The Cold War
People, Places, Events, and more!
"What was the Cold War?"
The Cold War was the only war in which no official fighting occurred between the belligerents. Instead, the Cold War was a war of Ideology and trying to get the upper hand over the other. The Cold War was "fought" between the two world superpowers of the time, the United States of America and the United Soviet Socialist Republic. Following World War II, the two superpowers emerged with separate halves of Europe under their control. While the USA wished to spread democracy and "freedom" to the now war-torn Europe, the USSR imagined a different Europe, one ruled by communism. While communism was good in theory, (debatably,) it challenged US ideals and thoughts, which riled Americans against the Communists. Though not a war which was fought, there was much fighting during the Cold War, mainly seen in the Korean and Vietnam wars. In both cases, the US sent either Aid or personnel to the southern country (who backed democracy,) where the USSR would send aid and troops to the Northern communist-backed countries. This costed thousands of lives for both sides, and even more for the countries they backed. The "war" lasted from 1946-1991, the year of the fall of the Soviet Union.
Major Events of the Cold War
Though the Cold War was mainly a war of ideology, there were some major events that defined the entirety of the war, including the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Space Race and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The Korean War
The Korean War was the first of the few wars that occurred throughout the tenure of the Cold War. The war was fought between the pro-communist North Korea and the pro-democratic South Korea, backed by the United States. The fighting ended in a strict cease-fire, and the war was never officially over.
The Vietnam War
As one of the longest wars ever fought, the Vietnam War was the highlight of the Cold War. As the pro-communist NVA began attacking pro-democratic Southern Vietnam, the US felt the need to intervene in the war to protect other countries from falling to communism. Though the US racked up a large body count during the war's tenure, the US ended up losing interest and pulling out of Vietnam, allowing it to fall to communism.
The Space Race
If one thing showed the pure competition between the Soviets and the US, it was the Space Race. Beginning with the USSR launching Sputnik I in 1957, the US became frightened that they may underachieve the Russians in space. Knowing they couldn't be beat, the US and JFK made a promise to land on the moon by the time the decade was out. And, in a twist of fate, the US did it, landing on the moon and ending the space race in 1969.
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Claimed as the "hottest" point of tension between the USSR and the US, the Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest that the world has ever gotten to nuclear fallout. The newly formed Peoples Republic of Cuba began to make shady weapons deals with the USSR, leading to the US finding unmapped missile bases throughout Cuba. The US was immediately on high alert, and aimed every missile they had at the USSR. The USSR, in a shocking twist, decided to stand down and return the Missiles to the USSR, creating the spark for peace between the US and USSR.
John F. Kennedy
As one of the most influential men in the entirety of the Cold War, JFK was a vital piece of the Cold War. He pushed for the end of communism, and would push for any means necessary to end it.
Mikhail Gorbachev
As the final leader of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev is arguably one of the most vital figures of the Cold War. A man who enjoyed peace, he began such programs as glasnost and Perestroika, as well as tearing down the Berlin Wall.
The fall of the Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin Wall was the event that marked the end of the USSR and the end of the Cold War. When the Berlin Wall fell, the two halves of Germany were one again, and the Cold War was over.
The Bay of Pigs
As one of the greatest failures in US history, an armed group of rebels were pushed to overthrow the new pro-communist government in Cuba. Believing they had US air support at their backs, the men valiantly attacked, only to be taken prisoner and executed. JFK was blamed for this, and it was seen as a large blunder on the part of the US.