-
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was a meeting between the United States, Britain, and Russia after World War II. Stalin was the main character of the conference, looking for large parts of Germany and for them to pay the Soviet Union to compensate for its loss of life and property. This event connects to the Geography GASPIRE theme, since Stalin wanted to acquire land for Russia to expand his empire. This event furthered the Cold War because it gave Russia more land to work with and more power. -
Formation of the United Nations
The United Nations was an organization created in order to unite and protect the members of it from aggression. The group with the most power was the Security Council, who could veto any motion made in the UN at all. This connects to the Political GASPIRE theme because the intention was to bring nations together for a greater good to benefit the whole world. Though the reason that this contributed to the Cold War is because of the Soviet Union, who vetoed anything that they did not agree with. -
Potsdam Meeting
This meeting took place in Potsdam, Germany and it was between Churchill, Truman, and Stalin. While at the meeting, Truman pressured Stalin to allow free elections. Stalin refused to do this, and wasn't concerned about the violation of the countries' rights. This connects to the Social GASPIRE theme because Stalin's decision to not permit free elections affects the citizens of the USSR. This contributed to the Cold War because it was one of many more disagreements between the USA and USSR. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was a speech that Harry S. Truman made to Congress to ask for foreign aid to non-communist countries. Congress agreed to help even though it was the unpopular opinion of the American people. This connects to the Economic GASPIRE theme, since the United States were willing to spend a massive amount of money to fight communism. This showed the USSR that the United States was totally against the ideas of communism, which advanced the Cold War. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan created in order to give aid to non-communist European countries to total $12.5 billion. After the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia, Congress immediately authorized this. This event fits under the Cultural GASPIRE theme because of how dedicated the US was to getting rid or containing communism. The reason that this contributed to the Cold War is because it showed how much Americans hated communists. -
Creation of the H-Bomb
The USSR and the USA both created different variations of the H-Bomb. The bombs were formed through the joining together of atoms, rather than the destruction and explosion of atoms. Both nations tested these H-Bombs and realized the immensity of the power that the nation had if they wanted to use these bombs. This connects to the Political GASPIRE theme because of how much countries worried about the power of these bombs, which caused the other nations to act differently towards them. -
The Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was an alliance between the Soviet Union and many other European countries. The Pact was formed in response to the NATO, an alliance between the Western powers against communism. This connects to the Political GASPIRE theme because of the alliance of different nations against each other. This advanced the Cold War by giving the involved countries a reason to go against each other, also by setting the stage for conflict. -
Shooting Down of A US U-2 Plane
As a response to the US's CIA action of creating surveillance planes and jets, the Soviets were able to shoot one down. The reason that these planes were created was to receive information about Soviet plans and to figure out the best plan of attack in order to stop the Soviet Union. This connects to the Political GASPIRE theme because of how the US wanted to spy on the Soviets and take down communism by destroying the Soviets. -
Building of Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was made to separate different sides of Berlin into the East and the West. This caused there to be a sense of "rival camps" that the rest of the world had to choose to join. India and China remained neutral and did not join a side. The creation of the Berlin Wall pertains to the Geographic GASPIRE theme, because of its division of Berlin during the Cold War. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was the USA invading Cuba under the administration of John F Kennedy. The CIA encouraged the Invasion, and many planes invaded the Bay to bomb Cuban air bases, but eventually, the Cuban army responded. The CIA's invasion went sour. After this, the Cubans decided to purchase many nuclear missiles from the Soviet Union, which put the other countries into danger. This connects to the Political GASPIRE theme because of how Cuban actions affected the Cold War negatively.
