Cold war

This was when Joseph Stalin, the Soviet leader, imposed the Berlin Blockade from 24 June 1948 to 12 May 1949, cutting off all land and river transit between West Berlin and West Germany. This was due to Germany being separated between America, Italy and Britain on the East and the soviet Union on the west

The east side of Germany was communist and people realised that on the other side, people's quality of life was much better, and on thier own side, people were treated poorly. Many East Germans did not want to live in a communist country and crossed into West Berlin instead This was bad for communism as a whole as the lack of support by the Republic is what made it look weak

Causes: Increasing cold War tensions Kennedy refused to back down to Khrushchev and called his bluff Khrushchev avoided war with America Consequences: The problem of Berlin was solved Refugees were no longer aloud to leave the east germany Peter flecter and other ease Germans were killed

For 13 days in October 1962, the world appeared to stand on the brink of nuclear war. One Cuba was overthrown by Castro, the control was communist, and as the USA was Capitalist they now had communisum on their doorstep

The Soviets removed their missiles from Cuba. America promised that they would not invade Cuba. America secretly removed their missiles from Turkey in 1963

17th - 19th April 1961 The Bay of Pigs 14th October 1962 Spy planes take images of Soviet missiles in Cuba 22nd October 1962 President Kennedy makes a televised address about the missiles and implements a naval blockade 26th October 1962 Khrushchev sends a letter to Kennedy saying the Soviets will remove the Cuban missiles, in exchange for the United States promising not to invade Cuba 27th October 1962 Khrushchev sends another letter, demanding America remove their missiles from Turkey 28th October 1962 Kennedy and Khrushchev make statements saying Soviet missiles will be removed from Cuba April 1963 US missiles are removed from Turkey

On 22nd of October, Kensdy announces the blockade around cuba On 23 October Event Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev saying that the Soviet ships will not stop at the blockade, but will force their way through 25 October Event US spy planes report increased building work at the missile launch sites on Cuba 26 October Event Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev promising to remove the launch sites if the USA agrees to lift the blockade and promises not to invade Cuba A second letter from Khrushchev says the launch sites will only be removed if the US removes its missiles in Turkey. Tension increased when a U2 plane was shot down by a Russian missile and the pilot killed The President gave a warning that if he did not receive a reply by 29 October an invasion of Cuba would begin. Khrushchev agreed of the removal of the missiles

New political thinking (or simply new thinking)[a] was the doctrine put forth by Mikhail Gorbachev as part of his reforms of the Soviet Union

Glasnost was an attempt to be more ‘open’ in dealing with the West. Gorbachev encouraged people to be more honest when talking about politics. He supported greater freedom of speech and wanted communist politicians to take criticism on board, look to make changes and stamp out corruption

This was an attempt to modernise and ‘rebuild’ the Soviet state. Gorbachev realized that military spending had to be reduced. In February 1989 the USSR withdrew its troops from Afghanistan ending nine years of occupation

The process of implementing perestroika added to existing shortages, and created political, social, and economic tensions within the Soviet Union. Furthermore, it is often blamed for the political ascent of nationalism and nationalist political parties in the constituent republics