# data[].attributes.headline
Yalta Conference drafts Post-War plan (Feb 1945)

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Yalta Conference drafts Post-War plan (Feb 1945)

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The Yalta conference would be a meeting of the Big Three in Russia. This included the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union. They agreed here that following Germany's surrender, it would be divided into four occupation zones. Berlin would also be divided similarly. This would foreshadow the crumbling of the alliance as the Cold War would soon outbreak.

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The United States had worked on the Manhattan Project for nearly 5 years which was an atomic weapons development program. After Japan did not surrender, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, immediately killing 80,000 people. Only three days later, they dropped another bomb on the Japanese city Nagasaki. This opened the World to nuclear warfare.

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Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech (March 5, 1946)

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Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech (March 5, 1946)

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Churchill's speech in Missouri stressed the need for the United States and Great Britain to act as peacemakers against the communist Soviet Union. He declared the Soviet Union had lowered an Iron Curtain. This virtually offered a blueprint for the West to win the Cold War.

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Truman Doctrine first applied in Greek Civil War (March 12, 1947)

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Truman Doctrine first applied in Greek Civil War (March 12, 1947)

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This involved the United States giving non-communists in Greece weapons so they can win the Civil War. This successfully stops the spread of communism in Greece. The Cold War was not an actual direct military conflict between the USSR and the United States. It would be fought in many various "proxy" wars and the first of these was the Greek Civil War. Many people say the War was fought with guns and butter. This was the first of many indirect conflicts.

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Marshall Plan is announced to rebuild Europe (April 1948)

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Marshall Plan is announced to rebuild Europe (April 1948)

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Following the second world war, Europe was destroyed with little food and there was great poverty. This was grounds for communism to spread across Europe. The United States believed it was important to rebuild Europe in order to keep communism from these countries. They would send billions of dollars to these countries to get their economies back on track which prevented the countries from wanting communism. If you think of communism as a disease, the Marshall Plan is a vaccine to prevent the disease from rooting. The United States required that these countries by American products following their relief money

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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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The Berlin Blockade was one of the first international events during the Cold War. This exposed the differences between the East and the West. The Soviet Union, who completely surrounded the city of Berlin, cut off all traffic into West Berlin in an attempt to force the Allies out of the city. In response, the United States and Great Britain flew food and supplies into West Berlin. This event solidified the conflict between the East and West.

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NATO or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created by the United States, Canada, and many other Western European nations. It was created to provide security against the Soviet Union and their armies in Eastern Europe. This was the first time the United States entered into a peacetime military alliance that was outside of the Western Hemisphere. NATO would later be reorganized following the end of the Cold War.

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Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site, Kazakhstan

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Russia tests its first atomic bomb (Aug 20, 1949)

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Russia tests its first atomic bomb (Aug 20, 1949)

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Following the discovery of nuclear fission before World War ll in Germany, Soviet scientists began working on their atomic bomb. They also gained information from the United States as they had spies working in and around the Manhattan Project. On this day, in a remote area in Kazakhstan, the Soviet Union successfully denotated its first atomic bomb. In the West, this bomb was known as Joe-1. This would somewhat alarm the United States as it showed the possibility that the Soviet Union could potentially compete with them in terms of nuclear weapons.

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Mao Zedong Wins Chinese Civil War and creates the People's Republic of China (Oct. 1, 1949)

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Mao Zedong Wins Chinese Civil War and creates the People's Republic of China (Oct. 1, 1949)

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China had long been a military and industrial power but following the Industrial Revolution and the Enlightenment, China fell behind the countries of Europe. The nationalists in China attempted to modernize and industrialize China to make the country great again. Sun was the leader of the nationalists. There were both communists and non-communists under Sun. Following Sun's death, the Civil War as the communists fought the non-communists. The Japanese would then invade the country, killing millions of Chinese, and the civil war was put on pause. After the surrender of Japan, the civil war resumes with the US supporting the non-communists and the Soviet Union supplying the communists. Mao Zedong, the leader of the Communists, would win the war and the non-communists would flee to Taiwan.

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McCarthyism and the Red Scare takes hold in the US (Feb, 1950)

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McCarthyism and the Red Scare takes hold in the US (Feb, 1950)

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The goal of the United States had been to contain the spread of communism. By 1949, the United States felt as if they were losing the Cold War. This led to a panic which resulted in a scare that anyone and everyone could be a communist spy and they were infiltrating the United States. McCarthy, a senator, claims to have a list of all the communist spies that have infiltrated the United States. In reality, he had no list and was just accusing people to make a name for himself. Eventually, he was discredited for being a liar, but he would contribute to the paranoia in the United States.

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DMZ zone, Jungse-ri, Cheorwon-eup, Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea

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Following the end of the second World War, the United States took control of Southern Korea, and the Soviet Union took control of Northern Korea. They would each set up their own Governments in Korea. In 1950, the communists took over nearly the entire country except for a little corner. The United States would launch an invasion and then nearly take over North Korea. China would support North Korea and push back against the United States. The war eventually settles into a stalemate. A ceasefire would be signed to end fighting in the country that still lasts until this day.

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

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

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The United States tested an H-bomb on Bikini Atoll that was the largest US nuclear test ever. One of the devices was nearly 1,100 times larger than the Hiroshima bomb. Extreme radiation levels forced many from their homes and the island remains deserted to this day. This gave the United States a short advantage in the nuclear arms race against the Soviet Union.

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The KGB was created in 1954 to serve as the "sword and shield of the Communist party." This new security agency was designed to be controlled by the Communist Party. Some of its responsibilities included the protection of leaders, supervision of troops, and surveillance of the general public. The KGB would be known for its widespread global espionage. They would also be vital in ending political dissent in the Soviet Union. The KGB was very effective in supporting the communist government

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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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The CIA helped overthrow the government of Guatemala by supporting a coup against the elected Government. The United State's secretary of state declared the Guatemalan president had installed a Communist Government in his country. The CIA planted Soviet weapons in order to prove the country had ties to the USSR. Similarly, a coup was carried out under the CIA in Iran to take over their Government. Both of these coups supported by the United States were attempts to keep communism contained.

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The Warsaw Pact was a defense treaty established by the Soviet Union and seven other satellite states. It provided a uniform military command and the ability to strengthen the Soviet hold over the other countries. This also served as a counterbalance to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Both treaty organizations served to protect against enemy attack. The two organizations would be on opposing sides during the entirety of the Cold War.

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All the bombs that were being made were made by elements like uranium and plutonium. In the 1950s, there was a scientific competition to discover new elements to add to the periodic table. These new elements were controversial as they were named after either the United States or USSR scientists which created a naming competition. The competition between American scientists in Berkeley and the Soviet Union scientists in Dubna was an attempt to be the first to discover new elements. This was another conflict short of conflict.

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Rebellion put down in Hungary (Nov. 1956)

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Rebellion put down in Hungary (Nov. 1956)

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The Hungarian Revolution began in Budapest when university students began protesting against the Soviet Union's dominance of Hungary. Just days later, the USSR ordered the Red Army to put down the revolution by force. Soviets attacked the country and abolished the Government. This left many Hungarians in repression as massive numbers fled west for safety. This event had important effects on the relationship of the Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries. This exposed the weaknesses of communism.

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The Soviet Union successfully launched the first ICBM, or Intercontinental ballistic rocket, for the first time from Kazakhstan. Their ICBM had far greater weight-lifting capability than US ICBMs. The rocket followed a specific itinerary and hit the specified target. Due to this, fears arose that the US military had fallen behind in the arms race. This first successful launch by the Soviet Union would contribute to the future development of more complex space missiles.

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Sputnik launched into orbit (Oct. 4, 1957)

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Sputnik launched into orbit (Oct. 4, 1957)

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On October 4th, the Soviet Union successfully launched the Earth's first artificial satellite into orbit around Earth. Although the satellite was only the size of a basketball, it would have significant outcomes on the entire globe. This came to a shock to experts and scientists in the United States who had hoped they would be the first to do so. This event marked the start of the Space Age and the so-called "Space Race" between the US and USSR. This would intensify the Cold War as a new development in the arms race arose.

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Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba (Jan. 1959)

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Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba (Jan. 1959)

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Fidel Castro organized many attempts to take over the Government of Cuba, but had failed previously. He wanted to regain control of Cuba's government and economy from the United States. However, his guerrilla warfare and propaganda campaign would finally succeed in ending the power of the current dictator, Batista. Castro would have complete power over Cuba's new government. Castro would turn Cuba into the first Communist state in the Western Hemisphere.

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U2 spy plane shot down over the USSR (May 1960)

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U2 spy plane shot down over the USSR (May 1960)

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Gary Powers was the pilot of the U2 spy plane. The plane flies at such a high altitude that missiles cannot reach the plane. The plane took high resolution pictures of the Soviet Union and elsewhere. The Soviet Union was able to shoot down the plane and Gary Powers survived and was captured. The USSR captured him and put him on public trial where he was convicted of espionage and sent to prison. This was a huge embarrassment for the United States as they seemingly got caught "with their hand in the cookie jar."

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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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Castro had recently taken over the Cuban Government, making Cuba a Communist state. The United States feared the Communist Government in Cuba. The CIA gathered Cuban exiles that oppose Castro and secretly trained them in Guatemala. The original plan included air support by the United States, but the President opposed this. They are dropped off at the Bay of Pigs, however Castro easily defeated the exiles. They were captured and it was made known that the United States supported the overthrow of Cuba.

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Construction of Berlin Wall Begins (Aug. 17, 1961)

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Construction of Berlin Wall Begins (Aug. 17, 1961)

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Berlin had been split into two parts: Eastern Berlin which was occupied by the German Democratic Republic and Western Berlin which was controlled by the major western allies. Many people were attempting to flee from the communist East into the West for freedom and safety. In order to stop this, the German Democratic Republic built the Berlin Wall that divided the city. This divided the city into two different zones and would become the symbol of the Cold War.

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Cuba had aligned with the Soviet Union as communist allies. The Soviet Union sent nuclear weapons to be stationed in Cuba and aimed at the United States. Spy planes had discovered the construction of these nuclear missiles and the United States prepares for an attack. The United States begins to prepare for an invasion of Cuba. Kennedy decides for a blockade instead of an invasion as the US Navy surrounds the island of Cuba. Eventually, the two sides come to a resolution that the Soviet Union will take their nuclear missiles out of Cuba if the United States would publicly promise to not attack Cuba. Kennedy is seen as a good president here by avoiding thermonuclear war.

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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 Cold War had been raging for nearly 20 years and the two countries were closest to war as ever. They both realized the World would end if there was a nuclear War. In 1963, the United States, Soviet Union, and Great Britain signed the treaty that prohibited testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, outer space, or under water. This treaty was seen as a success as it set the groundwork for future arms control agreements.

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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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Prior to World War ll, Vietnam was a French Colony, but following the war, the Japanese took over the country. Eventually, the Vietnamese became an independent country. The biggest leader of the country is communist and the United States steps in to fill the power vacuum. A civil war arises between the communist north and the non-communist south. Both the United States and Soviet Union were indirectly involved in the war until US destroyers were attacked by North Vietnamese boats. Some people say the US Government fabricated the incident and there is still confusion over the event. Regardless, the US president goes to congress and they then pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that gave Lyndon B. Johnson the power to send emergency forces to Vietnam.

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US Marines sent to Dominican Republic to fight Communism (April 1965)

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US Marines sent to Dominican Republic to fight Communism (April 1965)

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The Dominican Republic was in the middle of a Civil War. President Johnson decided to intervene in the War due to the fear of a communist takeover similar to Cuba. He sent over 20,000 troops to the Domincan Republic with hopes to keep communism out of the Western Hemisphere. Balaguer, with the help of the United States, was victorious in the elections, which kept communism out of the country. Foreign countries would vacate the island following this.

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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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President Johnson decided more troops were needed in Vietnam. He noted that he would send more as well if more manpower was needed. Johnson was determined to win the war against the North Vietnamese. The United States had a draft in order to fill the military need. Many communist leaders attacked Johnson for his decision to send more troops, while the United States Congress and leaders affirmed with the president. This virtually meant the United States had a "blank check" to pursue the war.

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B-52s bomb North Vietnam in Operation Rolling Thunder (1966)

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B-52s bomb North Vietnam in Operation Rolling Thunder (1966)

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The United States dropped numerous bombs on North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. They are attempting to bomb the North into submission. The North suffers huge casualties and destruction. It has some success in bringing them to the negotiating table, but it does not end the war. It is an example of an attempt to use air power alone to win a war. Its effectiveness was limited in the War.

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Red Army Crush Czechoslovakian revolt (Aug. 1968)

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Red Army Crush Czechoslovakian revolt (Aug. 1968)

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Russia had liberated Eastern Europe from German control. In the process of this, Russia props up Communist governments in these states that answer to the Soviet Government. In the west, these are known as puppet governments. These countries become fed up and protest for more freedom and democracy. In Czechoslovakia, there were protests against the Communist Government. Fearing the flee from communism, Soviet tanks rolled into the country and crushed the revolution.

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Apollo 11 lands on the Moon (July 20, 1969)

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Apollo 11 lands on the Moon (July 20, 1969)

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The United States successfully landed on the Moon in July of 1969. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to walk on the moon. This was a major victory for the United States in the Space Race, as it demonstrated the superiority of American technology. The moon landing completely revolutionized space technology. The Apollo program aided in the end of the Cold War as the Soviet Union realized the funds the United States had available to spend.

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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 a history of the United States military involvement in Vietnam. Small portions of the report were leaked to the public and distributed across the country. This revealed that the United States had expanded its war with various bombings and coastal raids, which had not been reported to the media. Johnson's administration had not only lied to the public but to Congress as well. Following this, the Government's power to censor the press was abolished.

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Great Wall of China, Huairou District, China

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Nixon was a newly elected president at this time. He had a reputation for being very anti-communist. By opening up relations with China, he would not be criticized internally. During his visit, he spoke with many Chinese leaders about the relationships between the two countries. This ended the twenty-five years of isolationism between the US and China. Nixon is able to keep the Soviet Union away from China with his visit. This visit was the start of the process of re-establishing diplomatic and trade relationships between China and the United States.

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SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) was an international treaty limiting nuclear weapons in both countries. It was an attempt to stop the making and testing of new nuclear weapons. It would be signed by the United States and the Soviet Union. This is also known as detente, or the attempt to lessen the tensions between the two sides. This was seen as a success for the Nixon administration. It would be important for ending the arms race between the countries.

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US supported coup overthrows Chilean Government (Sept. 1973)

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US supported coup overthrows Chilean Government (Sept. 1973)

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The United States had previously financially supported a candidate for president of Chile. In the 1970 presidential election, Salvador Allende would be elected president of the country. The US feared the new president as they knew he had some sympathy towards communism. Internal protests were stopped by Allende before the United States intervened and supported a coup. Following this, Pinochet would be named president of the country. The United States was pleased, but then reports were made that Pinochet was violating human rights. This upset many citizens in the United States as the US had directly supported the coup.

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Egypt and Syria attack Israel (Oct. 1973)

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Egypt and Syria attack Israel (Oct. 1973)

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Israel and its Arab neighbors were unable to reach a compromise over disputed land. This resulted in Egypt and Syria attacking Israeli forces in an effort to regain the territory. Egypt and Syria were quickly able to secure victories prior to the aid of the United States. Egypt and Syria would be supported by the Soviet Union. The United States had an oil embargo enacted against them due to their aid of Israel. The conflict ended in a stalemate with the peace negotiations that had existed prior to the war.

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South Vietnam falls to Communist North Vietnam (April 17, 1975)

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South Vietnam falls to Communist North Vietnam (April 17, 1975)

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The South Vietnamese forces had crippled under the advancement of the North Vietnamese. At this point, the United States was not providing more aid to the South as they realized a loss was inevitable. In the days prior to the complete invasion of Saigon, the United States helicopter evacuated thousands of Americans and Vietnamese out of the country. The amount was truly incredible as they had a limited amount of time. This would be a win for the Soviet Union as Vietnam was now a communist country.

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Soviet and Cuban forces help to install Communist Government in Angola (Feb 1976)

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Soviet and Cuban forces help to install Communist Government in Angola (Feb 1976)

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In Angola, there were three different movements that had been fighting for Angolan independence. The United States had supported the FNLA, while the Soviet Union and Cuba supported the MPLA. Castro sent Cuban forces to halt the South African advance into the country. These South African forces were supported by the United States. US Congress denied Gerald Ford's request for more money to give to the South African forces. This conflict raised the stakes of the competition between the US and the Soviet Union in the Third World.

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

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US and China officially establish diplomatic relations and trade & Panda Diplomacy (Jan 1979)

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US and China officially establish diplomatic relations and trade & Panda Diplomacy (Jan 1979)

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Nixon had visited China years earlier. This was the opening of relations between the two countries. Nine years later, the US and China had officially established diplomatic relationships. Part of this included China lending pandas to the United States. China sends pandas to countries that they are allies with. This was known as Panda Diplomacy. Today, pandas are being sent back as the US is being accused of abusing the Chinese pandas.

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Vietnam had gained its independence and became a complete Communist country after winning the Vietnam War. Vietnam ends up fighting China due to a border dispute. China launched an attack due to Vietnam's occupation of Cambodia. The Chinese think they will easily defeat the Vietnamese, yet they are unable to defeat them. This war ended in a virtual stalemate and both sides walked away. This was a time that didn't fit the Cold war narrative. Two communist sides were fighting instead of a war between communism and non-communism.

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Shah of Iran overthrown; Iran Hostage Crisis begins (Nov. 1979)

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Shah of Iran overthrown; Iran Hostage Crisis begins (Nov. 1979)

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During the Cold War, the United States was an ally of Iran. They had oil and the United States wanted to keep communism out of the country. The Shah was very Western-emphasized and wanted to modernize the country. In November of 1979, the Shah is overthrown. and the new Government is a theocracy. This turns Iran into a fundamentalist country with new religious laws. The Government wanted the Shah back but the US refused, so Iranian protestors stormed the US embassy in Iran and captured 63 workers. These hostages were kept for 444 days. Jimmy Carter launched a rescue mission, but the helicopter crashed and it was a huge embarrassment. The day Ronald Reagan was sworn in the hostages were released as the Shah had died of cancer.

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Soviet forces invade Afghanistan (Dec. 1979)

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Soviet forces invade Afghanistan (Dec. 1979)

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In Afghanistan, there were many internal uprisings, protests, and coups within the Government. This prompted the Soviet Union to send thousands of troops into Afghanistan. They were able to immediately take control of large portions of the country. This began a 10-year conflict in an attempt by the Soviet Union to end the Afghan Civil War and maintain a friendly and socialist Government. This was the only time the Soviet Union invaded a country outside of the Eastern Bloc. This invasion was one of the reasons for the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

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US Hockey defeats USSR at Winter Olympics (Feb 22, 1980)

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US Hockey defeats USSR at Winter Olympics (Feb 22, 1980)

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The United States defeated the Soviet Union 4-3 in an ice hockey game during the winter Olympics. This is one of the greatest sports upsets of all time. The Americans had lost to the Soviet Unions 10-3 in their last game against them. For the US public, the miracle on ice brought a sense of national pride to the country. This was a victory for the United States in the cultural Cold War as the two countries competed to see who could produce the better athletes

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US boycotts Summer Olympics in Moscow (June-Aug 1980)

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US boycotts Summer Olympics in Moscow (June-Aug 1980)

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The United States led the boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow due to the recent invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union. This worked as a total of 65 nations refused to send athletes to compete in the games. The Soviet Union and its satellite States would go on to boycott the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles. The impact of this boycott was a political mess. The level of competition suffered in the Olympics due to this boycott.

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White House, Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC, USA

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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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The Cold War, at this point, was seeing its end in the near future. In 1983, Reagan announced his intention to embark on new research known as the Strategic Defense Initiative or SDI. The goal of this program was to develop a space-based missile defense program that could protect the country from a nuclear attack. This involved many layers of new technology that could identify and destroy a large number of enemy missiles. It involved futuristic technology which is why it got the nickname "Star Wars."

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US troops invade and overthrow regime in Grenada (Oct 1983)

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US troops invade and overthrow regime in Grenada (Oct 1983)

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Grenada achieved its independence from the United Kingdom in 1974. Violence and controversy centered around their new prime minister would follow. While the prime minister was out of the country, the New Jewel Movement (NJM) staged a coup and took over the country. The United States feared this as they began making connections with the Soviet Union and received Cuban troops for security. In October of 1983, the United States launched military action against the socialist group. They were able to defeat the Cubans and Grenadians within two days. This was the first overthrow of a communist government by arms since the second World War.

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Eastern Bloc boycotts LA Summer Olympics (July-Aug 1984)

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Eastern Bloc boycotts LA Summer Olympics (July-Aug 1984)

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Prior to 1984, the United States led a boycott of the Summer Olympics held in Moscow in 1980. In response to this, the Soviet Union and other Communist countries like Cuba and East Germany boycotted the 1984 Olympic Games in the United States. They believed the anti-communist environment in the United States was unsafe for their athletes. This was part of the cultural Cold War.

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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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Gorbachev became head of the Communist party in 1985. He first launched perestroika or restructuring in the Soviet Union. He had a goal of bringing the Soviet Union up to par economically with that of the West. He created a semi-mixed economy that left him very unpopular. He also launched glasnost or openness which had the goal of opening up the political system. He wanted people to be involved in politics and gave the media more freedom of expression. These reforms were not largely successful as the economy and political situation began to deteriorate.

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Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan (Jan 1989)

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Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan (Jan 1989)

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The Soviet-Afghan war lasted 10 years. Eventually, Afghanistan was able to stop the Soviet Union's air power through the use of antiaircraft missiles supplied by the United States. This discredited the Red Army as they were unable to defeat Afghanistan and changed the perception of many Soviet leaders. Losing nearly 15,000 troops, the Soviet Union formally withdrew from Afghanistan between 1988 and 1989, ending the Soviet-Afghan war and contributing to the fall of the Soviet Union.

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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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The Soviet Union had always had military intervention in the entire Eastern Bloc. With Gorbachev now in charge, the Soviet Union abandoned military intervention to support the Communist regimes. This meant countries like Poland, Hungary, and the others listed were able to oust the communist Governments in their respective countries. Although some were more violent, each country was able to gain freedom from entire communist control. Eastern Europe could now integrate into Western political and economic frameworks.

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China had experienced a decade of much economic growth, and many Chinese had been exposed to foreign ideas and standards of livings. University students and others in China wanted political and economic reform in the country. Student-led demonstrations called for individual rights and freedoms. These ideas were quickly suppressed by the Chinese Communist Party. On the day of the funeral of Hu Yaobang, a CCP official who encouraged reforms, thousands of students gathered on Tiananmen square demanding reforms. For several weeks, the Government did not interfere until June when armed troops advanced at the protesters, causing many injuries and deaths. China was criticized by many for their handling of the situation.

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Berlin Wall, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin, Germany

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The Soviet Union has slowly declined over the years. They have spent massive amounts on the military and they slowly fell economically. Before its formal collapse, they began to lose control of Eastern Europe. In 1989, people in communist East Germany began to tear down the Berlin Wall. This was a large symbol of the Cold War as this was seen as the close end to the war. Germany would unify after the wall's falling and still are to this day.

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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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Boris Yeltsin served as president of Russia from 1991 to 1999. Although he was a Communist party member for many years of his life, he began to open up to democratic reforms, and would play a key role in the collapse of the Soviet Union. He would win two elections, with the first occurring while Russia was still a Soviet Republic. Yeltsin formally led Russia to declare independence from the Soviet Union. He would lead a much more open society, although economic hardship and corruption would mark his presidency.

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Quickly following the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the country unified as its own country. For most, this was a surreal experience. The drive behind the reunification was the German people. They fought for and wanted a unified country. This was a monumental moment in history as this showed that the unthinkable could happen. This was the second time they had restored their economy after a war.

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USSR dissolved - 15 republics gain independence, including Russia (Aug. 1991)

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USSR dissolved - 15 republics gain independence, including Russia (Aug. 1991)

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Beginning with the Baltic States, 15 countries declared independence from the Soviet Union. This was multiple countries across Eastern Europe including Russia. Economic exhaustion and extensive use of the military contributed to the collapse. This would be the formal end of the Cold War, meaning the United States was victorious.