1949 the Soviet Union develops atomic bomb 1
1949, the Soviet Union develops atomic bomb. 1. Arms race 2. U. S. 1952 the hydrogen bomb
The Berlin Airlift Jun 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949
Formation of NATO April 4, 1949, Washington
Warsaw Pact -1956
U. S. Brinksmanship- 19531961 • John Foster Dulles • "The ability to get to the verge without getting into the war is the necessary art“ • Massive retaliation
1953 Nikita Khrushchev becomes Soviet leader 1 De-stalinizationcriticism of Stalin’s abuse of power 2. Eastern bloc countries seek reform
1957, Soviet scientists shocked the world by launching Sputnik, the world's first human-made satellite. 1. Americans fear Soviet science and technology. 2. The United States improves math and science education.
1958 Hungarian Revolution • Crushed by Soviet Tanks • U. S. Does Not Intervene • Leaders executed
1960 - the Communists build the Berlin Wall which becomes a symbol of a divided world
Cuban Missile Crisis pits Khrushchev against Kennedy • 1959 communist takeover led by Fidel Castro • 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion • 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
1968 Countries from Warsaw Pact invade Czechoslovakia • Alexander Dubcek • Communism with a human face • Prague Spring • Soviet intervention
Soviet Leonid Brezhnev takes power in 1964 • Neo-Stalinism • The Brezhnev Doctrineoppose US forces everywhere in the Third World to weaken US resolve in western Europe
Kennedy succeeded by Lyndon Johnson who escalates war against Soviet client states in Vietnam in 1965
1972 US policy of détente-a lessening of tensions • Richard Nixon • Henry Kissinger- balance of power politics • Rapprochement with China
Nixon Visits China 1972 Nixon Visits Soviet Union 1972
1982 Détente ends with Soviet invasion of Afghanistan • Ronald Reagan-”The evil empire” • Massive US military spending-MAD • SDI=“Star Wars” • First strike capability
The Soviet–Afghan War lasted over nine years, from December 1979 to February 1989. • Insurgent groups known as the mujahideen fought against the Soviet Army
1985 Mikhail Gorbachev • Last Leader of Soviet Union
1989 Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe
1991 Fall of the Soviet Union
- Slides: 44