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The Cold War Begins
The Cold WarThe Cold War began after the end of World War 2 when the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union disagreed on how they were going to run Germany, however it ended up leading to communism. During the war Soviet leaders had joined the United States and West European countries to fight the Germans, but the Soviet Union supported communism which later the US tried to prevent. -
United States First Uses Atomic Bomb
Atomic Bomb
President Truman allowed the use of an atomic bomb after the Japanese leaders denied the Potsdam Declaration. On August 6, an atomic bomb, nicknamed Little Boy, was dropped in Hiroshima. It killed over 70,000 residents due to the flash of heat. Then another atomic bomb nicknamed Fat Man, was dropped in Nagasaki. There were over 20,000 casualties. Thousands more Japanese died from the after math of radiation exposure of the bombs. -
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Creation and Announcement of the "Iron Curtain"
Iron Curtain
The "Iron Curtain" was an imaginary boundary that split Europe into two separate areas of political, military influence and ideology from the end of World War II until the end of the Cold War. The eastern part of the division were highly influenced by the Soviet Union while the west was mostly democratic. -
Truman signed the National Security Act
The National Security Act was signed by United States President Harry S. Truman on July 26, 1947. The main reason why he signed such a significant document was to realigned and reorganized the U.S. Armed Forces, foreign policy, and Intelligence Community apparatus. It directed a major reorganization of the foreign policy and military establishments of the US government, and it created many of the institutions that US presidents would find useful when formulating and implementing foreign policy. -
NATO
NATO
NATO is the North American Treaty Organization. After WWII the countries in Western Europe found themselves too weak politically and militarily to prevent the spread of communism. Very little time passed before Europe realized they were weak compared to the Communist Soviet Union. So Western Europe created a treaty with North America that was NAT. It was officially established on April 4th 1949. -
Beginning of the Korean War
More Info on Korean War
Video of Korean War
The USA went to war with Korea because they thought Korea would become a communist country, to protect the American way of life and because Truman thought he was in competition of world domination. Russia got involved because Stalin wanted communism to grow. In 1949 Kim Il Sung persuaded communist leaders to invade South Korea. Then 1950, Syngman threatened to attack North Korea. -
Soviet Union Detonates First Atomic and Hydrogen Bomb
Soviet Union, Atomic and Hydrogen BombsOn Aug. 29, 1949 the Soviets detonated their first atomic bomb. Three months later Klaus Fuchs, who helped the U.S. build our first atomic bomb was arrested for passing nuclear secrets over to the soviets. That led President Truman to develop the hydrogen bomb, a weapon that is supposed to be hundreds of times more powerful than the atomic bomb. On November 22, 1955 the Soviet Union detonated its first hydrogen bomb following after the United States -
Hungarian Revolt
Hungarian and Polish anti-Soviet Revolts
In Poland and Hungary in June of 1956 there began multiple riots. On October 23, 1956 there were many anti-Soviet demonstrations and protests in Hungary. On November 1, 1956 the Soviet Union got tired of all of the protests, and initiated Operation Whirlwind. After everything was over and done about 4,000 Hungarians and 700 Soviet soldiers died fighting and Hungary attempts at freedom were ruined over the coming years. -
Sputnik launched into orbit
History changed on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I. The world's first artificial satellite weighed only 83.6 kg. or 183.9 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path. That launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. It marked the start of the space age and the U.S. U.S.S.R space race. -
Cuba is taken over by Castro
In 1959, Fidel Castro took control of Cuba by force and remained its dictatorial leader for nearly five decades. As the leader of the only communist country in the Western Hemisphere, Castro has been the focus of international controversy. Castro made radical changes in Cuba, including nationalizing industry, collectivizing agriculture, and seizing American-owned businesses and farms. Castro transformed Cuba into a communist country. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Bay of Pigs VideoBay of Pigs Invasion
In 1969 Fidel Castro came into power in Cuba. America distrusted him and was unaware of his relationship with Nikita Khrushchev; the leader of the Soviet Union. Before his inauguration John F. Kennedy was briefed on a plan by the CIA about training Cuban exiles for an invasion of their homeland. The main goal was to overthrow Castro and create a non-communist government that is friendly to the U.S. About 1,200 Cuban exiles surrendered and -
Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union
Elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1985, Gorbachev quickly began instituting his policies of political openness and transformation, intended to bring the Soviet Union into a new economic and political era. His efforts paved the way for dramatic changes in the U.S.S.R., including increased political freedom, economic reform and an end to the Cold War. Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990. -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
Video<a href='http://goo.gl/uGzdp' >The Fall of the Berlin Wall</a>After 28 years of separation the wall finally came down. The wall’s purpose was to divide communist East Germany and democrat West Germany. One of the reasons for building the wall, because too well-educated people moved from East to West Germany. The fall of the Berlin Wall, was a sign of communism failing. -
East and West Germany were united under one government
East and West Germany were united under one government Germany was split after World War 2. Originally it was split into four zones, each governed by Britain, France, the United States and the Soviet Union. Slowly it became East Germany (governed by the Soviet Union), and West Germany (governed by the United States). After 45 years of separation, they were now one country. Germany was unified by Otto von Bismarck. -
End of Soviet Union. Cold war ends
End of Soviet Union. Cold war ends The end of the Soviet Union led to fifteen separate countries, it was caused by economic issues. The fall of the USSR led to the end of the Cold War. Ronald Reagan kept building up a huge military worth one trillion dollars until Soviets could not beat. The fall of the Soviet Union left the United States as top military power. -
Boris Yeltsin elected president of Russia
Boris Yeltsin Boris Yeltsin was the first president of Russia, he served from 1991 to 1999. After nine years as president, he decided to resign and gave the position to Vladimir Putin. He was for freedom of speech, the right to own property, and to hold elections, but he dramatically raised prices on goods.
