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Leaders of the allied nations (Soviet Leader Stalin, British Prime Minister Churchill, and US President Truman) gather in Potsdam, Germany. This conference was set up in order to negotiate & discuss the future of post-war Europe & Germany, since Germany & Europe was crippled after the war. The conference resulted in the Potsdam Agreement, which outlined the terms for the occupation and reconstruction of Germany. However, the US & Russia had opposing viewpoints which led to new-found tensions.

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Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech warned of the formation of a "Iron Curtain" which would divide Europe into two opposite zones. The speech, delivered at a time of growing hostility among the allies of the West and the Soviet Union, marked the start of the Cold War age. Churchill's strong imagery reflected the ideological split between the free West and the communist East, setting the framework for NATO's establishment in 1949. His request for a solid Western alliance to combat the Soviet menace became the foundation of Western policy for years.

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The Truman Doctrine, established in 1947, was President Truman's reaction to the perceived threat of communist expansion in Europe following WWII. Truman aimed to contain communism by providing economic and military aid to countries vulnerable to its influence. During the Cold War, the theory served as the support for the United States' overall isolation policy. It was the start of America’s containment strategy, where the U.S. tried to stop the spread of Communism around the world. It also highlighted the significance of defending freedom-loving individuals from oppressive governments, providing a framework for American foreign policy occuring at this era.

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Here's How the Truman Doctrine Established the Cold War | History

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The Berlin Airlift was a tremendous social and technical operation by Western Allies to provide West Berlin with critical supplies amid a Soviet blockade.  After WWII, Germany was split into 4 parts, with the Eastern part belonging to the USSR, and the Western part by France, Britain and the US, Berlin was also split into 4 parts as well. There was a great divide present due to the major ideological differences, this was referred to as the “Iron curtain” by Prime Minister Churchill. Due to tensions between the eastern & western parts, the USSR created a blockade to stop food & supplies from entering the western part. US, Britain & France gave supplies & food to their territories by doing an airlift. The Soviet blockade of West Berlin was primarily aimed at forcing the Western Allies out of the city and consolidating Soviet control over all of Berlin.

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The Marshall Plan, officially known as the European Recovery Program, was a key US effort to help Western Europe's recovery following World War II. Secretary of State George Marshall presented the plan in 1947 with the goal of rebuilding war-torn economies, preventing the spread of communism, and promoting European stability and prosperity.

From 1948 to 1952, the United States donated about $12 billion in economic aid to 16 European countries. The funding served to restore infrastructure, restore industries, and drive economic growth, setting the groundwork for Europe's postwar recovery.

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European Network Remembrance and Solidarity

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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed as an umbrella defense alliance of Western European and North American nations to face the threat presented by the Soviet Union and communism. NATO's founding members promised mutual defense in the event of an attack on any member state, signaling a dramatic shift in Cold War politics. NATO's founding on April 4, 1949, strengthened the Western bloc's unity and might address the Soviet Union's challenges. The alliance was an essential component of Western security strategy, offering a structure for member countries to work together and coordinate their military efforts. During the Cold War, NATO's collective defense commitment helped prevent Soviet attack while also maintaining peace and security in Europe.

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The Korean War was a war between North Korea & South Korea, however it involved their allies as well, due to ideological commonalities. Since the Koreas were both free from Japanese control, both wanted their ideology to be prevalent. North Korea was supported by China and the Soviet Union, in contrast South Korea, supported by the United Nations, as well as the United States. It began when North Korean forces occupied South Korea, seeking to unite the peninsula under communist authority, to be one communist country. The war concluded in a deadlock with the signing of an armistice agreement in 1953, dividing Korea along the 38th parallel. After three years of intense fighting, the Korean War resulted in significant loss of life and devastation on the Korean Peninsula. The armistice agreement left the two Koreas in a state of persistent tension, with the division continuing to the present day.

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Joseph Stalin, the leader of the USSR, died on March 5 1953, his cause of death was a stroke. Stalin's death in 1953 not only ended his dictatorial government, but additionally ignited a major power battle within the Soviet leadership. This conflict eventually led to Nikita Khrushchev becoming Stalin's successor, bringing in an era of huge political and social transformation in the Soviet Union. The departure from Stalin's dictatorship was a turning point in Soviet history, defining the country's trajectory for years to come.

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The PAINFUL Death Of Joseph Stalin - The Soviet Union's Dictator

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The Geneva Accords of 1954 were agreements with the goal of ending the First Indochina War, which was fought between French colonial forces and the communist Viet Minh. The accords ended in Vietnam's partition along the 17th parallel, with Ho Chi Minh's communist forces controlling the north and pro-Western forces controlling the south. The accords also intended for national elections to be held in 1956 to reunite Vietnam, but these were never held, resulting in further conflict. Following the failure of the national elections, the partition established by the Geneva Accords eventually led to the Vietnam War, as both the North and South sought to unify the country under their own ideologies through military force.

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GCSE History Rapid Revision: The Geneva Accords, 1954

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The Vietnam War, emerged from the battle for Vietnamese independence from colonial authority of France. Following the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into communist-dominated North Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, and anti-communist South Vietnam, supported by the US. Following the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in 1964, the conflict escalated with direct US involvement, resulting in a long and harmful battle. The Tet Offensive in 1968 was a breakthrough point, however after the offensive the US withdrew their forces. Despite the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1973 the war continued until the fall of Saigon in 1975. This event resulted in Vietnam's reunification under communist leadership, marking the end of decades of warfare and foreign intervention.

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Vietnam War in 13 Minutes - Manny Man Does History

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The Space Race was a race between the United States and the Soviet Union to achieve major milestones in space exploration. The US government established an institution specialized for space exploration, NASA, under President Eisenhower. It began with the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1957 and continued with accomplishments such as the first human in space (Yuri Gagarin) and the first manned moon landing (Apollo 11). During the Cold War, the Space Race represented the technological and ideological clash between the two superpowers.

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The Warsaw Pact was a military pact created in 1955 by the USSR and 7 Eastern European countries in response to NATO's formation. It acted as an antithesis to the power of NATO across Europe throughout the Cold War. The agreement strengthened the Soviet Union's power over Eastern Europe and encouraged mutual defense among its members. The Warsaw Pact was disbanded in 1991, after the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union.

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The Bay of Pigs invasion was an unsuccessful attempt by about 1,500 Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro’s government in Cuba.While it's true that the invasion was conducted by Cuban exiles, it's important to note that it was mostly planned and endorsed by the US government, specifically the administration of JFK. The invasion caused further strained relationships between the US and Cuba. As a result of the invasion, more than 1,100 men were taken captive. These prisoners were returned to the US in exchange for 53 Million dollars worth of food & medicine since Castro’s demand for cash was declined.

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The Bay of Pigs: What in the Hell Happened?

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This occurred due to the Soviet Union placing ballistic weapons in Cuba which is about 70 miles from Miami. This was a threat to US safety & security. It heightened tensions between the US & the Soviets. It was a direct and dangerous confrontation between the two superpowers and was the instance when they came the closest to nuclear conflict. However, after negotiations they reached an agreement, in which the Soviets agreed to remove their missiles from Cuba in exchange for a US pledge not to invade the island and a secret agreement to remove US missiles from Turkey.

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The history of the Cuban Missile Crisis - Matthew A. Jordan

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President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, while traveling in a motorcade through Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was taken into custody and accused of the assassination, however he was fatally shot two days after by nightclub owner Jack Ruby. The assassination of John F. Kennedy remains to be a source of debate and interest, with various conspiracy theories surfacing. Ruby was convicted of Oswald's murder, though the decision was overturned on appeal, and Ruby died in prison in 1967 while awaiting a new trial.

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JFK's Assassination | National Geographic

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1972: Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT)

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1972: Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT)

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The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) was a set of agreements between the United States and the Soviet Union designed to slow the arms race and reduce the risk of nuclear conflict. The first SALT pact, SALT I, was signed in 1972, restricting the quantity of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) owned by both countries. SALT II, signed in 1979, intended further reductions of nuclear arms, but it was never passed by the US Senate due to Cold War tensions. Amidst escalating Cold War tensions and geopolitical complexities, the SALT treaties represented significant diplomatic efforts aimed at managing the nuclear arms race and promoting strategic stability between the world's two superpowers.

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In 1980, the United States established a boycott of the Summer Olympics in Moscow in outrage of the Soviet Union's takeover of Afghanistan. Some 60 countries, including the United States, boycotted the games, causing significant disruption in the Olympic movement. As a result, the Soviet Union and its allies boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. This retaliatory boycott underlined the Cold War era's significant political divisions, as well as the use of international sporting events for geopolitical manipulation.

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The 1980 Moscow Olympics Boycott | Flashback | NBC News

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It is frequently considered the worst nuclear disaster in history. It was the result of a flawed reactor design in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, located in Ukraine which was employed by insufficiently trained workers. The accident entailed a steam explosion and fires, and 5 percent of the radioactive reactor core into the environment. It was also a consequence of Cold War isolationism and as well as a lack of vigilance. Some workers died, and the area surrounding the power plant was evacuated.

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The fall of the Berlin Wall marked the symbolic end of Europe's Cold War divisions. The wall that had divided East and West Berlin since 1961 was breached by East German people, resulting in joyful scenes of reunification. The event represented the fall of communist regimes in Eastern Europe, clearing the stage for German reunification in 1990. The fall of the Berlin Wall is hailed as an important turning point for freedom and democracy. The iconic quote by Reagan, when he demands the wall to be torn down he says " Mr. Gorbachev tear down that wall".

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The Tiananmen Square protests were a student-led pro-democracy campaign in China, focused on Beijing's Tiananmen Square. The demonstrators demanded political reforms, increased freedom of expression, and an end to government corruption. They utilized strategies such as civil disobedience, sit-in, hunger strikes, occupation, and rioting, these demonstrators were peaceful protestors. On June 3, 1989, the day preceding the event, the government declared martial law on Beijing & deployed troops. The next day, June 4, 1989, the Chinese government responded with a violent crackdown involving the military and tanks that killed hundreds, if not thousands, of demonstrators and bystanders.

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1991: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)

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1991: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)

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The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) was a collection of agreements involving the United States and the Soviet Union, eventually Russia, aimed at lowering their nuclear arsenals. It started as a key element of Cold War diplomacy, representing efforts to reduce the possibility of nuclear dispute between the two superpowers. START talks began in 1982, during heightened Cold War tensions, and continued throughout significant geopolitical events, including the Soviet Union's fall. The treaties placed specified limits on the amount of strategic nuclear weapons and delivery systems, which helped to maintain weapons control and order during a turbulent period in international relations.

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The Soviet Union's demise was a complex process driven by a variety of causes, including economic failure, political instability, nationalist movements, and Soviet leader Gorbachev's reforms. The fall of the USSR resulted in the creation of sovereign states such as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, each on their own path toward democracy and market economies. This historic event not only transformed the global balance of power, but it also signaled a new era of international relations. The end of the Soviet Union marked the conclusion of the Cold War era, reshaping global politics and paving the way for significant geopolitical realignments in the post-Soviet space.

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How and Why Did The Soviet Union Collapse