Events of the Cold War

Destalization

• Stalin died and new Soviet leader (Khrushchev) wanted to purge Russia of his memory

Leaders

• United States• Dwight D. Eisenhower

• Soviet Union• Nikita Khrushchev

Hungarian Revolution

• Protesters overthrew Soviet controlled government

• Soviet troops invaded and installed a pro-soviet government

Leaders

• United States• Dwight D. Eisenhower

• Soviet Union• Nikita Khrushchev

Sputnik

• Soviets launched the first satellite into outer space

• This created a competition in space exploration… “Space Race”

Leaders

• United States• Dwight D. Eisenhower

• Soviet Union• Nikita Khrushchev

China Splits with Soviets

• China was committed to communism but wanted to be free from the USSR’s shadow

• Russia cut off economic aid to China

Leaders

• United States• Dwight D. Eisenhower

• Soviet Union• Nikita Khrushchev

Berlin Wall

• East Germany built a wall dividing Berlin

• Wanted to keep East Germans from escaping to West Berlin and West Germany

Leaders

• United States• John F. Kennedy

• Soviet Union• Nikita Khrushchev

Cuban Missile Crisis

• Soviets were attempting to arm Cuba with long range missiles

• American forces staged a blockade until the Soviets backed down

Leaders

• United States• John F. Kennedy

• Soviet Union• Nikita Khrushchev

Vietnam War

• Soviets backed the communist North Vietnam

• Americans backed the pro democratic South Vietnam

Leaders

• United States• Lyndon B. Johnson

• Soviet Union• Nikita Khrushchev

Revolt in Czechoslovakia

• Warsaw Pact forces invaded Prague, Czechoslovakia to keep the country from rejecting communism

Leaders

• United States• Lyndon B. Johnson

• Soviet Union• Leonid Brezhnev

Detente

• A policy of lessening tensions

• Replaced Brinkmanship

Leaders

• United States• Richard M. Nixon

• Soviet Union• Leonid Brezhnev

SALT

• Strategic Arms Limitation Talks

• Sought to limit how many missiles each country (US and USSR) had

Leaders

• United States• Richard M. Nixon

• Soviet Union• Leonid Brezhnev

1980 Winter Olympics

• Competition carried over into the Olympics with threats of boycotts

• 1980 Lake Placid Games, the US Hockey team defeated USSR

• Huge morale boost

Leaders

• United States• Jimmy Carter

• Soviet Union• Leonid Brezhnev