The Cold War was one of the most significant events of the 20th century, shaping the politics, economies, and societies of countries around the world for nearly half a century. Lasting from 1945 until the early 1990s, it was a prolonged rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union that threatened the world with nuclear destruction, spread proxy conflicts across the globe, and divided nations and peoples behind walls and borders.
The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was a nationwide uprising against the communist government of Hungary and Soviet control that was violently suppressed by Soviet military forces. This article details the history and significance of the Hungarian Revolution.
The Berlin Crisis of 1961 was a major Cold War confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over the city of Berlin that led to the construction of the Berlin Wall in August of 1961. This article details the history and significance of the Berlin Crisis of 1961.
Douglas MacArthur was a five-star general in the United States Army and played a significant role in the Pacific Theater of War in World War II. He later oversaw the United Nations mission during the Korean War. This article details the life and significance of Douglas MacArthur.
The Prague Spring was a period of political and economic reform in Czechoslovakia in 1968 that was crushed by a Soviet-led military invasion. This article details the history and significance of the Prague Spring.
Konstantin Chernenko was a late Soviet leader who ruled for only a short time in 1984 and 1985. He is remembered as a symbol of the Soviet Union’s aging leadership just before Mikhail Gorbachev began a new period of reform. This article details the life and significance of Konstantin Chernenko.
The Watergate Scandal was a major political crisis in the United States that began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972 and ended with the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974. This article details the history and significance of the Watergate Scandal.
The Cuban Revolution was an armed uprising led by Fidel Castro that overthrew the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista on January 1st, 1959, and established a communist government in Cuba. This article details the history and significance of the Cuban Revolution.
De-Stalinization was the process by which the Soviet Union under Nikita Khrushchev dismantled the policies and cult of personality of Joseph Stalin following his death in 1953. This article details the history and significance of de-Stalinization in the Soviet Union.
This Causes of the Cold War infographic was created by History Crunch to help students and teachers quickly understand the main factors that led to the outbreak of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II. It covers post-war tensions, the ideological conflict between capitalism and communism, the emergence of nuclear weapons and the American fear of the spread of communism. Designed for students in grades 5 to 12.