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Yalta Conference
During the Yalta Conference, Roosevelt and Churchill discussed the conditions under which the Soviet Union would enter the war aganist Japan with Stalin. They also discussed the future of Germany, Eastern Euprope and the United Nations. The Allies then agreed to include France in postwar governing of Germany. They all agreed that Germany should assume some responsibility for reparations. -
Potsdam Conference
At this conference, the United States said that if Japan didn't surrender, they would face "prompt and utter destruction". One of the major issues during this conference was how to handle the reparations from Germany. Also during this conferecne Truman informed Stalin that the U.S. had successfully detonated the first atomic bomb. -
United States Bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan
On this day, an American B-29 bomber dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing 80,000 people. Then three days later, they dropped another B-29 on Nagaskai, killing 40,000 people. These bombings lead Japan's Emperor Hirohito to surrender on August 15, 1945. -
Communist Government in Albania
Communism took over the country of Albania, which was the first East European country to have a communist government. -
Truman Doctrine
President Harry S. Truman established that the United States would give political, military, and economic assistance to all democratic nations that are threatened from other forces. This doctrine also reoriented U.S, foreign policy. -
Berlin Airlift Begins
After World War II, the Allies partitioned the defeated Germany into many different zones, either belonging to the Soviets, Americans, British, or French. Berlin was in the Soviet zone & then in June 1948, Russians wanted Berlin, so they closed all highways, railroads & canals from the West Germany. They did this because they believed it would evntually drive the other countries out of Berlin. Instead of leaving, the U.S. and the allies decided to give food by air. -
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
NATO was created by the U.S., Canada, and many other Western European countires in order to provide security against the Soviets. NATO was the very first peaceful military alliance the U.S. entered into outside of the West Hemisphere. They all agreed that if one of them were attacked by the Soviet Union, then all of them were attacked. -
Berlin Air Lift Ends
By spring of 1949, it was clear that the Soviet blockade had failed because it hadn't persuaded people in West Berlin to reject their allies or prevented the creation of a unified West Germany. In the end, the Berlin Airlift lasted for more than a year and over 2.3 million tons of cargo was distributed by air. This event made the USSR look evil and it also motivated the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). -
Soviet Union Explodes Atomic Bomb
At a remote site Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, The Societs successfully detonated their first atomic bomb, code named "First Lightning". In order to test how destructive this atomic bomb was, the Soviets purposely built buildings and other structures near the bombing site. They even went as far as placing animals nearby to test the radiation effects. The bomb completely destroyed the buildings and killed the animals. -
Communists Win Chinese Civil War
After World War II, the Communists in China began to fight against the Japanese. These Communists had a very good relationship with the Soviets and were able to get arms that were taken from the Japanese. Through this, the communists were able to have powerful military base to launch attacks. In the end, the Communists were able to gain supoort from the majority of the local population. -
The Federal Civil Defense Agency (FCDA)
The purpose of the Federal Civil Defense Agency (FCDA) was to create an enthusiastic campaign to teach the American public how to survive a nuclear attack. Tactics like the "Duck and Cover" were broadcasted in every American home. Although these tactics would not save people's lives, it gave them some sort of peace that they were being protected. President Truman characterized the FCDA as “the major means of safeguarding the people, property, and production” of the United States. -
McCarthyism
In Febrary 1950, Joseph R. McCarthy made a speech in Wheeling, West Virginia. In his speech he stated that he has list of 205 known people in the U.S. who are a part of the Communist party. After the release of the list, a "witch hunt" occurred. People who were suspected of being involved with communism was either arrested or killed. -
U.S. & U.N. Members Fight North Korean Forces
On June 25, 1950, North Korean communists attacked South Korea. Immediately after the invasion, the U.N. called for a cease-fire and an end to North Korea's aggression. However, this didn't work, and South Korea began to plead for assistance and eventually the U.N. agreed to aid South Korea. President Truman ordered sea, land, and air forces to beat the North Korean attacks. -
Korean War Ends
Both sides were finally ready to sign an armistice, which established a committee of representatives from neutral countires in order to decide the fate of thousands of prisoners. It was later decided that the prisoners of war could choose their own fate. Then a new border between North and South Korean was created, which established the zones of each country. This war was very frustrating for Americans, because it was the first war ever where the enemy didn't surrender. -
U.S. Assisted Coup Overthrows Iranian Government
The U.S. and the Iranian military overthrew the government of Premier Mohammed Mosaddeq and had the Shah of Iran replace him. After this, Iran remained a solid Cold War ally of the U.S. until a revolution ended the Shah's rule in 1979. -
Domino Theory
During the argument between Viet Minh and French forces at Dien Bien Phu, President Eisenhower chracterized it as the “falling domino” principle. He believed that the loss of Vietnam to communism would lead to similar communist victories in neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. -
U.S. Assissted Coup Overthrows Guatemalan Government
This event in Guatemala was the result of the CIA wanting to prohibit the spread of communism in Latin America during the Cold War. This plan started in 1952, when Anastasio Somoza, president of Nicaragua asked the U.S. to help overthrow Jacobo Arbenz Guzman, the leader of Guatemala, President Truman authorized the shpment of weapons and money to anti-Arbenz groups in hopws of overthrowing him. -
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)
In September of 1954, the U.S., Great Britain, France, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealandm Thailand, and Pakistan gathered together to form SEATO. The purpose of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was to stop communism from gaining any more ground in the Asia region. SEATO had no military forces of its own, but the organization had joint military excercises for memeber states each year. Other than its main purposes, SEATO was also important to America during the Vietnam War. -
Warsaw Pact
This pact included the Soviets, Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria. This treaty required all members to come to the defense of any other member if they were attacked by an outside force. It established a unified military command under Marshal Ivan S. Konev of the Soviet Union. -
Geneva Summit
At the summit, Eisenhower and Khrushchev discussed disarmament and European security. At this meeting, Eisenhower announced his "Open Skis" proposal to the representatives from France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union. This proposal laid the foundation for President Regan's later policy of "trust, but verify" in relation to arms agreemnts with the Soviets. Other than the announcement of "Open Skies", the meeting included talk about the future of Germany & arms control. -
Red Army Crushes The Hungarian Revolution
This Revolution was a nationwide revolt against the government of the Hungariean People's Republic and its Soviet-imposed policies. After a couple of weeks, Soviet tanks and soldiers crushed the protests. Many protesters were killed or wounded during the invasion. The tanks wanted to stop the protest movements from the communist block. Then vivios fighting broke out, but since Soviets had more power, they were able to crush them. -
Soviets Launch First Satellite
On this day, the USSR were successful in launched their very first staellite, Sputnik I, into space. This satellite was about the size of a beach ball. This launch caused new military, technological, and scientific developments. This launch also marked the start of the space age and the space race between the U.S. and the Soviets. -
Explorer I Launched
Explorer I was the very first satellite launched by the U.S. This was an important event becasue it allowed the U.S. to be technologically and scientifically advanced as the Soviet Union. -
Fidel Castro Becomes Premier of Cuba
In 1959, Cuban leader, Fidel Castro established the first communist state in the West Hemisphere. During his reign, Castro was able to reduce illiteracy, stamp out racism and improve public health care. During this time, Cuba had a good relationship with the U.S. and is known for resultingn in the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. -
Bay of Pigs
On this day, 1400 Cuban exiles launched a bothced invasion at the Bay of Pigs on the south coast of Cuba. Brigade 2506, the Cuban-exile invasion force, landed at beaches along the Bay of Pigs & instantly came under fire. Cuban planes strafed the invaders, sunck to of their escort ships, and even destroyed half of their air support. However, bad weather hampered the grounf force, which affected equipment and ammunition. -
Construction of The Berlin Wall
After setting up barbed wire separating East and West Berlin, Eas Germany began building a wall, the Berlin Wall, which would premanently close off access to the West. This wall stayed up for about 28 years and acted as a symbol of the Cold War, a literal 'iron curtain' dividing Europe. They decided to build this wall because they were tired of life under the communist system. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, leaders of the U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in political and military standoff over nuclear-armed Soviet missiles in Cuba, about 90 miles from U.S. shores. President Kennedy then notified Americans about the presence of missiles in Cuba. After hearing this news, people were afraid of a nuclear war. However, the Soviets agreed to remove the missiles. -
China Explodes its First Atomic Bomb
On this day, China successfully exploded their very first atomic bomb, after developing the nuclear technology for a period of time. On the very same day, China also made a promise to only use nuclear weapons as a purpose of self-defense and national security. -
U.S. Commits Combat Troops To South Vietnam
On this day, a U.S. Marine Corps Hawk air defense missile battalion was drooped in Da Nang. President johnson ordered this deployment to give protection to the key U.S. airbase there. This plan was the very first commitment of American troops in south Vietnam. Since the U.S. was involved, both communist China and the USSR were thretened to intervene if the U.S. continued to apply it's military forces in South Vietnam. -
U.S. Sends Troops To The Dominican Republic
The situation started when dictator Rafael Trujillo was assassinated. His death resulted inthe government being run by Juan Bosch. However, the military despised Bosch & his policies, so he was overthrown a year later. Then political chaos occurred in the Dominican Republic & forces demaned Bosch to come back. Since the U.S. was afraod of "another Cuba", they sent 22,000 troops to help end the fighting and install a conservative, non-military government, -
SALT I
During this time period, President Johnson atold the public that the Soviets had constructed a limited Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) defense system around Moscow. In order to prevent any strike, Johnson called for Srategic Ams Limitations Talks (SALT). Then in 1967, he and Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin met at Glassboro State College in New Jersey to talk about how Johnson has to take control of the ABM race. -
The Tet Offensive
On this day, the North Vietnamese troops worked with the Viet Cong to surprise attack the South Vietnamese and U.S. troops. They bombed some U.S. bases in South Vietnam and destroyed rhe majority of their weapons and supplies. This first attack was actual a decoy for a second attack that would be even more destructive. The actual Tet Offensive started on the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Even though this was supposed to be a holiday of peace and now war, The North attacked over 100 cities. -
Soviet Red Army Crushes Czech Uprising
On this day, about 200,000 Warsaw Pact troops and 5,000 tanks invaded Czechoslovakia to crush the "Prague Spring", a period of liberalization in the communist country. Czechoslovakians protested this invasion, but they weren't as powerful as the Soviet tanks and troops. Then in Prague, the troops went to seize control of television and radio stations, but at the radio station, journalists refused to give up the sation and about 20 people were killed. -
Sino‑Soviet Conflict
U.S. government officials watched the political split between the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China escalate into fighting on Sino-Soviet borders. Some government officals thought that the Soviets might launch attacks on nuclear weapon facilities in China. -
President Richard Nixon Visits China
Nixon's visit was an important step in forming relations between the U.S. and the People's Republic of China. This was the first time an American President visited China.
