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Yalta Conference Drafts Post-War Plan (February 1945)

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Yalta Conference Drafts Post-War Plan (February 1945)

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The Yalta Conference was an important meeting during WWII where the Allied leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union gathered to discuss the post-war reorganization of Europe and the world. They decided on new borders including that Germany would be divided into four zones controlled by the Allies, as well as shifting Poland westward. Stalin agreed to allow free elections in Eastern European countries the Soviet Union liberated, along with agreeing to join the war against Japan. They also laid the groundwork for the establishment of the United Nations.

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On August 6th, 1945, the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb, called "Little Boy", on Hiroshima. The explosion caused massive destruction, killing an estimated 90,000 to 166,000 people by the end of 1945. Three days later, the second bomb, "Fat Man" was dropped on Nagasaki, which resulted in 60,000 to 80,000 deaths. The bombings led to Japan's surrender on August 15th, 1945, ending WWII.

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Westminster College, Westminster Avenue, Fulton, MO

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Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech in Fulton, MO (March 5th, 1946)

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Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech in Fulton, MO (March 5th, 1946)

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After being introduced by Harry Truman, Winston Churchill warned about the growing divide between the Soviet Union and the West, saying that an "iron curtain" had descended across Europe. Churchill emphasized the need for unity between the United States and Britain to counter Soviet expansion and protect peace and stability. The speech marked the beginning of the Cold War.

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Truman Doctrine First Applied in Greek Civil War (March 12th, 1947)

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Truman Doctrine First Applied in Greek Civil War (March 12th, 1947)

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In Greece, the government was battling a communist insurgency supported by neighboring communist states. Britain, which had been aiding Greece, could no longer afford to do so, prompting the U.S. to step in. Under the Truman Doctrine, Congress approved $400 million in aid for Greece and Turkey, helping to stabilize the Greek government and prevent a communist takeover. This marked a large shift from isolationist to interventionist, showing the commitment the US had to stopping the spread of communism.

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Marshall Plan is Announced to Rebuild Europe (June 1947)

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Marshall Plan is Announced to Rebuild Europe (June 1947)

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The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Program, was announced by George C. Marshall during a speech at Harvard. The program aimed to rebuild the economies of war-torn Europe as a way to prevent the spread of communism. The US provided more than $13 billion dollars (more than $100 billion in 2025) in aid to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. The plan was a large success, contributing to Europe's rapid recovery and laid the foundation for long term stability.

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Berlin Airlift Memorial, Am Luftbrückendenkmal, Frankfurt-Süd, Germany

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Berlin Blockade and Airlift Begins (June 1948)

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Berlin Blockade and Airlift Begins (June 1948)

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USSR and the U.S. divided Germany to keep from starting WWIII. The U.S. gets the West, the USSR gets the East. The capital of Berlin is also split into East and West. Stalin gets mad about the U.S. getting all the important people (doctors and lawyers) into the West, so he blocks West Berlin from getting any supplies. Truman decides to send supplies for over a year through air-dropping supplies. It is also used to prevent the spread of communism by making the U.S. and capitalism look good (soft power).

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NATO Headquarters, Avenue Leopold III, Brussels, Belgium

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NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The alliance was created to provide collective defense against potential Soviet aggression during the early stages of the Cold War. The founding members were the US, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the UK. One of the main features of NATO is Article 5, which states that an attack against one member is an attack against every member. The creation of NATO solidified the divide between the East and the West.

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Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site, Kazakhstan

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Russia Tests its First Atomic Bomb (August 20th, 1949)

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Russia Tests its First Atomic Bomb (August 20th, 1949)

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The bomb, with the code name "First Lightning," had a yield of about 20 kilotons, which is like detonating 20,000 tons of TNT, and is similar to the U.S.'s "Trinity" test. This marked a large milestone in the nuclear arms race, as it ended the United States' monopoly on nuclear weapons. The test was near construction buildings, and they placed animals nearby to study the effects of the explosion and radiation on living things. The US detected the test through radioactive traces in the atmosphere, leading President Harry Truman to announce the achievement to the public in September 1949.

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Mao Zedong Wins Chinese Civil War and Creates the People's Republic of China (October 1st, 1949)

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Mao Zedong Wins Chinese Civil War and Creates the People's Republic of China (October 1st, 1949)

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After years of conflict between the Chinese Communist Party and the Nationalist Party, the CCP emerged victorious in 1949. The Nationalist Party, led by Chiang Kai Shek, fled to Taiwan. The Communists under Mao Zedong's leadership, gained widespread support, particularly among peasants, due to their promises of land reform and social equality. On October 1st, Mao Zedong stood on top of Tiananmen and declared the founding of the People's Republic of China. the PRC embarked on a transformative journey under Mao's leadership, implementing land reforms, industrialization, and consolidating Communist power.

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McCarthyism and the Red Scare Takes Hold in the U.S. (February 1950)

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McCarthyism and the Red Scare Takes Hold in the U.S. (February 1950)

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Named after Senator Joseph McCarthy, McCarthyism was a period of aggressive investigations and accusations aimed at rooting out alleged communists in the U.S. McCarthy's claims, often based on little or no evidence, created a climate of fear and suspicion. Many people were blacklisted, lost their jobs, or faced public humiliation due to accusations of communist ties. The Red Scare is the fear of communism in American society.

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Peace Gondola Northern Station, Jeoksipja-ro, Gunnae-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

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The Korean War was fought between North Korea (backed by China and the USSR) and South Korea (backed by the United Nations, mostly the U.S.). Korea was divided along the 38th parallel into two zones of occupation. Tensions rose as both sides claimed to be the legitimate Korea. On June 25th, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, wanting to unify the peninsula under communist rule. The fighting ended on July 27th, 1953, with an armistice agreement. The Korean Peninsula is still divided along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near the 38th parallel. No formal peace treaty was signed, leaving the two Koreas technically still at war.

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H-Bomb Tested by USA on Bikini Atoll (Nuke Map) (March 1st, 1954)

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H-Bomb Tested by USA on Bikini Atoll (Nuke Map) (March 1st, 1954)

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The Castle Bravo test was the first test of a dry-fuel hydrogen bomb. The bomb had an explosive yield of 15 megatons, making it about 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. It caused significant fallout though, contaminating nearby islands and exposing civilians to high levels of radiation. Bikini Atoll is still uninhabitable today.

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The KGB (which translates to the Committee for State Security) was established on March 13th as the Soviet Union's primary security and intelligence agency. It was created during the reconstruction of Russia after Stalin's death and the fall of Lavrentiy Beria, who had led the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The KGB was formed to centralize and streamline the Soviet Union's intelligence, counterintelligence, and internal security operations. The KGB had responsibilities such as leadership protection, border security, suppressing dissent, detecting and neutralizing foreign espionage activities, and gathering information abroad to support Soviet policies.

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CIA Helps Overthrow Unfriendly Governments in Iran and Guatemala (March 1954)

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CIA Helps Overthrow Unfriendly Governments in Iran and Guatemala (March 1954)

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Iran (Operation Ajax): The CIA, along with British intelligence, organized the overthrow of Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. Mossadegh had nationalized Iran's oil industry, which threatened the economic interests of Western countries. The coup restored the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, to power, ensuring a pro-Western government in Iran. This intervention had long-term consequences, fueling anti-American sentiment in the region.

Guatemala (Operation PBSuccess): In Guatemala, the CIA helped overthrow President Jacobo Árbenz, who had implemented land reforms that affected the interests of the United Fruit Company, a company based in the US. The US government believed that the president's policies as a way for communism to get into the Western Hemisphere. The coup installed a military regime, leading to decades of political instability and violence in Guatemala.

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The Warsaw Pact was a military alliance formed by the Soviet Union and Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. The Warsaw Pact was created in response to West Germany joining NATO, which the Soviet Union perceived as a threat. The main objective of the Warsaw Pact was to unify the military forces of its members. The Warsaw Pact was active until 1991.

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The Transfermium Wars were a scientific dispute during the Cold War over the discovery and naming of elements after fermium (element 100) on the periodic table. It involved scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California and Soviet scientists at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna. The disagreement centered on which group had first isolated elements rutherfordium (104), dubnium (105), and seaborgium (106). In the 1990s, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) eventually stepped in to resolve the dispute, assigning official names to the elements.

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Rebellion Put Down in Hungary (November 1956)

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Rebellion Put Down in Hungary (November 1956)

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The rebellion in Hungary was a nationwide uprising against the Soviet Union's control and the Stalinist government of Hungary. It began in Budapest with protests but quickly turned into a large-scale revolt. The protesters demanded political reforms, freedom from Soviet domination, and the withdrawal of Soviet troops. The Soviet Union originally withdrew its forces, but when Prime Minister Irme Nagy declared Hungary neutral and announced Hungary's withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact, the Soviet Union responded with massive military intervention. Soviet tanks and troops invaded Budapest and other parts of Hungary, brutally suppressing the uprising. Thousands of Hungarians were killed, and nearly 200,000 people fled the country as refugees.

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The Soviet Union successfully launched the world's first ICMB (the intercontinental ballistic missile), the R-7 Semyorka. The R-7 had a range of approximately 5,000 miles and was capable of carrying a single thermonuclear warhead. The success not only advanced the Soviet military but also paved the way for Sputnik 1 later that year.

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Sputnik Launched into Orbit (October 4th, 1957)

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Sputnik Launched into Orbit (October 4th, 1957)

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The Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik into orbit marked the beginning of the Space Age and the space race between the US and the USSR. Sputnik 1 was a polished metal sphere, about 23 inches in diameter, and equipped with four antennas to transmit radio signals. It orbited Earth every 96 minutes, providing valuable data about the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. This scared the US, as it demonstrated the Soviet Union's technological advancements and raised concern about their ability to develop ICBMs. This led to large advancements in US space and defense programs, including the creation of NASA in 1958.

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Fidel Castro Takes Power in Cuba (January 1959)

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Fidel Castro Takes Power in Cuba (January 1959)

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Fidel Castro took power after leading the Cuban Revolution, which overthrew the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. His movement, the 26th of July Movement, had waged a guerrilla war against Batista's regime since 1956. The revolution gained widespread support among Cubans, particularly due to dissatisfaction with corruption, inequality, and U.S. influence in Cuban affairs. After Batista left the country, Castro and his forces entered Havana, and he soon became the leader of the new government.

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U2 Spy Plane Shot Down Over USSR (May 1960)

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U2 Spy Plane Shot Down Over USSR (May 1960)

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A U2 spy plane, which was piloted by Francis Gary Powers, was shot down by the Soviet Union while doing reconnaissance deep within Soviet territory. The event occurred near Sverdlovsk, which is modern-day Yekaterinburg. Originally, the US claimed that the plane was a civilian weather research plane, but the Soviet Union revealed they had captured Powers alive and recovered surveillance equipment. The incident led to the collapse of the planned summit between President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Powers was convicted of espionage but later exchanged for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel during a prisoner swap in 1962.

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Failed Bay of Pigs Invasion (April 1961)

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Failed Bay of Pigs Invasion (April 1961)

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The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a failed attempt by the US to overthrow Fidel Castro's government in Cuba. The operation was planned and funded by the CIA and involved a force of around 1,500 Cuban exiles, known as Brigade 2506. The plan was to land on Cuba's southwestern coast and spark an uprising, but they faced challenges including poor planning, lack of air support, and Cuban resistance. The failure was a big embarrassment for the US, especially for JFK, as he had approved the plan as President. The attempt also strengthened Castro's position in Cuba and pushed him closer to the USSR, which helped set the stage for the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

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Berlin Wall Memorial, Bernauer Straße, Berlin, Germany

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Construction of Berlin Wall Begins (August 17th, 1961)

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Construction of Berlin Wall Begins (August 17th, 1961)

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The German Democratic Republic built the Berlin Wall to prevent East Germans from fleeing to West Berlin. It started with barbed wire and temporary barriers, but these were replaced with guard towers and concrete slabs. The wall divided neighborhoods and streets, becoming a symbol of the Cold War and the division of the East and West.

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The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense 13-day confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over the installation of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from US shores. The crisis started when US reconnaissance flights discovered missile sites under construction in Cuba. JFK responded by imposing a naval blockade to prevent more Soviet shipments. The world was brought to the brink of nuclear war, but it was resolved diplomatically. The Soviets agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba in exchange for the US promising not to invade Cuba and the secret removal of American missiles from Turkey. The crisis led to the creation of a hotline for better communication between Washington and Moscow.

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Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Ratified (July 1963)

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Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Ratified (July 1963)

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The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty prohibited nuclear tests in the atmosphere, underwater, and outer space but allowed underground tests, as long as they did not cause radioactive fallout beyond the borders of the country testing the bomb. It was signed by the US, the UK, and the USSR.

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Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Ratified (July 1963)

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Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Resolution (August 1964)

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Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Resolution (August 1964)

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The Gulf of Tonkin incident involved two separate naval confrontations between the US and North Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. On August 2nd, the USS Maddox was allegedly attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats while conducting intelligence patrols. The second attack was said to have happened on August 4th, but it was later revealed to have been misinterpreted since no actual engagement happened. Because of this, The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed on August 7th, which gave LBJ the authority to use military force in Southeast Asia without a formal declaration of war. This resolution marked the beginning of the U.S.'s large-scale involvement in the Vietnam War.

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Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Resolution (August 1964)

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US Marines Sent to the Dominican Republic to Fight Communism (April 1965)

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US Marines Sent to the Dominican Republic to Fight Communism (April 1965)

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During the Dominican Civil War, Marines were sent to the Dominican Republic as a part of Operation Power Pack, which was the codename for US military intervention in the Dominican Republic. The intervention was made to prevent the spread of communism and stabilize the region following a coup and uprising. The mission included evacuating US and foreign nationals caught in the conflict, stabilizing the situation by supporting anti-communist forces, and establishing a provisional government, which eventually led to elections in 1966.

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US Announcement to Dispatch 200,000 US Troops to Vietnam (July 1965)

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US Announcement to Dispatch 200,000 US Troops to Vietnam (July 1965)

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LBJ announced a significant escalation of American involvement in the Vietnam War. He declared that the number of U.S. troops in Vietnam would increase from 75,000 to 125,000, with additional forces deployed as needed. The announcement was made in response to pressure from General William Westmoreland, who requested reinforcements to keep up with the growing strength of the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces.

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Ho Chi Minh Trail Monument, x. Đa Krông, Đa Krông District, Quảng Trị, Vietnam

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B-52s Bomb N. Vietnam in Operation Rolling Thunder (1966)

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B-52s Bomb N. Vietnam in Operation Rolling Thunder (1966)

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Operation Rolling Thunder aimed to weaken North Vietnam's ability to support the Viet Cong insurgency in South Vietnam. The bombings targeted infrastructure, transportation networks, and supply routes, including the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Despite the large scale of the campaign, Operation Rolling Thunder only had limited success, as it failed to achieve its primary objective of stopping North Vietnamese support for the Viet Cong.

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Red Army Crush Czechoslovakian Revolt (August 1986)

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Red Army Crush Czechoslovakian Revolt (August 1986)

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The Soviet Union, alongside other Warsaw Pact countries, invaded Czechoslovakia to suppress liberal reforms introduced by Alexander Dubček. They entered the country with 200,000 troops and 5 tanks. The Soviets aimed to stop Dubček's efforts to implement "socialism with a human face," which included greater freedoms of speech, press, and travel. His reforms were seen as a threat to Soviet control over Eastern Europe.

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Apollo 11 Lands on the Moon (July 20th, 1969)

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Apollo 11 Lands on the Moon (July 20th, 1969)

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Apollo 11 was the historic NASA mission that successfully landed humans on the Moon for the first time. The astronauts onboard were Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Micheal Collins. Armstrong and Aldrin descended to the lunar surface in the Eagle lunar module, landing at Tranquility Base. The success of Apollo 11 reinforced the US's global leadership and ideological appeal, emphasizing the values of freedom and progress.

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Apollo 11 Lands on the Moon (July 20th, 1969)

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Publication of the Pentagon Papers (1971)

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Publication of the Pentagon Papers (1971)

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The Pentagon Papers were first published by The New York Times in June of 1971. The documents were originally titled "Report of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Vietnam Task Force" which revealed the US's involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1968. They were leaked by Daniel Ellsberg, a former military analyst, who believed the public had a right to know the truth about the war. The publication exposed that successive U.S. administrations had misled the public and Congress about the scope and nature of the Vietnam War. This led to a landmark Supreme Court case, where the court ruled in favor of the newspapers' right to publish the documents, citing the importance of freedom of the press.

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Publication of the Pentagon Papers (1971)

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Great Wall of China, Huairou District, China

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President Nixon Visits China (February 1972)

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President Nixon Visits China (February 1972)

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Nixon's visit to China marked the first time a U.S. president visited the People's Republic of China in 25 years, ending decades of no official diplomatic ties. Nixon's trip aimed to improve relations with China and gain leverage over the Soviet Union during the Sino-Soviet split. His visit included meetings with Chinese leaders like Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, and Nixon famously called it "the week that changed the world".

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President Nixon Visits China (February 1972)

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The agreement, signed by U.S. President Richard Nixon and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, aimed to curb the two countries' arms race. It included the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty and an interim agreement to limit the number of strategic ballistic missile launchers. This promoted stability and reduced tensions during a period of intense rivalry.

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US-Supported Coup Overthrows Chilean Government (September 1973)

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US-Supported Coup Overthrows Chilean Government (September 1973)

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A US-supported military coup in Chile overthrew the democratically elected government of President Salvador Allende. The coup was led by General Augusto Pinochet, who established a military dictatorship that lasted for 17 years. The Nixon administration and the CIA played a role in destabilizing Allende's government and creating conditions favorable for the coup. Pinochet's regime was marked by widespread human rights abuses, including the killing of over 3,000 people and the torture of tens of thousands.

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Egypt and Syria Attack Israel; Egypt requests Soviet Aid (October 1973)

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Egypt and Syria Attack Israel; Egypt requests Soviet Aid (October 1973)

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Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. This conflict, known as the Yom Kippur War, began on October 6, 1973, with Egypt crossing the Suez Canal and Syria attacking the Golan Heights. The war was part of an effort to reclaim territories lost to Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967. Egypt's President Anwar Sadat sought Soviet aid during the conflict, while Israel received support from the United States. The war ended with a ceasefire on October 25, 1973.

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South Vietnam Falls to Communist North Vietnam (April 17th, 1975)

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South Vietnam Falls to Communist North Vietnam (April 17th, 1975)

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The fall of South Vietnam to Communist North Vietnam marked the end of the Vietnam War. North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, leading to the collapse of the South Vietnamese government. This event, often referred to as the Fall of Saigon, resulted in the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule and the establishment of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. It also triggered a massive evacuation of U.S. personnel and South Vietnamese civilians, including the largest helicopter evacuation in history

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Soviet and Cuban Forces Help to Install Communist Government in Angola (February 1976)

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Soviet and Cuban Forces Help to Install Communist Government in Angola (February 1976)

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Soviet and Cuban forces played an important role in consolidating the power of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), a communist-aligned faction, during the Angolan Civil War. This intervention followed Angola's independence from Portugal in 1975, which had led to a power struggle among rival factions. The MPLA, supported by the Soviet Union and Cuba, faced opposition from the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA). Cuba deployed thousands of troops, while the Soviet Union provided military equipment and advisors. This intervention helped the MPLA establish control over Angola's government.

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Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC

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US and China Officially Establish Diplomatic Relations and Trade & Panda Diplomacy (January 1979)

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US and China Officially Establish Diplomatic Relations and Trade & Panda Diplomacy (January 1979)

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Chinese and US diplomatic relations were formalized through the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, which recognized the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and ended US official recognition of Taiwan. As part of the new relationship, China gifted two giant pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in what became known as "Panda Diplomacy." The pandas symbolized goodwill and the beginning of a new era of cooperation between the two nations.

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The war was mostly triggered by Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia that toppled the Chinese-backed Khmer Rouge regime. In response to their intervention in Pol Pot's genocide, China launched a military offensive against Vietnam. The war was fought along the China-Vietnam border and involved significant ground combat, but no major territorial changes occurred. Both sides claimed they won, but the war resulted in heavy casualties and strained relations between the two countries.

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Tehran Province, Tehran, District 6, Taleqani Street, Former U.S. Embassy, Iran

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Shah of Iran Overthrown; Iran Hostage Crisis Begins (November 1979)

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Shah of Iran Overthrown; Iran Hostage Crisis Begins (November 1979)

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The Shah, or the king of Iran, Reza Pahlevi, was overthrown during the Iranian Revolution. This leads to Iran becoming a Shia theocracy. Pahlevi then fled to the United States to seek cancer treatment. The college students who started the revolution then stormed the US Embassy in Tehran, taking 66 Americans hostage. 52 of the hostages were held for 444 days. The crisis was a response to the US granting asylum to the Shah for medical treatment, which many Iranians viewed as an affront to their revolution. The hostages were released just hours after Reagan was elected, and months after Pahlevi died from cancer.

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Soviet Forces Invade Afghanistan (December 1979)

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Soviet Forces Invade Afghanistan (December 1979)

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The Soviet Union intervened to support the communist government of Afghanistan, which was struggling against a growing insurgency by anti-communist Muslim guerrillas, known as the Mujahideen. The invasion involved a massive military airlift into Kabul and the deployment of thousands of Soviet troops. The Soviets aimed to stabilize the Afghan government under Babrak Karmal, who they installed as a leader after toppling Hafizullah Amin. The intervention faced fierce resistance from the Mujahideen, who the United States, Pakistan, and other nations supported. The conflict lasted nearly a decade, resulting in significant casualties and devastation in Afghanistan. It also contributed to the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union due to the economic and political strain it caused.

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Soviet Forces Invade Afghanistan (December 1979)

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US Hockey Defeats USSR at Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY (February 22nd, 1980) 

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US Hockey Defeats USSR at Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY (February 22nd, 1980) 

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Called the "Miracle on Ice", the US men's hockey team, made mostly of amateurs and college players, achieved a major upset against the Soviet team, which had dominated international hockey for decades. The final score was 4-3, with the US scoring two goals in the third period. Two days later, the US went on to win the gold medal after defeating Finland. The game was more than just hockey, it was a win against the Soviets during a period of major tension between the two countries.

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US Boycotts Summer Olympics in Moscow (June-August, 1980)

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US Boycotts Summer Olympics in Moscow (June-August, 1980)

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The US led a boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics to protest the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979. The boycott was part of Jimmy Carter's strategy to force the Soviets to withdraw from Afghanistan. In total, 65 nations joined the boycott, and 80 countries participated in the games. The boycott had a large impact on the games, with most Western countries refusing to participate or sending athletes under neutral flags.

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Summer Olympics in Moscow (June-August, 1980)

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Reagan Proposes SDI or "Star Wars" (1983)

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Reagan Proposes SDI or "Star Wars" (1983)

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Reagan, the current president, proposed the SDI (the Strategic Defense Initiative) to develop a missile defense system that could protect the US from nuclear attacks, which he described as a defensive umbrella. The plan envisioned deploying lasers to shoot down incoming ICBMs. However, it was incredibly expensive, costing $30 billion over ten years of development. It is considered mostly unsuccessful, as the lasers were not accurate enough to be worth the cost.

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US Troops Invade and Overthrow Regime in Grenada (October 1983)

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US Troops Invade and Overthrow Regime in Grenada (October 1983)

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The US invasion of Grenada, also known as Operation Urgent Fury, was prompted by concerns over the safety of the American citizens living on the island and the establishment of a Marxist regime following a coup. The People's Revolutionary Government, led by Maurice Bishop, had been overthrown, and a Revolutionary Military Council took power, raising alarms in the US about Soviet and Cuban influence in Grenada. The invasion involved around 7,600 American troops, along with soldiers from Caribbean nations. Within days of the invasion, the US overthrew the regime and restored a pro-Western government.

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Eastern Bloc Boycotts LA Summer Olympics (July-August 1984)

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Eastern Bloc Boycotts LA Summer Olympics (July-August 1984)

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The boycott of the LA Summer Olympics, led by the Soviet Union and 14 of its allies from the Eastern Bloc, was seen as a retaliatory move against the boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, led by the US. Officially, the USSR stated its reason for withdrawal was security concerns and anti-Soviet sentiments. The boycotting countries set up their own games, the Friendship Games, as an alternative to the Olympics. Despite the absence of the Eastern Bloc, the Olympic Games set a record with 140 countries participating.

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Gorbachev Begins “Glasnost” and “Perestroika” in Efforts to Reform the USSR (1985)

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Gorbachev Begins “Glasnost” and “Perestroika” in Efforts to Reform the USSR (1985)

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Mikhail Gorbachev, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, introduced two transformative policies, Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring), to address the inefficiencies of the Soviet Union. Glasnost tried to increase transparency in government and encourage open discussion of political and social issues, breaking away from decades of censorship and repression. Perestroika focused on restructuring the Soviet economy by introducing limited market-like reforms and reducing centralized control. Gorbachev tried to give more freedom and economic security so that the Soviet Union would not collapse. It did not work, though, as it was too little, too late.

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Soviet Troops Withdraw from Afghanistan (January 1989)

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Soviet Troops Withdraw from Afghanistan (January 1989)

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The Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan as part of the Geneva Accords. The withdrawal was overseen by Soviet General Boris Gromov, who crossed the Hairatan Bridge into Uzbekistan, symbolizing the end of the Soviet-Afghan War. The war had been very expensive for the USSR, both in terms of human life and economics, which contributed to the weakening of the country. Their departure marked the end of nearly a decade of Soviet involvement in the Afghan conflict, following their invasion in December of 1979. The USSR's leaving left the country in turmoil, which caused the First Afghan Civil War and the eventual rise of the Taliban.

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Soviet Troops Withdraw from Afghanistan (January 1989)

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Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania Oust Communist Governments (1989)

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Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania Oust Communist Governments (1989)

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Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania pushing their communist governments out of office, known as the Fall of Communism, marked the end of Soviet-style regimes across Central and Eastern Europe. The revolutions were sparked by widespread dissatisfaction with authoritarian rule, economic stagnation, and a desire for democratic reforms. This greatly weakened the USSR by dismantling its sphere of influence and exposing the vulnerabilities of its ideology. The success of these movements empowered reformist and separatist movements within the Soviet Union, making it an important event within the dissolution of the country in 1991.

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The Tiananmen Square Massacre occurred in early June, after weeks of student-led protests in Beijing, following Gorbachev's visit to China. The demonstrations called for political reforms, freedom of speech, and an end to the corruption within the Communist Party. The movement gained momentum after the death of Hu Yaobang, a pro-reform leader, in April. The Chinese government declared martial law and sent troops to suppress the protests. The military used tanks and guns to clear the square. The exact number of deaths is unknown, but it ranges from hundreds to thousands. The massacre led to condemnation across the world, including economic sanctions and arms embargoes against China.

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By the late 1980s, protests and political changes in Eastern Europe weakened communist control. On November 9th, 1989, East German official Günter Schabowski held a press conference where he announced new travel regulations for East German citizens. The government had decided to allow private travel without prior approval.

People celebrated by tearing down sections of the Wall, marking the beginning of German reunification, which was officially completed on October 3rd, 1990.

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Russian Federation Government House, Krasnopresnenskaya Naberezhnaya, Moscow, Russia

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Boris Yeltsin Elected as President of Russia (May 1990)

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Boris Yeltsin Elected as President of Russia (May 1990)

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Yeltsin became the first President of Russia, winning the country’s first popular presidential election. He advocated for economic liberalization and political independence from the Soviet Union. He played a key role in resisting the August 1991 coup against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, further solidifying his power. The army backed down, and the coup failed. His leadership helped pave the way for Russia’s declaration of sovereignty on June 12th, 1990.

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With Germany reunified, it became a leader of Europe once again. Other impacts of the reunification include East German states were re-established and joined the Federal Republic of Germany, Berlin was reunified and became the capital of Germany, and Soviet troops withdrew by 1994, ending Cold War military tensions in Germany.

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USSR Dissolved - 15 Republics Gain Independence, Including Russia

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USSR Dissolved - 15 Republics Gain Independence, Including Russia

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The Soviet economy was struggling due to inefficiency, military overspending, and stagnation, and Gorbachov's Perestroika and Glasnost policies failed to stabilize the system. Republics like Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia pushed for independence, inspiring others. Communist hardliners attempted to overthrow Mikhail Gorbachev, but the coup collapsed, weakening Soviet authority. On December 8th, 1991, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus signed the Belovezha Accords, declaring the Soviet Union dissolved. On December 25th, 1991, Gorbachev resigned, and the Soviet flag was lowered from the Kremlin, replaced by the Russian flag.