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Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution was started by the working class of Russia and was against the Tsar. Lenin rose up and led the revolution and promised to -
Potsdam Conference
The meeting between Russia, U.S. and Britain to achieve peace between them. Lenin's plan to take over Europe and spread communism was revealed. -
The Atomic Bomb
The atomic bomb was used because Japan would not surrender until there nation had been destroyed. By using the atomic bomb, Russia became upset with America because we had an advantage. -
Iron Curtain
The Iron curtain was Russia's buffer zone that Lenin used as an assurance against future invasions. America tried to use the policy of containment by trying to stop Lenin from spreading communism to his Soviet Sphere of Influence -
Truman Doctrine
Truman's Doctrine was a speech that Truman gave to change foreign policy and support free countries from pressure to become communist. He wanted to aid countries like Greece and Turkey. -
Molotov Plan
The Molotov plan was the foreign minister of the Soviet Union trying to give aid to Eastern Europe in order to change them to communist. It was a response to the U.S. Marshall plan. -
Hollywood Ten
The Hollywood Ten were movie actors, directors and writers that went on trial for potentially making movies that shared communist ideas. They refused to answer the question by pleading the 5th and were sent to prison for contempt. -
Berlin Blockade
the berlin blockade was Stalin's way of forcing people into submission. He felt that france, england, and the U.S. were plotting against him when they made Easter Germany a currency. -
Marshall Plan
the Marshall plan was a massive economic assistance that would revive a working economy that failed after WWII. The U.S. required twelve billion to do so. -
Alger Hiss Case
Alger was a U.S. State department official accused of spying for Russia. Later convicted of perjury when he was tried after his dealings with Wittaker Chambers, a Soviet agent. -
Berlin Airlift
The Berlin Airlift was a response to the Berlin blockade from STalin. The U.S. flew resources over Berlin and dropped them to supply the starving people with food and equipment to survive. -
NATO
NATO was a military pact between U.S. Canada and ten other countries in Europe to help prevent what Russia did to Berlin from happening again -
Soviet Bomb Test
The Soviet Bomb test was a surprise to America because they had no idea they had the capability to make it. The bomb test evened the playing field and took away the U.S's power over them. -
Korean War
Korea was divided into North and South becoming the 38th parallel.This war was a product of the Cold war between Russia and the U.S. -
Rosenberg Trial
The Rosenberg's were were accused of passing U.S. bomb secrets to the soviets. Both him and his wife were sentenced to die on the electric chair. -
McCarthy Hearing
Joseph McCarthy was a U.S Senator that used the Red Scare for his political gain. He caused people to lose faith in the government and that they were becoming communist. He was put on trial by the military and later exposed as an arrogant tyrant and fraud. -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Twelve thousand French troops dropped in to Vietnam. Their goal was to destroy the Viet Minh but air strips and troops were destroyed by heavy artillery. Ten thousand troops surrendered. Important because France pulled out and the U.S. stepped in. -
Geneva Conference
The conference was to discuss the Korean war and the war between France and Vietnam. They decided to temporarily divide Vietnam at the 17th parallel. Important because half was Communist and the other was Capitalist. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw pact was a "treaty" between Eastern Europe and Russia that established a defensive organization. The treaty was Russia's response to the NATO alliance that America started. -
Hungarian Revolution
The revolution was caused by a speech given by Nikita Khrushchev where he attacked Stalin's rule. The people were encouraged by criticism and debate. Rebels began to fight and won declaring Hungary as a neutral nation but were later invaded by Russia to stop the revolution.Hungary looked to the UN for help and remained neutral. -
U2 Incident
The U2 incident was an American plane that was doing recon in Soviet territory and was shot down. The incident ended a summit that the U.S was supposed to have with Russia. This tightened the tensions between the two countries. -
Bay Of Pigs Invasion
The invasion was to be carried out by exiled Cuban's that America would train to attack Cuba with the purpose of killing Fidel Castro. The attack failed and troops were either killed or imprisoned. This gave Russia the opportunity to aid and build nuclear sites in Cuba. -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a wall that East Germany built out of concrete and barbed wire. It was built to keep the Western capitalist Germany from spreading to communist Eastern Germany. Soldiers had orders to shoot anyone who tried to cross the border. Lasted until November 9th 1989 -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The crisis was that Cuba began making nuclear launch sites for Russian missiles. Russia sent ships with missiles on them to Cuba and America put Cuba on a quarantine zone. The U.S. prepared for an invasion to stop the delivery of missiles. The U.S. aimed Minutemen missiles at Russia that would obliterate every city. The situation was resolved by an agreement that Russia wouldn't arm Cuba if the U.S didn't invade CUba and removed missiles from Turkey. -
Assassination of Diem
Diem's was a corrupt leader that the U.S president no longer supported. America backed a military coup that removed Diem from power. He was assassinated the next day. Important because the South Vietnamese didn't like him and he was letting his people suffer. -
Assassination of JFK
The president was assassinated in Texas by Lee Harvey Oswald. Oswald was married to a Soviet woman and tried to join the Soviet Union. Later returned to the U.S and joined a pro Castro organization. Then went to Texas and killed the president. -
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
Two American war ships were fired at by enemy patrol boats. The next day they returned and were fired at again. However the details were incorrect and one attack never happened. Important because they were looking for a way to go to war in Vietnam. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
A three year sustained campaign bombing by the U.S on the North Vietnamese. This is a result of the Gulf Tonkin Resolution. -
Tet Offensive
North Vietnam and the Viet Cong attack the South. Sixty-seven thousand troops attack South Vietnam. America lost support for the war but caused massive casualties to the Viet Cong. -
RFK Assassination
After winning the primary in California and South Dakota, Kennedy was shot and killed at the Ambassadors Hotel. This is important because he was for civil rights and shortly after, MLK was assassinated. -
Invasion of Czechoslovakia
Soviet Union led countries from the Warsaw Pact into Czechoslovakia to crush the liberalization of the country. Normalization was reinstated after the liberal reform. -
Riots of Democratic Convention
The convention was held as the country was divided over the war. Riots began to protest the nomination of a Democratic presidential candidate. Important because it showed that people didn't want a Democrat president. -
Nixons Election
The Republican nominee won the presidency over Hubert Humphrey. Originally lost to Kennedy eight years prior. People didn't want a Democratic party leading after what happened in Vietnam. -
MLK Assassination
A civil rights leader shot and killed in Memphis, Tennessee. He was going to a strike for sanitation workers so that it would be widely televised. -
Kent State
National Guard opened fire on a protest of the bombings on Cambodia. Guards killed four unarmed students and injured nine more. This is important because it tilted public favor against the war. -
Nixon visits China
First president to visit China since the Republic was established. He tried to build the relationship between China and the U.S. This is important because China is communist and we were trying to build relations with them. -
Ceasefire in Vietnam
America signs a peace treaty with Vietnam. They finish pulling out troops in Vietnam. Important because America was out of the war. -
Fall of Saigon
South Vietnam's capital was captured by North Vietnam. SV surrendered and NV reunited the countries. This is important because it led to the end of the war. -
Reagan Elected
Reagan was a Republican that served as Governor of California. Reagan plays a huge role in lowering tensions and an end to the Cold War. -
SDI announced
A missile defense system that Reagan wanted to create that would destroy enemy missiles before they reached American soil. This project would bankrupt Russia. This is important because Russia wouldn't be able to afford it and wouldn't be able to keep up with American technology. -
Geneva Conference with Gorbachev
Reagan and Gorbachev met at a summit and had private meetings. Reagan said he would keep missiles out of Europe and he would end the SDI project. This is important because it is the first time negotiations have begun between the two. -
‘Tear down this wall’ speech
Reagan visited Berlin to challenge Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin war. The wall was finally torn down years later. Important because it led to Gorbachev's downfall. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
As the Cold War ended, the finally tore down the Berlin wall. Russia didn't like this and kicked Gorbachev out of power. This is important because it leads to the end of the war.
