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The Cold War begins
The Cold war started in 1945, right after World War 2. The Cold War was tension between the USA and USSR. There was no actual fighting involved. Instead other nations were doing the fighting for them. -
The Iron Curtain
The Iron Curtain divides Europe into two separate areas from 1945 until 1991. This was for the Soviet Union to block itself and its satellite states from open contact with the West and its allied states. On the east side were the countries that were influenced by the Soviet Union, while on the west side were the countries that were allied to the United States. -
Berlin Airlift
The Berlin Airlift was the USA, British and France to bring food and fuel to the communist side of Berlin to help the people from starving. The communist side was in the east just the USSR. The north side of Berlin was USA, British, and France. These countries are the Allied powers who fought in WW2. -
NATO
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed in April 4, 1949. NATO's purpose is a military alliance between 29 North American and European countries. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was made in May 14, 1955, a collective defence treaty signed in Warsaw, Poland between the Soviet Union and the satellite states of Central and Eastern Europe. This happened during the Cold War. "The treaty called on the member states to come to the defense of any member attacked by an outside force and it set up a unified military command under Marshal Ivan S. Konev of the Soviet Union." (www.history.com) -
Vietnam War
The war was part of the Cold War. North Vietnam against South Vietnam. The communist countries like the USSR and China supported North Vietnam, while South Vietnam was supported by the USA and other non communist countries. Locations: South Vietnam, North Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos.
North Vietnamese Victory
Troop Strength: South Vietnam: 850,000
United States: 540,000
South Korea: 50,000
Others: 80,000 plus
(www.historynet.com) -
Sputnik crisis
The Sputnik crises is a key event during the Cold War. Sputnik is the world's first artificial satellite to be set into orbit. The Space Race between the two superpowers the USA and USSR. The space race was to see which country had the superior technology at the time. -
Bay of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs was a failed military invasion. It was meant to overthrow the communist government in Cuba run by Fidel Castro. "The objective was to remove the Cuban leader and establish a non-communist government that would benefit the United States. President John F. Kennedy, Commander in Chief during this time, wanted to prove to China, Russia, and even pessimistic Americans that he was determined to win the Cold War." (www.bartleby.com) -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin wall was built to keep Western “fascists” from entering East Germany. The Berlin Wall was up for nearly 30 years, splitting the city of Berlin into communist East Berlin and democratic West Berlin. "In the face of competition from the richer, cosumer-oriented West, communism collapsed." (Worlds Together Worlds Apart volume C) -
Collapse of Berlin Wall
In November 9th 1989 the Berlin Wall was destroyed. People with their tools collapsed the wall and both sides of Berlin were reunited. Today a few remaining parts of the Berlin wall still stand as a reminder of what happened those years. -
End of the Cold War
The end of the Cold War, and the fall of the Soviet empire in the late 1989 in East Europe. Others associate it with the fall of communism and the end of the Soviet Union in 1991.
