-
Chinese Comunist Revolution
The Chinese Communist Revolution started in 1931 as a result of the Chinese Communist Party's drive to power since its founding in 1921. The war ended in 1949 after taking a break to fight Japan in World War II. After several set backs and defeats, the communists turned the tables on the KMT. In October 1946, Mao Zedong formally proclaimed China to be the People's Republic of China. -
The Formation of the Eastern Bloc
The former Communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, including the countries of the Warsaw Pact, along with Yugoslavia and Albania, which were not aligned with the Soviet Union. Democratic U.S and communist Soviet Union try to protect their type of government around the world. -
Postwar Occupation and Division of Germany
Germany was divided in to four sections to help the country get back on its feet after the war. Germany was split among the U.S, France, Great Britain and the Soviet Union. Each country had it's own plan that would help rebuild Germany -
Enactment of the Marshall Plan
The only major power in the world that was not significantly damaged was the United States. Therefore they offered financial aid to other countries damaged in the war. European countries received about 13 billion in aid. Funding ended in 1951. -
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
Stalin refused to accept the developments during the Six Power Conference and applied pressure on the western powers to renegotiate. As a result, Stalin cut off rail and road links as was the electricity supply. -
Korean War
Korean War saw Communist North Korea invade its southern, democratic neighbor. Backed by the United Nations, with many of the troops deployed by the United States, South Korea resisted and the fighting stabilized just north of the 38th Parallel. The Korean War saw the United States follow its policy of containment as it worked to block aggression and stop the spread of Communism. -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was the prolonged struggle between nationalist forces attempting to unify the country of Vietnam under a communist government and the United States attempting to prevent the spread of communism. The war was seen as a war that couldn't be won, therefore, U.S. leaders lost the American public's support for the war. -
Hungarian Uprising
On October 22, 1956 students gathered at Budapest Technical University to protest the Stalinist government. They demanded three reforms of the Hungarian Government: to create a free press, to hold democratic elections, and to move the government away Stalinist policies. They demanded to hear Imre Nagy speak. A statue of Joseph Stalin was destroyed that night. On October 24th, Communist leaders within the Hungarian government gave into protester’s demands and appointed Nagy Prime Minister. -
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution overthrew the regime of Fulgencio Batista by the 26th of July Movement and established a new Cuban government led by Fidel Castro. It began with the assault on the Moncada Barracks on July 26, 1953, and ended on January 1, 1959, when Batista was driven from the country. The rebels prevented Batista's return when the cities of Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba were seized by Che Guevara and Fidel Castro's surrogates Raúl Castro and Huber Matos. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay Of Pigs invasion is attack of the Cuban government in order to overthrow Fidel Castro, the then Prime Minister of Cuba. The US planned to appear “not being involved” in this attack and declared about their non-intention to intervene in Cuban affairs; However Cuba was suspecting an invasion. In April 1961, the invasion was executed by John F. Kennedy. The mission was a failure. -
Building of the Berlin Wall
Shortly before midnight on Aug. 12, 1961, thousands of East German workers, guarded by troops, began to construct concrete-block and wood barriers and barbed wire fences blocking boulevards, parks, streets, and alleys in the heart of the city of Berlin. By dawn on August 13, the work was done. Berlin had been physically divided into a western, capitalist part, connected to democratic West Germany. The communist part citizens were now imprisoned. The Berlin Wall lasted for 28 years. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
At the beginning of September 1962, U-2 spy planes discovered that the Soviet Union was building surface-to-air missile launch sites. There was also an increase in the number of Soviet ships arriving in Cuba which the United States government feared were carrying new supplies of weapons. President John F. Kennedy complained to the Soviet Union about these developments and warned them that the United States would not accept offensive weapons in Cuba. -
Soviet War in Afghanistan
The Soviet War in Afghanistan was a 9 year conflict involving the Soviet Union, it was fought between Soviet-led Afghan forces against multi-national insurgent groups called the Mujahideen. The war composed of two alliances - the Peshawar Seven and the Tehran Eight. The war caused in millions of Afghans to flee their country to Pakistan and Iran. Hundreds of thousands of Afghan civilians were killed. -
Tiananmen Square Massacre
The Tiananmen Square Massacre was a response to a protest in the People's Republic of China in 1989. It occurred when several waves of protests across the course of a few months came to a head. The PRC government debated over whether to try to defuse the situation through discussion, but eventually decided to suppress it using militarily force. Hundreds to thousands were killed. This led to criticism around the world, and is still controversial topic today. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The East German state, demoralized and bankrupt, tried once more to calm the tension. On Nov. 9, 1989, they decided to announce the relaxation of the travel restrictions. At a press conference, Günther Schabowski stated that travel restrictions would be lifted immediately. Within minutes, East Berliners gathered at the border posts with West Berlin. The guards were overwhelmed and phoned for instructions. The guards didn't counter attack. Berlin was reunited and the Cold War was now over. -
Fall of the Soviet Union
In December of 1991, the world watched in amazement, the Soviet Union was divided into fifteen separate countries. Its collapse was a victory in the west. Capitalism was superior over socialism. The United States celebrated as its enemy fell. The Cold War that had lasted since the end of World War II, had officially ended.
