Assess the extent to which the Cold War changed between 1945 and 1989

Thesis: The decades between 1945 and 1989 were long and eventful, particularly full of politically significant events. The nature of the cold war during this period was changed massively through three major elements; uprisings, proxy wars, and foreign policy changes during this historical period.

Uprisings Proxy Wars Foreign Policies
 * Uprisings in Poland and Germany
 * Caused by dissatisfaction of the people in the nations.
 * Resulted in a strengthening of influence, and growing fear in western nations.
 * Czechoslovakia and the Prague Spring
 * Berlin wall and its collapse
 * Caused by rapidly rising tensions.
 * Resulted in easing of tensions, as well as even further growing dissatisfaction of the people of Germany.
 * The Korean War
 * Vietnam War
 * Caused by American fears of the Domino theory and the policy of containment
 * Resulted in tensions between USA and USSR during negotiations for détente, and the first American military loss
 * Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
 * NATO and the Warsaw Pact
 * Caused by increasing post-war tensions between USSR and USA, with both countries making military pacts to increase security of their nations
 * Resulted in many tension increasing events (turkey gaining missiles,
 * Sino-Soviet Split
 * Cuban Missile Crisis
 * Ostpolitik


 * SALT I + II
 * Helsinki Agreements
 * Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty