millitary protection through the alliance. -
Marshall Plan
It was a program made by the US to financially help Eurpoean countries. The reason this was formed was because the US thought that European states if they became poor, would create communist governments, which the US did not want. It was created by George C Marshall, the Secretary of State. The Soviets withdrew from the plan very early, and many European countries followed after. -
Creation of the NATO
Also known as the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization. It was created by Canada, The US, and many Western Europen countries. It was a way to provide safety against the Soveit Union. In response, the Soviets and all Eastern European communist counrties created the Warsaw pact, which was the same idea. The NATO divided Europe from East and West throughout the Cold War. -
Korean War Beginning and End
It started when thousands of North Korean people poured into the boundries of the Soviet-backed Democratic peoples republic of Korea, and to south Korea, also known as the 38th parallel. This was the first military action of the Cold War. Americans entered the war to help South Korea. There were many casualties, and the war lasted about three years. -
Launch Of The Sputnik
The Soviet Union launched the Sputnik, the first artificial stallite that was small and light, but started the soon to come space race. It revolved around the Earth very quickly. This was definitly a huge technology achievment, as well as it caught America off guard. It was a huge advance in sciene too. Soon later the US launched theirs, the Explorer. -
Vietnam War Beginning and End
Nationalist forces were trying to make Vietnam a Communist government, and the US and south vietnam tried to stop them. France had Vietnam under their power before the war. Us troops left on March 29, 1973 because of the peace talks in Paris, and the war ended April 30, 1973 and Vietnam became communist. -
Building of the Berlin Wall
The wall seperated two sides of the city. The wall was originally just barbed wire, but then became more structured, marking the sides. Many people were moving from East Berlin to West Berlin when they found out about the wall. Nobody knew about the wall, it happened at night in total secrecy. It lasted for 28 years. -
Cuban Missile Crisis/MAD
MAD, also known as Mutual Assured Destruction, was a doctrine that said no one will go into war, but both sides have weapons so they can still totally anialate eachother. The missile crisis was a course of 13 days where Cuba and the Soviet Union went against the US with nuclear weapons. This event was a moment in the Cold War came closest to a nuclear conflict. -
Ronald Regan "Evil Empire" Speech
This speech referred to communism as being evil, as well as the Soviet Union. He talked about the United States' moral values and that the American Citizens are splitting apart. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
It happened as suddenly as the rise of the wall. When the people found out, they started chipping at the wall with hammers and and chisels, and the guards were letting people across. Everybody was really happy. -
Collapse of the Soviet Union
The soviet union collapsed into 15 different countries. The Cold War ended, and the west saw it as a sign victory of freedom. There were so many economic and political problems because of their last leader,Mikhail Gorbachev. He resigned on this day because he was disappointed in his nation, and decided to resign. It ended peacefully, and everybody was happy.
