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Truman Doctrine

1946

A doctrine which expressed that the US will provide money to countries that claimed they were threatened by communist expansion. This represents the want of the US the stop the expansion of communism.
President: Truman

Soviet Leader: Stalin

Berlin Airlift

1948

This airlift was accused by a blockade put on Western Berlin, by the Soviet Union. During the blockade Western Berlin received supplies by air. The Soviet Union did not want war, so they did not interfere.
President: Truman

Soviet Leader: Stalin

Containment Policy

1948

This was a US policy that stated they would use whatever means necessary, except full out war, to contain the Soviet Union.
President: Truman

Soviet Leader: Stalin

COMECON

1949

The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance for Economic Cooperation. This council was formed by the Eastern European powers. It entailed that there would be economic support for a country if it was attacked, from the other countries in the alliance.
President: Truman
Soviet Leader: Stalin

NATO (National Atlantic Treaty Orginization)

April 1949

This allied group consisted of Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the US. These countries agreed that if one of the countries was attacked all the other countries would provide the attacked country with assistance.
President: Truman

Soviet Leader:Stalin

Alexander Solzhenitsyn

1950

Nuclear physicist from Russia. he was the designer of the Soviets Union's third idea. in 1950 he proposed the Tokomak, controlled nuclear fusion reactor. Won the Noble Peace Prize in 1975.
President: Truman
Soviet Union: Stalin

Andrei Sakharov

1950

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Korean War

1950 - 1953

War between North Korea ( supported by the Soviet Union), and South Korea (supported by the US). Caused by the invasion of the South by the North. The US saw this as a communist expansion plan, and decided to fight back with support from her United Nations. After two years of fighting the borders stayed the same.
President: Roosevelt
Soviet Leader: Stalin

Summits at Geneva and Camp David

1954

Conferences between President Eisenhower, and Soviet leader Nikolai Bulganin. Bothe conferences produced no real benefits, and the tension was still present.

Warsaw Pact

1955

Formal Military alliance between Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Soviet Union.
President: Eisenhower
Soviet Leader: Stalin

Boris Pasternak

1956

A novelist who began to strive after de-Stalinization. His work Dr.Zhivago was published in 1956 outside the USSR.
President: Eisenhower

Soviet Leader: Khrushchev

De-Stalinization

1956

Khrushchev's attempt to undo some of the worst features of Stalin's repressive regime. Provided more intellectual freedom. Reduced the power of secret police. It also closed some of the Siberian prison camps.
President: Eisenhower
Soviet leader: Khrushchev

Call for "Peacful Coexistence"

1957

The Soviet Union policy of attempting peaceful coexistence with the US and its allies.
President: Eisenhower

Soviet Leader: Khrushchev

Sputnik

1957

First space satellite. This was launched by the Soviet Union.
President: Eisenhower
Soviet Leader: Khrushchev

ICBM

August 1957

First intercontinental ballistic missile. It was launched by the Soviet Union.
President: Eisenhower
Soviet Leader: Khrushchev

U-2 Spy Plane shot down

1960

A US plane, in Soviet air space was shot down by USSR. Later confessed that US had been spying on the Soviet for years.
President: Eisenhower
Soviet Leader: Khrushchev

Berlin Wall Construction

August 31, 1961

Wall built separating East and West Berlin, built to reduce the flow of immigration from the east to the West. The wall symbolized a divided Europe.
President: Kennedy
Soviet Leader: Khrushchev

Cuban Missile Crisis

1962

The Soviet Union decided to station necular missiles in Cuba, after the US tried to invade and overthrow the Soviet-supported totalitarian regime. The US blockaded Cuba so the missiles would not be able to be stationed in Cuba. In the end came to an agreement that if the Us didn't invade Cuba then the Soviet Union wouldn't put missiles in Cuba.
President: Kennedy
Soviet Leader: Khrushchev

Berlin Wall Opened

1963

Citizens from East Berlin now allowed, after about two years, to cross pass the wall to West Berlin. Passes were usually issued for one day visiting.
President: Eisenhower
Soviet Leader: Khrushchev

Prague Spring

1968

Uprising to gain more right for the Czech citizens. Repressed but Red Army Soldiers.
President: Johnson Brezhnev
Soviet Leader:

SALT

1972

Allowed both countries to replace their older technology, in terms of missiles, with newer technology.
President: Nixon
Soviet Leader: Brezhnev

Detente

1973

New era in American-Soviet relations. Occurred at the end of the Vietnam War.
President: Nixon
Soviet Leader: Brezhnev

Invasion of Afghanistan

1979

Afghanistan invaded by the Soviets
President: Carter
Soviet Leader: Brezhnev

Solidarity and Pope John Paul the second

1981

Added encouragement to the Polish people. A struggle with others, including injustices.
President: Reagan
Soviet leader: Brezhnev

Glasnot

1986

Important instrument of Perestroika. It was encouragement of Soviet citizens and officials to discuss openly the strengths and weaknesses of the Soviet Union.
President: Reagan

Soviet Leader: Gorbachev

Perestroika

1986

The reordering of an economic policy. The beginning of a market economy with limited free enterprise and some private property. In attempt to reconstruct the Soviet Union.
President: Reagan
Soviet Leader: Gorbachev

Withdrawl from Afghanistan

1989

The withdrawal was generally peaceful. The Soviets withdrew to ensure a safe passage.
President: Bush

Soviet Leader: Gorbachev

Yelstin Elected Democratically

1990

Yelstin was elected President of Russia.
President: Bush
Soviet Leader: Gorbachev

Attempted coup be hardliners in Moscow

1991

Attempt to take control of the Soviet Union. Aimed to stop Perestroika. Wanted to keep the Soviet government centralized.
President: Bush
Soviet Leader: Gorbachev

CIS formed out of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus

1991

Established to help prevent cross-border crime. Promoted crime prevention. Formed during the fall of the Soviet Union.

President: Bush

Leningrad changed to St.Petersburg

1991

Leningrad was changed to St.Petersburg because of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
President: Bush
Soviet Leaders: Gorbachev

All Soviet Republics declare independence from the USSR

December 25, 1991

The finalization of the end of the Soviet Union.
President: Bush
Soviet Leader: None