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Russian Communist Revolution
This is a term for a series of revolutions in Russia during 1917. During these revolutions is when Russia became a comminist country. -
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty signed between Germany and the Allied Powers stating all the complaints and reparations Germany was responsible for in World War II. This is important because this leads to many problems in the Cold War. -
League of Nations
International association established to keep peace that failed after members withdrew from it. The withdrawal of these members started a tension between the countries. This tension escalated later during the Cold War -
Nuclear Deterrent
The use of military as means to deter international crises and war. This concept can be defined as the use of threats by one party to convince another party to refrain from initiating some course of action. This was the majority of the cold war. -
MAD
MAD stands for Mutual Assured Destruction. It is similar to Nuclear deterrent in that it is a military strategy in which a full scale use of nuclear weapons by two opposing sides would cause complete destruction of both attacker and defender. -
Yalta Conference
A conference bwtween Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin discussing important things regarding future war progress and the postwar world. This is important because America and the Soviet Union disagreed on alot of things which caused tension -
General Assembly
Major body of the United Nations. Each country has a representative that make up the General Assembly. This is important because the General Assembly determines whos on the security council and that can play a major role on big world decisions -
United Nations
The United Nations is an internal governmental organization that replaced the league of nations. The organization was created following WWII. At its founding the United nations had 51 member states and now there are 193. During the Cold War the United Nations didn't have much control because the United States and USSR would always veto eachother thus getting nothing acomplished. -
Nuremberg Trials
Series of trials held to punish German Nazi officials for their crimes against humanity. Many were either killed or imprisoned. This is important because it punished Germany even more than it already did. Taking out major officials led to Germany not really having a goverment and letting other nations controll Germanys outcome -
Iron Curtain Speech
Winston Churchill gave his famous speech and told the world that 'Russia wanted war! That all they wanted was the expansion of their land and doctrine. This is important because it showed the world what Russia really wanted and brought there evil goals to light -
Baruch Plan
A proposal by the United States government to the United Nations Atmoic Commision. The United States, Great Britain and Canada called for an international organization to regulate atomic energy and President Truman responded by asking Undersecretary of State Dean Acheson and David E. Lilienthal to draw up a plan. -
Truman Doctrine
Offered support from the U.S to any country resisting consistent pressure from communist influence. Many European countries excepted this. Its important because it shows how the Cold WAr was fought indirectly. This was geared towards bansihing communism -
Marshall Plan
Economic aid proposed from the U.S that tried to help European nations recover. Was offered to all European nations. Although the Soviet Union made themselves and all its sateliites refuse to accept it. This is important because this is how the brutal rivalry started to uprise between America and the U.S -
Berlin Airlift
When the Soviet Union blocked all shipments in and out of Berlin. Airlifted military supplies to American garrison in the city. This is important becuase it showed how the Soviet Union indirectly fought this war. -
NATO Created
9 European nations formed an alliance. Also formed a military force that agreed to defend each of the members if attacked. This is important because an alliance formed a competitive edge in the Cold War which sparked the rivalry between Eastern and Western Europe -
Chinese Communist Revolution
China had 2 political parties, one communist and one democratic, that began a revolution. This revolution ended up in China being a communist country. This was important to the Cold War because it added a another country to the power of communism. -
Joseph McCarthy Speech
Joseph McCarthy gave his specch on communism in America. He gave specific names of people and their crimes. Those people were fired. This speech is important because it scared many Americans about communism which started the "Red Scare". This started a frenzy on American citizens -
Korean War
A very costly and brutal war between the U.S and the Soviet Union and Korea. The war was to controll Koreas goverement which ended up in the division of Korea. This was very important because it weakened the U.S and made the Soviet Union on top in the Cold War -
Warsaw Pact
The Soviet Union and 7 of its satellites sign a treaty establshing a mutual defense organization. Soviet Union was in command of all their armed forces. This is important because an alliance like this made the rivalry even more noticeable! Eastern and Western Europe was now more divided -
Sputnik Launch
The Soviet Union launched the worlds first sateillite into orbit around the Earth! This is important to the Cold War because part of America and Russias rivalry was the space race. This put the Soviet Union in the lead and also showed the world the power of Russia! -
Fiedel Castro Proclaims Communist Cuba
Castro led the Cuban Revolution and over threw Fulgenico Batista. Castro made an alliance with the Soviets which led to the Cuban Missile Crisis. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The U.S planned an invasion on the Cuban mainland with the intent to ignite an uprising against Castro. The mission failed miserablely! This is important because the embarassed the U.S terribly and made it seem as though they were weak and had no control in the Cold War -
Building Berlin Wall Begins
The building of the Berlin Wall began. This seprerated Eastern and Western Germany. Nobody could try and travel from either of the sides. They were completely isolated from each other. This is important because the wall represents the boudary between America and the Soviet Union -
Berlin Wall (Fact)
The building of the Berlin wall was symbolically marking the serperation of Eastern and Western Germany and also the split between Democracy and Communism. This important because the Cold War is basically just demorcracy versus communism. So the construction of the Berlin Wall made this much clearer -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Soviets placed missile in Cuba and refused to remove them for a while! This caused the American goverment to worry deeply and respond drastically. After negotiations the missles were removed. This is important because this was the closest America came to World War 3. It also sparked the rivalry between America and Russia -
U.S Sends Troops to Vietnam
After the Gulf of Tonkin incident the U.S. decided to respond by sending 3,500 troops into South Vietnam. The U.S was very determined to not lose Vietnam. This is important because this is another war where the Soviet Union and America fight indirectly. Which sparked the rivalry even more -
Non Proleferation Agreement
Also known as NPT. This is an international agreement whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and technology. It was also to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achievingnuclear disarment and general/complete disarmant. -
Apollo 11
America sent astronauts up to the moon and they landed sucessfully. This was the first time any human ever landed on the moon. This is important to the Cold WAr because one of the many rivalries between America and the Soviet Union was the Space Race. This event put America in the lead -
SALT (I/II)
SALT stands for Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. Salt was two rounds of talks and corresponding treaties involving the United States and The Soviet Union on the issue of armament control. The first SALT I treaty led to the Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty. The SALT II lead to a treaty but the United States decided not to sign it because of the invasion of Afghanistan by the USSR. -
Kent State Shootings
The kent state shootings involved the shooting of unaramed college students by the Ohio National Guard. Some sutdents who were shot had been protesting against the cambodian campaign which president Richard Nixon announced. -
Fall of Saigon
The capture of Saigon (the capitol city of South Vietnam). This even marked the end of the Vietnam war. The North Vietcong had invaded and captured South Korea and had spread communism. -
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II was credited with helping stop communism throughout europe. He was credited for being a spritual inspiration. He was a symbol of hope during the worlds tough times. -
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher was the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Her knickname was "The ironlady" and that came from a soviet journalist. She was the leader of the conservative party. -
Soviets Invade Afghanistan
Soviet Union tried to invade and take over the Afghanistan goverement!. So many uprisings began in their goverment so Soviet saw them as an easy target tp convert to Communism. This is important because it adds another communist nation to the side of the Soviet Union -
Deng Xiaoping
A politican and reformist leader of the peoples Republic of China. He shared his power with several older powerful politicans known as the eight elders. He was a communist leader for china -
Fall of Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall came down and marked the reunification of Germany again. The people were allowed to interact again from both sides. This is important because it symbolically breaks the barrier of Eastern Europe verusus Western Europe. -
Lech Walesa
Lech Walesa was the former president of Poland between the years 1990-1995. He lead over Poland's transformation from a Communist to a post-Communist state since Poland was once a satellite country under the Soviet Union. -
START (I/II)
START stands for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. It was a treaty between the United States and Russia that limited nuclear arms. However on June 14, 2002 Russia withdrew from this treaty.
