Cold War Key Events and Policies

It was fought in extremely cold climates.

The main superpowers never directly fought each other in armed conflict.

It involved a freeze in diplomatic relations between all countries.

It was a period of economic stagnation.

To establish strong, free-market economies.

To prevent Germany from invading Russia again.

To create communist buffer states.

To develop atomic weapons for defense.

To encourage the spread of communism globally.

To prevent communism from expanding beyond its existing borders.

To invade and conquer communist nations.

To establish military alliances with communist countries.

To provide military aid to countries fighting communism.

To rebuild the economies of Western European countries after World War II.

To establish a new security apparatus for the United States.

To divide Germany into East and West.

1949

1961

1989

1991

Germany officially split into two nations

NATO was established

The Soviet Union detonated its first atomic bomb

The Berlin Wall was built

To reduce military spending and focus on diplomatic negotiations

To organize the free world's resources and rapidly build up military strength

To withdraw from international alliances and prioritize domestic issues

To support communist movements in former colonial territories

It led to the full implementation of all "Fair Deal" proposals

It caused Congress to increase funding for "socialized medicine"

It prevented the expansion of social programs like national health insurance

It resulted in a decrease in the national minimum wage