-
Yalta Conference
Meeting of FDR, Stalin, and Churchill. "The Big Three." Beginning of the Cold War. -
Berlin Blockade & Airlift
agermany blockaded necessities from getting between Berlin and the West. The U.S. and Britain then decided to deliver these supplies by air. This continued until the Soviet Union lifted the blockade. Berlin became a symbol of the Allies’ willingness to oppose further Soviet expansion in Europe. -
Korean War
This war was part of a larger Cold War struggle to extinguish communism. The U.S. considered this more then just a dispute over territory, but the beginning of an attempt to exapnd communism. This war contained many deaths (nearly 5 million), but a new boundary was drawn. -
Warsaw Pact Formed
This pact was a collective defense treaty among Soviet Union and seven Soviet satellite states in Central and Eastern Europe in existence during the Cold War. This led to the expansion of military forces, which proved to be successful. The strategy behind the formation of the Warsaw Pact was driven by the Soviet Union to take over Europe. -
Soviet Invasion of Hungary
The USSR occupied Hungary for the length of the Cold War. In 1956 the Hungarians revolted against communism. It was the first major threat to Soviet control since the USSR’s forces drove out the Nazis at the end of World War II and occupied Eastern Europe. This played a role in the downfall of the Soviet Union decades later -
Space Race
The Soviet Union and the United States fought over who would advance to space with satellite and nuclear arms first. The Soviet Union beat the US with Sputnik and then again with the first human in space, and then the US beat them to the moon. This relates to the Cold war because of weapons and explosions. The US got word that the USSR had just dropped their first atomic bomb. -
Cuba taken over by Fidel Castro
Became commander in chief of Cuba's armed forces. Castro’s Cuba was the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere, and running a dictatorship. The United States initially supported him, but then quickly withdrew this support. His relationship with the US resulted in the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. -
Bay of Pigs
Failed military incasion of Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro. This strengthed Castro and his relations with the USSR. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
the United States and the Soviet Union had a 13 day standoff in which president John Kennedy believed we may be engaging in a nuclear war. When Cuba became clear that the president was prepared for a naval blockade around Cuba and ready to use military force they came to an agreement that the missiles would be removed and in return the US had to promise not to invade Cuba. Kennedy also removed the missiles from Turkey. -
Stategic Arms limitation talks
One of the first steps to slow the arms race. Two rounds of bilateral conferences and corresponding international treaties involving the United States and the Soviet Union on the issue of armament control. (SALT) -
Nixon's visit
President Nixon was the first leader to visit China. SALT I was signed by the Soviet Union and United States, limiting weapons and nuclear missiles. -
Soviets invade Afghanistan
Soviets invaded Afghanistan and began a war that ends in their withdraw. This resulted in many civilian deaths. -
Berlin Wall demolished
The head of the East German Communist Party announced that citizens of the German Democratic Republic could cross the border. The Berlin Wall remains one of the most powerful and enduring symbols of the Cold War. Families were reunited because of the inability of the Soviet Union and their allies to provide for basic needs of their citizens. -
Germany Reunited
East and West Germany reunited. Since 1945, when Soviet forces occupied eastern Germany, and the United States and other Allied forces occupied the western half of the nation at the close of World War II. Germany had been completely divided, and served as a strong symbol for the Col War. By Germany reuniting, the Cold War was over. -
End of Soviet Union and Cold War
Soviet Union breaks into independent republics- Cold War is over. The Strategic Arms Reduction Talk (START) is signed.
