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