Key Events

The Cold War was a very long conflict. Longer than many of you reading have even been alive. Word.  Within the war itself there were many instances of high tension and crisis, for both the main superpowers involved. In no particular order, these, along with much more occurred during the Cold War.

• The Korean War
• MASH. Enough said. Except most of you probably haven't even seen it. The War lasted from June 1950 until July 1953. The Soviet Union supported North Korea in it's endeavors against the South Korean nation, who was supported by the United States. 
• Vietnam War
• Lasted from 1955 until 1975. It was technically an undeclared war. The Soviet Union supported North Vietnam, while the States supported the South. Napalm and Agent Orange were great proponents in the methodology of attack for the United States.
• Cuban Missile Crisis
• Well, obviously, there was a crisis. Of missiles. In Cuba. October 16-28, 1962. It was generally regarded as the moment in the Cold War where the threat of Nuclear violence was at it's peak. In the end, the U.S.S.R. removed all missiles from Cuba, while in return, the USA would dismantle the Jupiter IRBM's. 
• Bay of Pigs
• It was unsuccessful invasion of Cuba funded by the United Sates on April 17-19, 1961.  176 were killed and 4,000 were wounded in Cuba, and 118 were killed  1,202 were captured from the United States. 

• Construction of the Berlin Wall

• On August 13th, 1961 the Berlin Wall was built, cutting off East Berlin from the rest of the world. Also Germany. East Germany justified the wall by claiming it was purely to protect their population from the evils and cruelty of the capitalist ideals. 
• The Berlin Air Lift
• America, after hearing about the poor conditions of those in East Germany wanted to assist the people in their hardship. So they flew planes over and dropped supplies. Sounds like something in a cool dream. Well, not the whole being cut off from the world part, but the stuff falling from the sky. There were also "candy bombers" that (surprisingly) dropped candy. 
• The Space Race
• The Space Race was a competition between the nations of the USSR and the United States. It was much more than simply who could get from point A to point B. This was fundamental test, determining which way of life was superior. During this time, technology for virtually everything skyrocketed (haha, pun). Many of the advancements discovered directly impact us to this day. Who won, you ask? For surely, every competition must have a winner. Well, that depends on your definition of a win. The Soviet Union reached space first and were also the first to send man in space. However, the United States claims the title of being the only country to ever land man on the moon. So, you decide the winner. (Each nation would say that they won)

• The fall of the Berlin Wall
• The wall fell on November 9, 1989.  It was symbolic to many that the end of the war was neigh, and that the fall of the Soviet Union was imminent. 

For a more detailed timeline, check out this bad pice of sugar honey. Cold War Timeline