APUSH Cold War Key Events | AP U.S. History Exam Review

Step 4: Détente and Shifts (1970s)

• Nixon visits China (1972): Opens diplomatic relations, weakens Soviet influence.
• SALT I (1972): U.S. and USSR agree to limit nuclear weapons.
• End of Vietnam War (1975): U.S. withdraws; South Vietnam falls to communism.
• Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979): Ends détente, sparks U.S. boycott of 1980 Olympics.

Step 5: End of the Cold War (1980s–1991)

• Reagan Doctrine (1980s): U.S. supports anti-communist movements worldwide.
• Strategic Defense Initiative (1983): “Star Wars” missile defense proposal.
• Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989): Symbolic end of Cold War division.
• Collapse of the USSR (1991): Official end of the Cold War.

Step 6: Themes and Connections for APUSH Essays

Cold War events tie into several APUSH themes:

• American Identity: Patriotism and anti-communism reshaped politics.
• Foreign Policy: From isolationism → global leadership role.
• Domestic Policy: Red Scare, military spending, education reforms.
• Civil Rights: Cold War pressure made U.S. leaders address racial inequality to look better globally.

👉 RevisionDojo connects these themes with practice DBQs to help you apply events in essays.

Cold War Events to Memorize for APUSH

• 1947: Truman Doctrine
• 1948–1949: Berlin Airlift
• 1950–1953: Korean War
• 1962: Cuban Missile Crisis
• 1964–1975: Vietnam War
• 1972: Nixon visits China
• 1989: Fall of Berlin Wall
• 1991: Collapse of USSR

Exam Tips for Cold War Questions

• Multiple Choice: Expect chronology-based questions (e.g., Which happened first?).
• SAQs: Explain containment using examples like Truman Doctrine or Marshall Plan.
• DBQs: Focus on U.S. foreign policy and domestic effects.
• LEQs: Compare Cold War to earlier U.S. foreign policies (e.g., Monroe Doctrine).

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to know exact dates for Cold War events in APUSH?
Not all — focus on turning points and sequences.

2. How does the Cold War connect to domestic policy?
It fueled McCarthyism, defense spending, and reforms in education/science.

3. What’s the most important Cold War event to know?
The Cuban Missile Crisis — it highlights U.S. foreign policy, containment, and nuclear tension.

4. How do I practice Cold War essays?
Use RevisionDojo’s DBQ essay bank and timed drills.

5. Could the Cold War appear on APUSH LEQs?
Yes — often in questions about foreign policy, containment, or U.S. global leadership.