Cold War Map by KEVIN CAI

Yalta Conference (February 1945)

kcai26 — 2025-03-24 18:34:32 UTC

The Yalta Conference was a meeting between Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin at the end of WW2. They discussed how to deal with the Axis Powers and the post-war world order. The leaders decided to split Germany into 4 occupied zones, laid the foundations of the UN, and signed the Declaration of Liberated Europe, which let European countries vote on which form of government they wanted. However, tensions from this conference arose, as the US and UK didn't trust Stalin, and Stalin was already planning to install communist governments in Eastern Europe. The soviet union also agreed to join the war against Japan, after Germany was defeated.

Bombing of Hiroshima, Japan (August 1945)

kcai26 — 2025-03-24 18:35:57 UTC

This was THE first use of a nuclear weapon, and its effect was enormous. "Little Boy" was dropped on August 6th, 1945, and killed 70-80,000 people instantly, and many more succumbed to the radiation left behind.

Bombing of Nagasaki, Japan (August 1945)

kcai26 — 2025-03-24 18:36:48 UTC

The second of the two bombs, "Fat Man," was dropped on August 9th, just 3 days later. This bomb was much larger with a larger radius, killing 40,000 people instantly and 10's of thousands dying from radiation later on. Ultimately, this forced the emperor to surrender, and ended WW2.

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

kcai26 — 2025-03-24 18:37:53 UTC

Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech is considered the beginning of the Cold War. Churchill went to Truman's home state and tried to keep the U.S. from returning to isolationism, like it had done after WW1. Churchill emphasised the growing influence the Soviet Union had on Eastern Europe, and the rising communist threat. He called for a stronger U.S and British alliance, and stated that "an iron curtain" had descended upon Europe. This speech led eventually to anti-communist alliances like NATO, and led to the U.S stepping fully into the world stage, with the Truman Doctrine, and the Marshall Plan coming into effect.

The Truman Doctrine first applied in Greek Civil War (March 12, 2947)

kcai26 — 2025-03-24 18:47:20 UTC

The Truman Doctrine was announced as a plan to contain communism, because the US couldn't fight the Soviet Union, so the US started trying to stop its spread. The Greek Civil War began after WW2, between a royalist party and a rising communist party. After the British couldn't finance the royalists anymore, so the US began sending money as well as arms, following the Truman Doctrine. At the end of the civil war, the US had provided $400 million in aid in both Greece and Turkey. This first application set the precedent of containment, as well as made the United States the leading world figure against the Soviet Union.

Marshall Plan Announced (June 1947)

kcai26 — 2025-03-26 17:38:43 UTC

The Marshall Plan helped the economic recovery of Western Europe, giving money to countries to modernize, rebuild infrastructure, and stabilize governments. This was used to contain communism, waging an economic war against the Eastern Bloc and the Soviet Union. It laid the groundwork for NATO and increased trade between Western Europe and the United States.

Berlin Blockade/Airlift (June 1948)

kcai26 — 2025-03-26 17:47:48 UTC

After the war, Germany was divided into 4 zones. The soviet union controlled the sector with Berlin, but Berlin itself was split between the Allies and the Soviets. After the Marshall Plan was announced, and the allies combined their zones to make one West Germany, Stalin decided the blockade the supply routes the West Berlin, essentially besieging the city.. However, the US and its allies moved quickly, flying fuel, food, and supplies to West Berlin. Allegedly, every 30 seconds, a plane landed. In the end, over 2.3 million tons of supplies had been delivered, and Stalin got tired of being embarrassed and lifted the blockade.

NATO Alliance Formed (April 4, 1949)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 15:29:52 UTC

Sensing a growing Soviet threat after the Berlin blockade, as well as their expanding its control over the eastern bloc, the Western European nations turned to the North American countries for help, forming the first military alliance the US had ever joined. The premise of this was highlighted in Art.. 5 of the treaty, stating that an attack on one member was considered an attack on all members. This expanded on the Truman Doctrine, strengthened western unity, and forced the soviets to form the Warsaw Pact.

Russia Tests it's first atomic Bomb (August 20, 1949)

2025-03-27 16:24:31 UTC

The soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb, ending the US nuclear monopoly. They acquired a lot of information from espionage, leading to the Red Scare later on. This intensified the arms race, and the concept of MAD became solidified.

Mao Zedong wins Chinese Civil War, creates the People's Republic of China (October 1, 1949)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 16:30:49 UTC

Before WW2, China was in the middle of a civil war, and the Chinese Nationalist Party, led by Chiang Kai-shek, was winning decisively. However, after WW2, as the nationalists were corrupt and turned the peasant population against them, the Communists began to fight back. Soon, the CCP won mainland China, and the KMT fled to the island of Taiwan. The communist regime in China signed a treaty of "friendship" with the Soviet Union, and America panicked. This was seen as a failure of containment, and fear began to take hold in the Red Scare and McCarthyism.

McCarthysim & the Red Scare takes hold in the U.S. (February 1950)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 16:34:23 UTC

The Red Scare was a time period in the US when the fear of communism crept into every part of life, due to the soviet union's expansion, and especially China's fall to communism. People became suspisus of one another, and this led to many unconstitutional trials happening, "blacklists," and a general mistrust that shaped US policy. one of the most prominent figures was McCarther, a republican senater that would constantly have a 'list' of enemys that were communt(robespierre much?). He lost the American people when he decided to target the Army for being communist.

Korean War (1950-1953)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 16:36:26 UTC

The Korean War was the first major proxy war in the Cold War. The north, which had been ruled by a communist regime after WW2, with the support of Stalin, launched an invasion of South Korea, which was anti communist. The UN panicked, scrambling to assemble a coalition to fight, and soon a US-led coalition landed to defend South Korea. The UN pushed back, almost completely taking the peninsula, but the Chinese, fearing the UN would just keep pushing, began to mobilize and send troops into North Korea. MacArthur, the leader of the coalition forces, tried to convince the US to drop the Nukes, and was relived of duty. Soon, a stalemate without a peace settlement was reached, and there is still no peace treaty.

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

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 16:38:09 UTC

The arms race continued, both sides building bigger and better A-bombs. However, the US tested the first H-bomb, a nuclear weapon using fusion rather than fission, and this produced a bomb at Bikini Atoll 1000 times more powerful. This was a significant escalation of the arms race and showed an even more destructive potential in nukes. The biggest bomb was "Castle Bravo," and this was so powerful it caused widespread radioactive damage, and the Atoll is now uninhabitable.

KGB Established (March 1954)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 16:41:49 UTC

The KGB was established as the Soviet Union's main intelligence and security agency. It combined earlier agencies like the NKVD and MGB and became a counter to the CIA in the US. The KGB was tasked with protecting the Soviet Union through espionage, counterintelligence, and a secret police.

CIA helps overthrow unfriendly governments in Iran & Guatemala (March 1954)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 17:19:35 UTC

The CIA launched Operation Ajax & Operation PBSuccess in Iran and Guatemala, respectively, overthrowing governments to protect US interests. In Iran, Mohammad Mossadegh, the elected prime minister, nationalized the oil industry, which threatened US power over the oil industry. The CIA, with British help, backed protests and bribed government officials, which led to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's return as ruler. In Guatemala, the elected president, Jacobo Arbenz, implemented land reforms that affected US fruit interests. The CIA portrayed Arbenz as a communist threat, helped organize a coup, and installed a military regime.

Both of these instances led to long term consequences, string US relations in the areas.

Warsaw Pact Formed (May 1955)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 17:20:46 UTC

The Warsaw Pact, known as the Warsaw Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, was a defence treaty in response to collective European alliances, like NATO. It was formed by the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries, and right after West Germany joined NATO. The pact led to a unified military command under Soviet leadership, and allowed the USSR to exert control over its allies.

Transfermium Wars Begin (1955)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 17:24:36 UTC

The Transfermium wars were a dispute between the University of Berkeley and the Nuclear Research Institute in Dubna, as both sides raced to create more elements past 100 on the periodic table, hoping to find unique properties previously undiscovered, like Uranium and Plutonium in nuclear reactions. The naming of elements 104-106 was disputed, and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry had to step in.

Rebellion put down in Hungary (November 1956)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 17:26:13 UTC

After the death of Stalin, a popular uprising against soviet policy in Hungary began. Spurred by Khrushchev's ascent to power, the revolution took control and appointed Imre Nagy as Premier. He promised reform and a multi-party system, and looked to the UN to back them. However, the UN was hesitant to intervene, fearing conflict. The Soviet Union invaded in November, and the Revolution was brutally suppressed.

USSR Launches first ICBM (August 1957)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 17:28:10 UTC

The Soviet Union launched the first InterContinental Ballistic Missile, known as the R-7. This missile, built under the direction of Sergey Korolyov, was capable of delivering a heavy nuclear warhead directly onto the US mainland. It had more weight lifting capability, and this gave the Soviets an early advantage in the space race.

Sputnik Launched into Orbit (October 4, 1947)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 17:33:01 UTC

Sputnik was the first satellite launched into space, marking the beginning of the Space Race between the US and the Soviet Union. It was small and straightforward, launched from an R-7 rocket, and sent only a few beeps as radio signals. However, Sputnik paved the way for future space missions, as the US put more funding into NASA and the USSR threw more at its own space program.

Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba (January 1959)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 17:36:51 UTC

Castro, a lawyer and communist revolutionary, successfully took power from the American-supported dictator, Fulgencio Batista. For 2 years, he gained more and more support, using guerrilla tactics to attack the government. Soon, Batista collapsed under Castro's forces. Fidel Castro nationalized cuban industries, and became friends with the Soviet Union, which worried the US. This would lead to the Bay of Pigs invasion, which ultimately failed.

U2 Spy Plane shot down over USSR (May 1960)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 17:39:21 UTC

The U-2 Spy plane was a new reconnaissance technology developed by the US. Francis Gary Powers, who was the pilot, was shot down over Soviet territory. He ejected and was captured. The United States initially denied its involvement, stating that a weather research plane had flown off course. However, once it was revealed that Powers was alive, the US was exposed, and tensions again rose. The US eventually had to agree to a spy swap to get Powers out.

Failed Bay of Pigs Invasion (April 1961)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 17:40:40 UTC

The CIA, training Cuban exiles in secret, was attempting to overthrow Castro's regime. It was poorly planned, and on the day of, the US scaled back its air support. This ultimately led to its failure, as the exiles were gunned down on the beach and captured. It was an overall failure for the US, and the Soviets solidified their alliance with Castro. This would eventually lead to the Cuban Missle Crisis.

Construction of Berlin Wall (August 17, 1961)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 17:43:07 UTC

After WW2, Berlin was split between the allies, although it was deep within East Germany, controlled by the USSR. West Berlin became a way to escape the East, and many people, especially the more educated specialists, defected to the West from West Berlin. Khrushchev, seeing this, pressured the East German Government to stop the mass migration. Eventually, authorities built a wall, splitting families, businesses, and communities. It became known as a symbol of the "Iron Curtain" that had descended on Europe

Cuban Missile Crisis (October 1962)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 17:46:13 UTC

The Cuban Missile Crisis came from strengthening relations between communist Cuba and the USSR, as the Soviets sent their medium-range high payload missiles to Cuba, and images of the Stockpile were spotted by US reconnaissance. The United States panicked; their fears had come true as the Mainland US was in perfect range for soviet missiles in Cuba. The US moved to Defcon 2, and the military braced for a full-scale war. However, Krushov called President Kennedy, and after very tense negotiations, the Soviets pulled their nukes from Cuba when NATO pulled their missiles from Turkey and Greece.

Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Ratified (July 1963)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 17:55:09 UTC

The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was ratified in July and signed in August by the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom. It tried to address concerns over radioactive fallout globally, and in turn slowed the development of nuclear missiles. It banned testing in the atmosphere, underwater, and outer space. This would lead to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty after the cold war, seeking to ban all nuclear testing, but it has not been put into effect.

Gulf of Tonkin Incident & Resolution (August 1964)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 17:57:13 UTC

After WW2, Vietnam was a French colony, and revolutionaries fought a guerrilla war for independence. 2 distinct governments took power, to the north a communist regime, and in the south a Non communist regime. The US supported the South. When a US destroyer was patrolling the Gulf of Tonkin, it was allegedly attacked by North Vietnamese boats. Later, a second Destroyer was also attacked. LBJ and his administration quickly took advantage of this, asking Congress to give Lydon B. Johnson powers to use military force. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed, which gave LBJ unchecked power to use the US military. This led to the Vietnam War.

U.S. Marines sent to Dominican Republic to Fight Communism (April 1965)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 17:59:21 UTC

In early 1965, political instability sparked a civil war between a communist and a noncommunist faction. The US, fearing another communist takeover like in Cuba, sent 22,000 troops in an operation called Power Pack. This was to stabilize the region(support the noncommunists and assert its rule), and protect American interests as well as civilians.

U.S. Announcement to dispatch 200,000 U.S. Troops to Vietnam (1965)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 18:01:29 UTC

After the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, LBJ had the authority to send military forces to Vietnam without Congress's approval, as well as a declaration of war. He announced that there would be 200,000 troops sent to Vietnam, which transitioned the US military presence in South Vietnam from a limited advisory role to a full-scale war(but no declaration of war). It meant the US was now committed to combat operations and was trapped in a long, drawn-out conflict.

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

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 18:05:25 UTC

Operation Rolling Thunder was a bombing campaign against North Vietnam, lasting 45 months. It was meant to destroy North Vietnam's supply lines as well as lower its morale, and to burn out the forests and jungles that the guerrilla fighters were using to hide. However, it hardly achieved its goals, only reinforcing North Vietnam's resolve, as well as killing tens of thousands of civilians.

Red Army crushes Czechoslovakian Revolt (August 1968)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 18:07:59 UTC

In early 1968, Alexander Dubček became the puppet leader of Czechoslovakia. He began to reform the country, allowing freedoms of speech and press, and loosening government control on the economy. This alarmed Moscow and Warsaw Pact members, and in August of 1968, Soviet troops and tanks, as well as a coalition from other Warsaw Pact countries, invaded Czechoslovakia. The military was ordered to not resist, but civilian protests and revolts led to the soviets crushing Czechoslovakia and "normalizing" it by removing Dubček from power, and reinforcing strict Communist rule.

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

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 18:10:31 UTC

Apollo 11 landing a man on the moon was a major victory for the US in the space race, as well as a major achievement for NASA. Up until this point, the US was losing the space race, with the soviet union launching the first satellite, the first man into space, the first man to orbit the earth, etc. But JFK at the beginning of the decade believed the US would be able to beat the soviet union to land a man on the moon, as well as able to do it by the end of the decade. By doing it, the US launched itself ahead of the USSR in the space race, and pretty much ended it as well.

Publication of the Pentagon Papers (1971)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 18:12:33 UTC

The Pentagon Papers were official and secret reports about the Vietnam War. It was leaked by Daniel Ellsberg, who worked under the New York Times, and detailed that the US government was misleading the press and public about the war, escalating without the public knowing, and basically lying to the American people. This led to a Supreme Court case of New York Co. V United States, and shattered public opinion of the Government. It was pivotal in the anti-war movement, as well as being escalated by Watergate later on.

President Nixon visits China (February 1972)

kcai26 — 2025-03-27 18:15:10 UTC

When China fell to communism, the US cut all ties and trade with the country. Nixon, realizing the power of 1 driving a wedge between the USSR and China, 2, having a large country fosters trade and relations, visited China, went to important locations, and talked with Mao and other important officials. This visit laid the foundation that later led to Panda Diplomacy and broke the precedent of ignoring communist countries.

SALT 1 Signed (July 1972)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:05:50 UTC

SALT 1 was one of the first steps that the US and the soviet union took to ease the arms race in the Cold War. It limited the number of deployment stations, as well as the locations where Nuclear weapons can be stored.

US supported coup overthrows Chilean government (September 1973)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:08:24 UTC

In the early 1970's President Salvador Allende was elected president of Chile. He aimed to increase socialist policy, consolidate national industry, and redistribute wealth. His actions and policy alarmed the US, which was trying to prevent communist expansion and influence in Latin and South America. The CIA attempted to destabilize the country, influencing political and economic fields to spread dissent and revolutionary ideals. Soon, General Augusto Pinochet led a military coup against Salvador Allende and established a military dictatorship.

Egypt and Syria attack Israel; Egypt requests Soviet aid (October 1973)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:10:04 UTC

During the Yom Kippur War, Syria and Egypt invaded Israel, hoping to reclaim territory from the Six-Day War. Israel was backed by the US, so Egypt was cautious and knew that it wasn't going to be a fast war. Knowing this, Egypt requested Soviet aid, and in response, Russia upped its military aid. This rose tensions between the two super powers, sponsoring proxy wars across the world.

S. Vietnam falls to Communist N. Vietnam (April 17, 1975)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:12:12 UTC

Towards the end of the Vietnam War, as the US public slowly grew against it, the US support began to waver. When the United States' support of South Vietnam withdrew, North Vietnam forces entered Saigon, and the South Vietnam government immediately fell. Vietnam was reunited under communism.

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

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:13:56 UTC

Following the decolonization after WW2, Angola was no longer a Portuguese colony. Rival powers fought to establish a communist or a non communist state. The USSR backed the Marxist-oriented Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), and communist Cuba also sent troops to hold Angola as a communist state.

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

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:18:13 UTC

Started by Nixon in 72, the US and China began its relationship diplomaticly began in 1979. This established the US and Chinese trade relationship, and China's industrial power began to grow. The Panda diplomacy is China sending loaning pandas to other countries.

Sino-Vietnamese War (Feb 1979)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:20:42 UTC

After Vietnam became communist, it invaded Cambodia. China, feeling its sphere of influence was being threatened, as well as wanting to send a strong message, mobilized troops at the border, leading to a short month-long conflict. This event didn't lead to any particular victory, but it drove a division between the Soviet Union and China, as well as split Vietnam off from the Eastern Bloc.

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

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:23:42 UTC

For a long while, the Shah of Iran had been attempting to modernize the country and had cracked down on dissent. He was backed by the US, so when a revolution acured and he left the country, the Revolution was very anti-US. The new regime, feeling resentment towards the United States, held 52 diplomats and citizens hostage in the US embassy. This became a major global scandal, and the US was embarrassed.

Soviet forces invade Afghanistan (Dec. 1979)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:25:31 UTC

A communist government that was backed by the USSR came into power in 1978. However, it had several issues, and growing internal conflict continued to destabilize it. In December of 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, hoping to stabilize the country in favor of them. They installed Babrak Karmal, a Moscow-oriented leader, and this started a decade-long war between the rebels in Afghanistan, which were backed by the US and Saudi Arabia.

US Hockey defeats USSR at winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY. (Feb 22, 1980)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:27:38 UTC

This was the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980. The US team, which was made up of mostly immature and college players, won against the USSR, which had the best team in the world, having previously won gold in 5 of the past 6 Olympic games. This was following the soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and showed how tension between the two sides reached a point in all aspects of culture, not just politically or economically.

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

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:29:58 UTC

After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, the US issued an ultimatum: pull out or they would boycott the games. When the Soviets refused, America, and around 60 other countries, boycotted the 1980 Olympic Games. It escalated the Olympic war between the countries and turned a unifying event into a politically dividing one.

Reagan proposes SDI or “Star Wars” (1983)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:31:14 UTC

This was the final thing that pushed the USSR into financial disarray. Ronald Reagan proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative, which was a system of technology that would detect and shoot down soviet ICBMs before they could be a threat. This would be achieved through lasers, satellite sensors, and ground-to-air missile systems. Mostly science fiction then and ambitious now, it scared the Soviet Union into a final arms race that would lead to their bankruptcy.

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

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:32:56 UTC

Operation Urgent Fury was an invasion of a small island in the Caribbean. It was ruled by Maurice Bishop, who was a socialist aligned slightly with Cuba and the USSR. However, he was overthrown by Marxists, and after asserting authoritarian rule, the US was scared of another Cuba-style government in Latin America. They were also concerned about the safety of Americans on the island. The invasion was fast and efficient, a success for the US.

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

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:34:18 UTC

The Boycott was a direct response to the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The Soviet Union, as well as 13 other countries, boycotted the game, stating anti communist hysteria as its reason. However, this reflected just how deep the division of the world was, even affecting the Olympic games, which were supposed to be apolitical.

Gorbachev begins “glasnost” and “perestroika” in efforts to reform the USSR (1985)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:37:48 UTC

Gorbachev was a G. He was more open to change than any of his predecessors, and this led to him trying to reform the stagnating Soviet Union. He implemented Perestroika ("restructuring"), which essentially shifted away from hard-line communism and allowed some free market principles. He also implemented Glasnost ("openness"), which promoted freedom of expression, allowed more open media, criticism of government policy, etc. He didn't wish to destroy the soviet union, He wished to save it, but in doing so, weakened his control, and when freedom started, it didn't stop.

Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan (Jan 1989)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:39:49 UTC

Referred to as the Soviets' Vietnam, the 10-year conflict of trying to fight anti communist rebels in Afghanistan was very unsuccessful. A grueling Guerrilla conflict, all it did was bleed the Soviet Union's floundering economy more. When Gorbachev came into power, he immediately pulled troops away, wanting to redirect resources to reforms.

Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Romania oust Communist governments (1989)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:42:01 UTC

After Gorbachev's reforms in the USSR, a large wave of revolutions began across Eastern Europe and the Eastern Bloc. Poland began with the Solidarity movement, a pro-democratic labour union that led to semi-free elections. This resulted in the first non-communist Prime Minister in the Eastern Bloc. Hungary held free elections in 1990 and opened its border with Austria to allow East Germans to escape to the west- a crack in the Iron Curtain. Czechoslovakia had a non-violent revolution, with mass protests putting pressure on the government, and the communist leaders stepped down. In Bulgaria, longtime leaders who were hard-line communists were forced to step down, and multiparty elections began.

Tiananmen Square Massacre (June 1989)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:44:06 UTC

The Tiananmen Square massacre was a showcase of the brutality of the CCP. Thousands of students and citizens gathered in Tiananmen Square to protest and demand reform, freedom of speech, and to oust corrupt government officials. The Government declared martial law and mobilized the military, but after a few conflicts, the situation escalated, and the troops opened fire on the civilians.

Berlin Wall falls (Nov. 1989)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:45:07 UTC

One of the final nails in the coffin of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev's reforms gave hope to the people, and people in East Germany began to flee to Poland and Hungary, to then go west. Mass Protests began to pressure the East German and East Berlin government to open and remove the wall. The officials accidentally announced it was open, and hundreds of people gathered at checkpoints, and the confused guards let them through. People climbed the wall, smashing it with hammers, and toppled most of it. This set the stage for the reunification of Germany, and was symbolically the end of the Cold War, as the USSR soon collapsed.

Boris Yeltsin elected as President of Russia (May 1990)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:46:48 UTC

This was the first direct president in Russia's history, as before the USSR, the Tsars were in power. It showed the exponentially implosion of the Soviet Union, and how the countries within it were wanting to break away. It transitioned Russia, the main country in the Eastern Bloc and the USSR, to democracy. This would be pivotal to finally toppling the power of the Soviet Union, with a coup that was prevented by Boris.

Germany Reunited (Oct. 3, 1990)

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:47:46 UTC

After the toppling of the Berlin Wall, the communist governments in East Germany were essentially ousted. This, combined with Gorbachev's unwillingness to send in troops, led to the reunification of Germany. Both sides wanted unity, and both the USA and USSR(reluctantly) also wanted unity. In 1990, elections were held, and reunification parties won across the nation. Germany would become a democratic, unified country on October 3 and would rise to be a key player in NATO and the EU.

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

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 15:50:11 UTC

With all the dominoes collapsing around the Soviet Union, Communist hardliners kidnap Gorbachov. The President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, rescues Gorbachov(on top of a tank) and becomes a national hero. He led talks to dissolve the Soviet Union, and Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus signed the Belavezha Accords. Gorbachev, not having a Union, resigns, and the Supreme Soviet dissolves the Union. This marks the official end of the Cold War and the ideological battle between the East and West.

Identify and Analyze three aspects of US/Soviet “rivalry, mistrust, and… hostility” that was “carried on by methods short of sustained overt military action” during the Cold War? Support your analysis with at least 6 examples from your Cold War Padelt Project.

kcai26 — 2025-03-28 17:26:30 UTC

Jackson High School, South Missouri Street, Jackson, MO

kcai26 — 2025-04-30 22:58:14 UTC

Jackson High School, South Missouri Street, Jackson, MO

kcai26 — 2025-04-30 23:03:58 UTC