-
EUROPE: Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was proposed on March 12th, 1947. It stated that the U.S. would provide money to countries, at the time, was primarily Greece, that were threatened by communist expansion -
Period: to
Chapter 20: Cold War Conflicts and Tensions
This project depicts three distinct theaters of the Cold War: Europe, Asia, and the Great Proletarian Revolution, and how they impacted each other and even how they have shaped politics today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C72ISMF_D0(http://www.timetoast.com) -
Period: to
Truman Doctrine-Marshall Plan
-
EUROPE: Marshall Plan
The Truman Doctrine was followed up by The Marshall Plan, which was signed in April but officially implemented in June. It was proposed by General George C Marshall, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work. It was primarily intended to rebuild the war-torn Europe by way of a $13 billion dollar aid intended to rebound Europe's economy -
EUROPE: Formation of COMECON
The Soviets responded to the conception of the Marshall Plan by forming their own plan to assure economic cooperation of Eastern European states. This triggered the policy of containment to keep communism within its boundaries and to prevent further Soviet aggressive moves. -
Period: to
Formation of the COMECON and NATO
-
EUROPE: New Military Alliances: NATO
After COMECON was formed, much tension and fear spread, as most thought communism would continue to spread. Along with the policy of containment, a new military alliance was formed, NATO, among Western European states and the U.S. This provided these countries security in case a communist country would attack them. -
EUROPE: Creation of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)
Germany had been divided into four zones, in which each power had a quarter of Germany. As early as February of 1948, The U.S., Great Britain, and France had been in talk about uniting their zones to form Western Germany. They prevailed, and the Federal Republic of Germany was created, with its capital of Bonn. The Soviets heavily opposed this, and soon hit back with their own response later in 1949. -
Period: to
Creation of Federal Republic of Germany and The German Democratic Republic
-
EUROPE: Soviets Successful Set Of First Atomic Bomb
The Soviets set off its first atomic bomb, therefore starting the Arms Race. Both sides began to develop more and more missiles until they had successfully managed to manufacture ICBMs capable of sending bombs anywhere. This led to a policy of deterrence, which held that huge arsenals of nuclear weapons on both sides prevented war, but still provoked much tension. Take for example how the U.S always had a plane flying over the Soviets to drop a bomb in the event that they sent a bomb our way. -
ASIA: Mao Zedong Establishes People's Republic of China
Mao Zedong, after a horrible, strenuous, Chinese revolution against Chiang Kai-Shek and the nationalists, prevailed and established the People’s Republic of China. This strengthened the U.S.’s fears about Communism prevailing in the Western part of Europe. -
EUROPE: Creation of the German Democratic Republic
The Soviet occupation zone was soon formed into the German Democratic Republic as a response to the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany. It also split up Berlin, which is symbolic of the tensions between the U.S. and the Soviets. -
ASIA: Beginning of Korean War
The Korean War Begins. It began when North Korea invaded South Korea, prompting the United Nations and the U.S. to come to the support of South Korea. On the other side, the Soviet Union came to the aid of North Korea, highlighting another example of the U.S. directly at at odds against the Soviets. -
ASIA: San Francisco Peace Treaty is Signed
The San Francisco Peace Treaty is signed. It officially ended Japan’s position as an imperial power and allocated compensation for allied citizens, among other reasons. -
ASIA: Korean War Ends
The Korean War ends. The United Nations fought together to save South Korea from Communism. As a result of the end of this war, The United States extends its military alliances around the world. In reality, a peace treaty has never been achieved. An armistice was simply signed, with neither side able to claim outright victory. The armistice is the only buffer that stops them from re-entering war. -
ASIA: Vietnam Splits into North and South
Vietnam splits into North and south. Vietnam fell into two spheres of influence after the Cold War, the north was occupied by a communist regime, and the south was influenced by the U.S and other democratic allies. -
EUROPE: The Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw pact manifests itself in form of an alliance between the Soviet Union, East Germany, and Hungary, among other powers. Thus, Europe was once again divided into two hostile alliance systems, similar to before WWI. -
ASIA: Start of Vietnam War
The Vietnam War has started, as the spheres of influences have divided Vietnam, and as tensions grew, it boiled over into the war. The U.S. gradually becomes more and more involved in the war and begins to send troops into the war. The U.S. eventually enters the war on December 17th, 1963, but begins to send troops and ammunition beforehand. -
EUROPE: Soviets Launch Sputnik I
The Soviets sent Sputnik I, the first human made space satellite, to orbit the earth. Consequently, this sent the American population into a frenzy, as it struck important questions as to whether they had a massive lead in building missiles. Thus, the space race was conceived. -
EUROPE: Cuban Missile Crisis
On this date, US spy plane reported sighting the Soviet construction of a nuclear missile base near Cuba. Immediately, President Kennedy set up a naval blockade and demanded the Soviets to remove their missiles. War was averted when the Soviets agreed to do so on October 28th, with the U.S. agreeing not to invade Cuba as well. This is famously known as the Cuban missile crisis. -
GREAT PROLE. REV. Great Proletarian Revolution is Launched
Mao Launched the Great Proletarian Revolution. This was because he was losing his position in power after the failure of the Great Leap forward. He also felt that China was moving too far from the revisionist direction. -
GREAT PROLE. REV. Destruction of the Four Olds
At a mass meeting in the notorious Tiananmen Square, Mao calls for the Red Guards to completely rid of the Four Old Olds: “Old Customs, Old Culture, Old Habits, and Old Ideas,” clearly establishing his intents for this revolution. -
GREAT PROLE. REV. The Wuhan Incident
The Wuhan Incident. The Red Guards attack the political leadership of the city of Wuhan. The administration and supporters fiercely resisted the Guards. This has all the aspects of a civil war. Zhou Enlai, the First Premier of the People’s Republic of China, personally intercedes to resolve to solution. This highlights the radicalism of the Red Guards. -
GREAT PROLE. REV. Millions are sent to "learn from the peasants."
The mass disorder that industrial production in China experienced due to the revolution caused it to drop 12% in production. Hence, the Army took control of government offices, schools, and factories. Millions of young people in China were sent to the countryside to “learn from the peasants.” -
GREAT PROLE. REV. Border Incidents with Russia
Repeated border disputes with the Soviets lead to a declaration of Martial Law under Lin Biao, Minister of Defense. Although military clashes were resolved that year, no resolution was met until 1991 with the Sino-Soviet Agreement Pact. The Communist Party and its Committee become overrun by military personnel. Lin Biao is declared official successor to Mao. -
GREAT PROLE. REV. Lin Biao Killed in Plane Crash
Lin Biao is killed in a plane crash in Mongolia attempting to flee China. Lin is accused of plotting to kidnap or kill Mao and take control of China himself. Because the reason of death for Biao is unsure, many conspiracy theories surround this event, some even say Mao ordered Lin Biao to be killed. Zhou consequently takes over much control of the government, and many Chinese citizens felt disillusioned about their country's direction after his death. -
ASIA: Paris Peace Accords are Signed
The Paris Peace Accords are signed. This marks the end of the Vietnam War, as the U.S. withdraws from there. The communists are therefore able to reunite Vietnam, marking an embarrassing loss for the U.S., and democratic governments worldwide. -
END OF GREAT PROLETARIAN REVOLUTION
Leading up to the end of the Great Proletarian Revolution, Zhou Enlai tries to organize a recovery of China from the Cultural Revolution. Mao has a stroke and Zhou finds he has cancer. They decide to hand over their power to Deng Xiaoping, who then gets overthrown by the gang of four, but finally regains power and maintains control of China's government for the next 20 years. The Revolution is finally over after 10 years. -
EUROPE: Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Cold War was beginning to thaw across Europe, and foreign relations were less hostile than before. On this date, the spokesperson for East Berlin's Communist party declared a drastic change in his relations with West Berlin. Starting midnight that day, he proclaimed, citizens were free to cross the border.
