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Sinews of Peace
Sir Winston Churchill was travelling with Harry Truman to make a speech. The speech took place at Westminster College, in the town of Fulton, Missouri. The speech was given in front of 40,000 people. The speech, entitled “Sinews of Peace” talked about how “an iron curtain has descended on Europe”. This speech mainly pointed out the separation of the democratic west, from the communist east. -
The Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade was an attempt made by the Soviet Union, which limited France, Great Britain and the U.S.A to travel to their sectors of Berlin. The Western countries however, began using airlifts in order to deliver supplies, which lasted for about a year. This was the first major clash of forces in The Cold War. The Blockade lasted until the 12th May 1949, when the Soviets concluded it as a failure. -
NATO Pact Signed
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was a treaty that was signed by the U.S.A and 11 other countries. The treaty enforced a mutual defence pact, which contained the Soviet Union’s aggression towards Western Europe. NATO was the main military treaty between the U.S and Soviet Union during The Cold War. -
Communist Mao Zedong establishes the People's Republic of China
October 1st 1949 saw the start of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Led by communist Mao Zedong, the announcement saw the end of the Chinese Civil War between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Nationalist Party. The rise of communism in China led the U.S to end diplomatic ties with the PRC for decades. -
Atoms for Peace speech
President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave his Atoms for Peace speech before the United Nations assembly. The speech sought out a better use for the atom. Rather than use atomic power for death and destruction, it should be used for the peaceful benefit of mankind. This speech initiated many other sanctions against atomic use, as well as many treaties for the use of atomic material.
This speech ultimately pushed restrictions against deadly atomic weapons, which are still benefitted today. -
The Petrov Affair
The Petrov’s (Vladimir + Evdokia) were two Soviet Spies who were situated in Canberra, Australia. They had been working in Canberra as ‘diplomats’, when they were really spying for the Soviets.
Vladimir contacted ASIO and offered information on Soviet spies in return for political asylum. Vladimir had done this because he feared for his own life after his superiors were executed. His wife was offered the same deal (which she accepted) before she could be taken back to the Soviet Union. -
Warsaw Pact formed
The Warsaw Pact was a response by the Soviet Union to West Germany joining NATO. The Warsaw Pact was signed by eight republics. The Warsaw Pact showed the dominance and support for communism in Eastern Europe, as well as being a threat and opposition to Capitalism, and a militaristic threat. -
Sputnik launched into orbit
Sputnik was the first artificial satellite successful put into orbit around Earth. This beach ball size piece of metal caused a lot of havoc. The U.S and Soviet Union were in battle for everything, from ideas to processes. So when Sputnik was successful, the U.S founded N.A.S.A in order to fight against the Soviet Union, in the Space Race. -
The Kitchen Debate
The Kitchen Debate was an exchange of ideas between Premier Nikita Khrushchev (The Soviet Union) and Vice President Richard Nixon (U.S.A). The Kitchen Debate took place at the American National Exhibition at Sokolniki Park in Moscow on July 24, 1959. Here a ‘typical’ American house exhibit was set up, claiming that ‘anyone in American could afford it’. The main purpose of this was to display the residential differences between Capitalism and Communism. -
Construction of Berlin Wall begins
On the night of August 12th East Germany laid out more than 30 miles of barbed wire along the Berlin border. As well as this, many checkpoints were shut down. On August 15th the barbed wire began to be replaced by concrete. Eventually a guarded wall sealed off the East from West. Few checkpoints were set up for Westerners to visit, but no Easterners were allowed to leave. The Eastern side claimed the wall was there to protect its citizens from the influence of the capitalist culture. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
During October 1962, a U.S spy plane took photos while over Cuba. These showed a nuclear missile site being built by the Soviet Union. Immediately President Kennedy met secretly with his advisors. Afterwards a ring of naval ships were set up around Cuba, stopping any shipments from the Soviet Union. After Kennedy went public with the crisis, the U.S and Soviets sought to resolve the issue. The Soviets agreed to stop and dismantle the weapons site, in exchange, the U.S agreed to not invade Cuba. -
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
The Nuclear Test Ban saw the end of the testing and experiments of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, ground or in outer space. The treaty was a response to the growing concerns of world leaders and citizens. These people had become aware of the effects of radiation and wanted change.
The treaty was signed by British, U.S and Soviet leaders. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed by 71 nations, 33 years after the Nuclear Test Ban. -
Apollo 11 lands on the Moon
After many years of competing and losing to the Soviets, the U.S gets a win. The U.S successfully lands two men on the moon. In the final parts of the Space Race, the U.S gets ahead and beats the Soviets in one of the most complicated missions. Apollo 11 was a big milestone during The Cold War, and was also the end of The Space Race. -
SALT I
The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty that restricted the production and use of certain strategic missiles that could carry nuclear warheads, as well as also regulating the use of anti-ballistic missiles. The first treaty’s negotiations began in 1969, with the treaty being signed by the U.S and Soviet Union on May 26th 1972. -
SALT II
The second instalment of the Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty started in 1972. Negotiations for the second treaty went on for 7 years, before finally being signed on June 18th 1979. Since the last treaty the Soviets had focused on missiles with larger warheads, while the U.S focused on smaller more accurate warheads. So this treaty addressed and regulated each sides’ technological differences. -
Independence
A list of countries and dates they became independant: 1989 June: Poland 1989 September: Hungary 1990 March: Lithuania List of Countries that overthrew their communist governments: 1989 December: Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania -
Berlin Wall Torn Down
After many decades of separation, people wanted change. Starting on the 9th November 1989, people came with sledgehammers, pickaxes, chisels etc. With these tools in hand they began to tear down the wall. With such a large movement to tear down the wall, there was little the government could do to stop it. -
End of Soviet Union: End of The Cold War
During December 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved into 15 separate countries. The Western world watched in amazement as countries fought for freedom from the communist grasp of the Soviets. This symbolised the end of The Cold War, with the Soviet Union falling apart and everyone coming out happier overall.
