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Russian Revaluation.
The Russian Revaluation was born of poverty lead by Vladimir Lenin who campaigned on a promise of food for his people and an end to war. This is significant because it began an era of reform and dangerous living conditions in Russia. It ultimately lead to the creation of the Soviet Union. -
The Iron Curtain
"The Iron Curtain" was a border separating communist European nations from others. It symbolized the Soviet Union's desire not to have any direct contact with western civilization. This border would later fall at the end of the Cold War. -
The Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference was held to negotiate which parts of Germany would be rebuilt by which countries. The United States, Ital, Russia, and Great Britain were are responsible for their own sector. However, conflicting interests between democratic nations and communist Russia eventually lead to the destruction of east Germany while West Germany thrived. -
The Atomic Bomb
On august 6th 1945 a nuclear weapon was dropped on the Japanese city Hiroshima killing thousands of people. Three days later on August 9th a second atomic bomb was used to eliminate another Japanese city, Nagasaki. This magnificent display of power was a large victory for the American people but only angered and frightened the Russians. Joseph Stalin believed that in a war fought with atomic bombs, his red army would be rendered useless. -
The Molotov Plan
The Molotov plan was supposed to provide economic assistance to countries which were part of, had similar values to, or could one day be a part of the Soviet Union. This was most certainly a cheap play to increase communist influence over more of Europe. -
The Truman Doctrine
The Truman doctrine was a promise made to the American people that we will aide countries financially, politically, or militarily in order to stop communist influence from spreading. This was the containment of communism in Europe. This important document furthered tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. -
The Hollywood 10
The Hollywood 10 were a group of American actors, writers, and directors accused of supporting communism through the media and films. These "Hollywood 10" refused to testify on their own behalf claiming that the prosecution had no right to medal in the lives of Americans without evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Fun Fact: Walt Disney was one of the many celebrities of this time period who was accused of being communist, only in his case, he was cooperative. -
Alger Hiss
An American who was accused of being a Russian spy. Alger Hiss previously worked for the American government. He was tried on two counts of surgery but was not sentenced because statute of limitations prevented it. However, he was tried again and found guilty on both counts of perjury. -
The Marshal Plan
Similar to the Molotov Plan, The Marshal Plan intended to provide economic and political assistance to European countries in order to prevent the fall of communism. Over $12 billion in all was given. -
Berlin Blockade
As a result of democratic nations introducing a new form of currency to west Germany, The Soviets cut off all travel to and from east Germany. This included the imported foods effectively starving the east German people. However, Americans found a way to gain support and help these starving citizens. America decided to fly airplanes carrying food and other things the Germans needed over the border and safely into East Germany. No American planes were shot down. -
Berlin Airlift
"The Berlin Airlift" refers to the transportation of goods over the Berlin Blockade. This included food, steel, candy, and other things that plundered East Germany desperately needed. Participants included The United States Air force, The Royal Air force, and the French Air Force. According to History.com an allied plane took off or landed in Berlin every 30 seconds. -
N.A.T.O
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was created to keep the peace between America and 11 European countries in 1949. The number has since increased to 28 European countries. -
Successful Soviet Bomb Test
After having been fed American nuclear weapon secrets, the Soviets successfully detonated one. This changed the entire direction of the Cold War. Now, instead of his army being useless, Stalin was prepared for war and the US no longer had the upper hand. -
The Korean War
After the Cold War, Korea was split into two separate countries, North and South Korea. The line which divided the two would come to be known as the 38th parallel. South Korea became democratic while North Korea fell to communism. This was important because losing any country to communism was against a promise made earlier in the Truman doctrine showing the world that America could not possibly contain all communist influence. -
Rosenberg Trial and Execution
Soon after the start of the Cold War, Julies Rosenberg and his wife were accused of being spies. "Conspiracy to commit espionage", to be exact. The only evidence, and what would eventually lead to their execution, was the testimony of Julie's co-worker. The Rosenberg's were found guilty and executed on June 19 1953. -
Ceasefire in Vietnam
The United States announced their plans to withdraw from all of Vietnam in January of 1953. The US government would've liked to preserve south Vietnam as a free democratic nation, but the American public's voice was too strong; we wanted out of the war. -
The battle of Dien Bien Phu.
This battle was the climax of the French-Indochinese war. The French relied on planes for resupply. The Vietminh were able to surround and over run the French. The French surrendered... again. -
Army-McCarthy Hearings
In April of 1954 The Army accused Joseph McCarthy's chief of committee of bribery for favorable treatment of A friend of Joseph McCarthey. Though nothing legally ended up happening to McCarthey, his popularity suffered. -
Geneva Conference
The Geneva Conference was created withe the intent of settling any remaining debts or issues soon after the Korean War -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw pact was a treaty signed in Warsaw, Poland which especially has to do with defense between the Soviet Union and affiliated countries in order to balance power. -
Hungarian Revaluation
A nationwide protest/revolt of the Hungarian communist government lasting 17 days. It began when a student protester was killed and put on display. The communist government was overthrown and free elections were re-established. -
U2 Incident
In 1960 a United States recon-plane was shot down over the Soviet Union while gathering intelligence. The Soviets claimed it was a "aggressive act" and defended their actions. The US denied that any such act was authorized but The Soviets refused to accept this. -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin wall was a literal wall which separated west and east Berlin for rebuilding. The west was made to resemble the US economically while the east was looted and left to starve by the Soviets. -
Tet Offensive
A massive coordinated Vietnamese attack on US controlled strongholds, cities, and villages. -
Bay of Pigs
Cuban exiles were trained to fight and reclaim Cuba from the communist dictator Fidel Castro. Armed by the US and ready to fight, they invaded Cuba and were quickly slaughtered or imprisoned. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
An intense standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted about 2 weeks after the US discovered the Soviets intent to place nuclear bombs in Cuba or 'Americans backyard'. The United States agreed not to invade Cuba and in return Cuba would become nuke-free. -
Assassination of Diem
Ngo Dinh Diem was the US backed leader of south Vietnam. After years of religious discrimination against his people, the CIA carried out his assassination. -
Assassination of JFK
On November 22nd 1953 president John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas Texas by a man named Lee Harvey Oswald who was believed to have some connection to the Soviet Union, however we now know this not to be true. -
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
The Tonkin Gulf resolution authorized US President Johnson to do whatever necessary to enforce peace in east China. There was no real regulation. President Johnson now had a lot more power in the war against communism. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
The United States plan to constantly bombard north Vietnam in the hopes of repelling North Vietnamese presence in South Vietnam. -
Assassination of MLK
Martin Luther King jr. was shot and killed in Memphis Tennessee because of his belief in equality among races. He was in Memphis promoting his belief system. His death would become a historical climax in the 'fight' for equality. This event caused a height in riots. Most argued that we had our own war at home and that is what the US government should be focusing on, not foreign affairs. -
Assassination of RFK
RFK was a senator who was shot and killed after winning the California Presidential Primary. This, and the assassination of Martin Luther King Junior were causes of riots across America -
Riots of Democratic Convention.
After President Lyndon B. Johnson announced that he was not running for reelection, the 1968 Democratic Convention was held to determine who of the Democratic party would run in his absence. Do to the growing turmoil and civil unrest, a riot occurred. Thousands of people protesting the Vietnam war flooded the streets, raising awareness. -
Invasion of Czechoslovakia
Five Warsaw Pact participating countries jointed forces to invade Czechoslovakia. East Germany, The Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland all invaded in August of 1968. This invasion was a display of communist might after the US withdraw from Vietnam. -
Election of Nixon
On November 11th 1968 president Nixon was elected. Nixon promised an quick end to the war and the return of thousands of soldiers. He followed through with this promise. -
Kent State
At Kent State a protest broke out and turned violent after the National Guard was called in to keep it under control. Six young, innocent students were shot and killed sparking change in public support for the war in Vietnam. -
Nixon visits China
President Nixon visited China as a display of goodwill to build our relations and update/ improve our foreign policy. -
Fall of Saigon
The 'fall of Saigon' refers to the taking of the South Vietnam capital by the Peoples Army of Vietnam. This officially marked the day Vietnam became one country again and had completely fallen to communism. -
Reagan Elected
President Reagan campaigned on the idea of increased military defense funding. This had greatly effected Americas fight against Communism. Were other presidents chose to seek peace, he wanted to put pressure. -
SDI Announced
Also known as Star Wars, the SDI was created as a sort of challenge against the Soviet Union by the US during the growing nuclear threat. Pressure was applied to the Soviet Union to force them to invest a lot of money in a Star Wars of their own. Them actual goal of this was to get the Soviet Union to waste their money. -
Geneva Conference with Gorbachev
President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met to discuss diplomatic relations a build a bridge resembling peace between the Soviet Union and the United States. -
"Tear down this wall’ speech
Ronald Reagan applied pressure on the United States newly formed 'alliance' with Mikhail Gorbachev by giving a speech along the west side of the Berlin wall, something that was deemed a bad idea by all of his advisers. In the speech he called for the destruction of the Berlin wall which separated west and east Berlin. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
In November of 1991 the destruction Berlin wall began and reunited the two city halves. Citizens were free to cross to either side with the vast majority being the people of East Berlin flocking to the west. Maybe as a result of their poor treatment. This marks the end of the Cold War
