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Germany Surrenders
On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered to the Allied powers, concluding its involvement in World War II. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-surrenders-unconditionally-to-the-allies-at-reims -
Potsdam Conference--Germany Divided
At the Potsdam Conference following the end of WWII, world leaders met to decide what to do with Germany. They ended up splitting Germany into different "zones," each controlled by a different country. Among these countries were the US and the Soviet Union. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/potsdam-conf -
The Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was a policy of containment of communism. It arose from a speech given by Harry S. Truman to Congress asking them to support the Greek government against the Communists.
(https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/truman-doctrine) -
Berlin Airlift
When the Soviets blockaded West Berlin, cutting off supplies, the United States responded by dropping supplies into West Berlin via airlift. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/berlin-airlift -
Second Red Scare (McCarthyism)
After World War II, the American people were scared of a Communist uprising. Spearheaded by Senator Joseph McCarthy, the U.S. government investigated potential Communists in the manner of a witch hint. -
Korean War Begins
The Korean War, which began on June 25, 1950, was a civil war between the Soviet-backed North Korea and the Western-backed South Korea, and was therefore indirectly a conflict between the USSR and the United States. http://www.history.com/topics/korean-war -
Vietnam War
Much like the Korean War, the Vietnam War was a civil war between the Soviet-backed North and the US-backed south, and was thus a conflict between the US and the USSR. http://www.itsmyhomework.com/lesson/WWII/ -
Sputnik Launched
The Soviets' launch of the first-ever manmade satellite, Sputnik, terrified the US because of the possibility of weapons being carried through space.
http://www.coldwar.org/articles/50s/sputnik.asp -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
In 1959, the US attempted (unsuccessfully) to invade Cuba to defeat its new Communist dictator, Fidel Castro. http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/bay-of-pigs-invasion -
Berlin Wall Construction Begins
Thousands of people chose to escape Communist East Berlin and go to US-controlled West Berlin. To stop this mass exodus, the Soviets built a wall to keep the people of East Berlin from escaping. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/east-germany-begins-construction-of-the-berlin-wall https://www.yahoo.com/style/bp/aug-13-1960-berlin-wall-construction-begins-160750263.html -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles pointed at the US on Cuba, just ninety miles from the US coast. The missiles were removed when President Kennedy promised the USSR that the US would not invade Cuba. http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cuban-missile-crisis http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cuban-missile-crisis/pictures/cuban-missile-crisis/distances-of-major-cites-from-cuba -
Soviet Union Invades Afghanistan
In December of 1979, thousands of Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan, quickly seizing control. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/soviet-invasion-afghanistan -
Berlin Wall Comes Down
On November 9, 1989, the East Berlin Communist Party announced that people were free to cross the border between East and West Berlin, and the people began tearing down the wall together. -
Mikhail Gorbachev Becomes USSR President
On March 14, 1990, Mikhail Gorbachev was elected the president of the Soviet Union. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/gorbachev-elected-president-of-the-soviet-union -
Dissolution of the USSR
On Christmas Day of 1991, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev resigned from his position. By that time, all 15 republics of the USSR had already seceded from the Soviet Union. http://mrwigginshistoryclass.com/home-page/modern-world-history/unit-11-cold-war/11-12-collapse-of-the-soviet-union/
