The Cold War (The Cold War was called the Cold War because both sides were "frozen" militarily.)
By wbacorn
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Chinese Communist Revolution
China was divided in war between the Nationalists and the Communists. Led by Mao Zedong, the Communist Party of China overthrew the Nationalist government in 1949, establishing the People's Republic of China. This was a political and social change in China. -
Formation of the Eastern Bloc
The term "Eastern Bloc" refers to the former Communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The Eastern Bloc emerged at the end of World War II, when Allies split Germany into different zones. It followed a socialist type of government, characterized by state ownership of production, collective farming, and centralized planning. -
Postwar occupation and division of Germany
After World War II, Germany became divided into four zones controlled by the Allies. This division was set to demilitarize and promote peace and stability in Germany. This division became a symbol of the Cold War between the Capitalist West and Communist East. -
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil war was a conflict that began in 1946 and ended in 1949, sparked by political and social tensions following World War II. It was fought between the Greek government (supported by the U.S. and U.K.) and the Communist rebels. The Greek government defeated the rebels, leading to a period of reconstruction and political consolidation in Greece. -
Enactment of the Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan (also known as the European Recovery Program) was a program provided by the United States that offers $15 billion to help finance the rebuilding efforts on the continent. It was a four-year plan. The plan also removed trade barriers between European neighbors, which helped to encourage commerce between those countries and the United States. -
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
Soviet forces blocked road, rail, and water access to areas of Berlin that were controlled by the Allies. The United States and the United Kingdom took food and fuel from Allied airbases in Germany and airlifted them to Berlin. On May 12, 1949, Soviet forces lifted the blockade and granted access to Berlin. -
Korean War
As a result of the division of Korea after World War II and the push by North Korea to reunify the country, this war was fought between North Korea (supported by China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (supported by the U.N. and U.S.). The war ended in a stalemate in 1953, with the Korean peninsula remaining divided at the 38th parallel. This war was very heavy in casualties and marked the first time that the United Nations intervened militarily. -
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro and a group of revolutionaries, was a mission to overthrow the dictatorship of Fulgenico Batista. This revolution resulted in a socialist government with Fidel Castro as the leader. It also had a lasting impact on Latin American politics and the Cold War rivalry. -
Overthrow of the Guatemalan Government
This event refers to the coup d'état that removed President Jacobo Arbenz from power. The U.S. was concerned about communist influence, so the CIA supported the removal of him. This resulted in political instability and human right abuses within Guatemala. -
Vietnam War
This conflict, a result of the Cold War struggle of the United States, its allies, and the spread of communism, took place between the communist government of North Vietnam and the U.S. backed South Vietnam. This war used guerrilla and chemical warfare tactics, which resulted in a significant loss of life. The war ended in 1975 with the fall of Saigon (the capital of South Vietnam) to communist forces. Because of this result, the United States suffered social and political unrest at home. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed military attempt by the United States to overthrow the Cuban government in 1961. Cuban exiles were trained to invade Cuba, hopefully sparking a rebellion against Fidel Castro. The attempt was a disaster, with Cuban exiles being defeated by Cuban forces. This strained U.S. relations with Cuba and became a setback for U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War. -
Building the Berlin Wall
In 1961, the communist government of East Germany built a wall that divided the city of Berlin into East and West, hoping to stop people from easily crossing the border. The Berlin Wall caused international tension and became an important symbol for the Cold War. It stood for nearly 30 years before it was finally torn down in 1989. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
Fidel Castro became the Communist leader in Cuba. The Soviet Union planted missiles in Cuba, President John Kennedy then blockaded Cuba and demands the removal of them. Khrushchev removes the missiles because he feels they are at the brink of war. -
Rise of the Palestine Liberation Organization
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was formed with a goal of creating a Palestinian state and representing the people of Palestine. It became more well-known after the Six-Day war in 1967. The rise of this organization continues to be a significant factor in Palestinian politics today. -
Prague Spring
This was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia. Initiated by Alexander Dubcek, reforms included freedom of speech and press, along with other political and social changes. The Soviet Union and its allies were concerned about these advances and decided to invade Czechoslovakia to suppress reforms. -
Soviet War in Afghanastan
The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to support the communist government, which lead to a ten year conflict with rebel forces (mujahideen). In 1989, the Soviet Union withdrew from the conflict. This war resulted in significant loss and destruction, and far reaching consequences for both the Soviet Union and Afghanistan. -
Tiananmen Square Massacre
In Beijing, China, a pro-democracy movement was led by students and activists who peacefully protested against the governments oppressive policies. The government responded with military force; hundreds, if not thousands of people were killed within Tiananmen Square. This event sparked international outcry and highlighted the Chinese governments lack of basic human rights, such as freedom of speech. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall separated East and West Berlin since 1961. In 1989, the East German government announced that travel restrictions to the other side were lifted. This led to crowds of people dismantling the wall, which symbolized the reunification of Germany and the end of the Cold War. -
Fall of the Soviet Union
Years of economic struggle, political unrest, and social changes contributed to the fall of the Soviet Union. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of openness and restructuring loosened Soviet control and eventually resulted in the independence of many of the Soviet republics. This event reshaped global politics. -
9/11 Attacks
Coordinated terrorist attacks, carried out by the extremist group Al-Qaeda, targeted the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The attackers hijacked four airplanes, crashing two into the Twin Towers, one into the Pentagon, and the other landed somewhere in Pennsylvania due to passengers trying to take back control of the plane. These attacks caused widespread destruction and devastation, with a death toll of nearly 3,000 people as well as awareness to threats.