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Formation of the Eastern Block
The Eastern Block is a reference used to refer to former communist states in Eastern and Central Europe. Which was composed of the Soviet Union, countries in the Warsaw Pact, and Albania and Yugoslavia. The reason behind the formation of the pact is usually pointed to the aftermath of the Second World War which exposed the expansive and porous Russian border. This connects to the G in Gaspire standing for Geographic, because it was a reference to communist states -
Post War Occupations and Division of Germany
After WWII, the four powers divided Germany into four occupation zones for administrative purposes, into what is collectively known now as Allied-occupied Germany. The powers approved the eventual detachment of much of the country. The establishment of zones of occupation had been decided at a series of conferences. This also connects to the Gaspire theme geographic because the country of Germany was being split into zones -
Chinese Communist Revolution
Mao Zedong launched what became known as the Cultural Revolutionto reassert his authority over the government of China. The nation’s youth were called to purge the “impure” elements of Chinese society and revive the revolutionary spirit. The Revolution continued in various phases until Mao’s death. This connects to the Political in Gaspire because Mao Zendong was trying to reassert his authority over the government so he could maintain political power -
Enactment of the Marshall Plan
The plan was in operation for four years. The goals were to rebuild war devastated regions, remove trade barriers, modernize industry, make Europe prosperous again, and prevent the spread of communism. The aid for the Marshall Plan was divided amongst the participant states. After being passed by both the Senate and the House it was signed by President Harry S. Truman. I think this connects to the social aspect of the Gaspire themes because there was a collective effort to rebuild regions -
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
After the economic chaos caused by America and Britain announcing proposals for establishing a new currency, Soviet closed all its ports. The communication channels of land and water may have been closed off but not by air. And because of this, the Berlin airlift began. This connects to Economy in the Gaspire themes because the airlift was all caused due to a proposal in currency change by the Americans and British -
Korean War
World War II divided Korea into a Communist, northern half and an American-occupied southern half, divided at the 38th parallel. The North Korean communist army invaded South Korea, and began war for three years. Even after the treaty, neither the war nor its outcome did much to reduce the tension of the Cold War. -
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution included many years of hardship, guerrilla warfare and propaganda battles. Many people in Cuba were disgusted by the power grab. Ragged rebels began the process of driving out forces loyal to the dictator. -
Space Race
The Space Race was a race between the Soviet Union and the United states. It was a race to land on the moon first because both countries wanted to improve the superiority of its technology, its military firepower and its political-economic system. This connects to the intellectual Gaspire theme because it was the countries intelligence that would determine who landed on the moon first -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a failed military invasion of Cuba undertaken by a CIA-sponsored paramilitary group. It was intended to overthrow the increasingly communist government of Fidel Castro. However, the invading force was defeated within three days. This connects to the Political Gaspire theme because it was intended to take over another government -
Building of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was constructed by the German Democratic Republic. The Wall completely cut off (by land) West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin until government officials opened it in November 1989. The wall was built overnight. This connects to the geographic Gaspire theme because it cut off contact with Eat Germany and West and East Berlin -
Soviet War in Afghanistan
The Soviet War in Afghanistan fought between Afghanistan rebels called the Mujahideen and the Soviet supported Afghanistan government. The United States supported the Afghanistan rebels to try overthrowing the communist government/prevent the spread of communism. During the war, Afghanistan's economy as well as it's traditional trade suffered. This connects to the Gaspire theme of Political because the rebels were trying to stop the spread of communism -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin Wall happened nearly as suddenly as its rise. As Communism began to falter in Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia, exodus points were opened to East Germans who wanted to flee to the West. Very quickly, the Berlin Wall was inundated with people from both sides. This connects to the Social Gaspire theme because citizen people were working together to take down the Berlin Wall with great numbers -
Fall of the Soviet Union
A series of independence movements in the republics - one by one, the Baltic states declared their independence from Moscow. Then the Russian Federation and Ukraine broke away from the USSR. This signaled the end of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States. -
Interview
I interviewed my grandma who is 75. I asked her if she had any cold war memories and she said that in grade school in 1969 she saw the first us people and that in junior high it was always Russia vs the US and nobody else mattered. I asked her if she ever had fear and she said yes Russia was totalitariom and controlled kids and schools but other then that she wasn't as aware. I also asked her about terriorist and she said that they reconstructed the world and that Russia couldnt be trusted
