Introduction

Political Events

Scientific-Technical Developments

Military Developments

Economic Changes and Conditions

Social Conditions and Developments

Books, Movies, Art and the Media

The year 1961 changed the face of the Cold War forever. When once both sides looked upon each other as adversaries but never truly feared the threat of nuclear attack, now that very same threat was a constant factor in the lives of every American and Soviet. The events of 1961 led to the Cuban Missle Crisis, arguably the closest the United States has every come to nuclear attack. The Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, a failed attempt to overthrown the Castro regime, only served to elevate the tension between the US and the USSR. In addition to pushing Cuba over the edge into Socialism, it demonstrated that the US was willing to "pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, and support any friend" to keep Communism out of the Western Hemisphere.

In addition to the Bay of Pigs fiasco, 1961 was also the year in which the Berlin Wall was built, the symbol above all symbols of the Cold War. Stemming from the US refusal to remove military forces from Western Berlin, Krushchev had a 12-15 feet high wall erected, complete with barbed wire, patrols, lights, and watchtowers. The Berlin Wall was an induring testament to the division between East and West.

1961 was also an enormous year in terms of science development, as the first man was sent into orbit in space, courtesy of Soviet Union space technology. The Vostok was the first manned spacecraft ever created, and was followed closely by the Mercury Redstone 3, the first American manned spacecraft. Both were huge leaps forward in man's conquest of outer space.

Overall, 1961 was most certainly a landmark in the Cold War's history.