-
The Yalta Conference
The Big Three powers met at Yalta. During the conference, the three leaders agreed to demand Germany’s unconditional surrender and began plans for a post-war world. Meeting ended 11th of February. -
United Nations Conference on International Organization
Delegates from 50 Allied Nations met in San Francisco. At this convention, the delegates reviewed and rewrote the Dumbarton Oaks agreements. -
Potsdam Conference
The Big Three met to negotiate end of war terms.This continued the discussions started at the Yalta conference. Main problem was how to handle Germany. They agreed on having trials for the Nazis against their crimes. They divided Germany into four zones of Allied occupation and they agreed there was to be “a complete disarmament and demilitarization of Germany.” -
Churchill's "Iron Curtain" Speech
Winston Churchill said that an "iron curtain has descended across the continent." People say that this speech marked the beginning of the cold war. "Sinews of peace." -
Truman Doctrine
President Harry S. Truman established that the United States would provide political, military and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces.
Truman declares active role in Greek Civil War. -
The Policy of Containment
United States policy that used numerous strategies to prevent the spread of communism abroad. It was a response to a series of moves by the Soviet Union to enlarge its communist sphere of influence. -
Marshall Plan
Also known as the Economic Recovery Act, signed by President Truman. Sets a precedent for helping countries combat poverty, disease and malnutrition. -
Berlin Blockade Begins
Lasting about 11 months, it was an attempt by the Soviet Union to limit the ability of France. They blocked all road and rail traffic to and from West Berlin. -
COMECON
This was the Soviets response to the Marshall Plan. They created it for the economic cooperation of the Eastern European states. It ultimately failed because the Soviet Union couldn't provide much financial aid -
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, was created in Washington D.C. between the US and its European allies. -
Germany Splits
The Federal Republic of Germany, or West Germany, is created. Its capital is Bonn. -
Russia Tests its First Atomic Bomb
At a remote site at Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, the USSR successfully detonates the first atomic bomb, code name "First Lightning." -
China turns to Communism
Chiang Kai-shek finally lost control of China, and the Communist Mao Zedong announced the formation of the People's Republic of China. -
McCarthy started Communist hunt and began Loyalty Tests
McCarthy would accuse people of being communist and supposedly had a list of people. Many of the accused were blacklisted or lost their jobs. -
Truman Fires MacArthur
President Harry Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur of command of the U.S. forces in Korea. It sent a brief uproar among the Americans but Truman remained committed to keeping Korea a "limited war." -
New President
Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president of the United States. -
Stalin's Death
The leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, died, starting a power struggle of people trying to succeed him. -
Korean War Ends
After three bloody years, the U.S, China, North and South Korea agree to an armistice bringing the war to an end. -
Ike's "Atoms for Peace" Speech
President Eisenhower was determined to solve "the fearful atomic dilemma." In his Atoms for Peace speech he suggested a means to transform the atom from a scourge into a benefit for mankind. -
Geneva Conference
This conference was an attempt to settle issues in the Korean Penninsula. Split Vietnam at the 17th parallel. -
SEATO Created
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, or SEATO, was created between the US, Great Britain, France, Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand to stem Soviet aggression in the East. -
New Leader of Soviet Union
Nikita Khrushchev becomes the new leader of the Soviet Union. He had pushed Malenkov out of office. -
CENTO
The Central Treaty Organization was created between Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Great Britain, and the US to help prevent the Soviet Union from expanding to the south. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was created between the Soviet Union and its European Allies in Warsaw, Poland. -
Vietnam War
In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson sent increasing numbers of US troops to Vietnam. The majority of Americans protested this war. -
Sputnik was Launched into Orbit
The Soviets launched Sputnik I, the first human-made space satellite, to orbit the Earth. This created tension and fear in the US so the president created NASA and began the "Space Race" -
Sputnik II Launched
Sputnik II was the second spacecraft to be launched, and the fist to be carrying a living animal, a dog named Laika. -
NASA
In response to the Soviets achievement of the Sputnik launch, the US created NASA, a space program. This was in the beginning of the Space Race. -
Cuba's Prime Minister
Fidel Castro took over as Prime Minister of Cuba. He was anti-American and eventually started the Cuban Missile Crisis. -
New President
John F. Kennedy is elected president after Eisenhower. -
Berlin Wall
The construction of the Berlin Wall began, dividing East and West Berlin. Eventually it became a massive barrier guarded by barbed wire, floodlights, machine-gun towers, minefields, and vicious dog patrols. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
President John F. Kennedy launched the Bay of Pigs invasion against Cuba. The purpose was to cause a revolt against Castro. It was a disaster. -
Cuban Missile Crisis Begins
President Kennedy found out the Soviets were placing missiles on Cuba. He decided to blockade Cuba to prevent the fleet from reaching its destination. -
Cuban Missile Crisis Ends
Khrushchev agrees to turn his fleet back and remove Soviet missiles from Cuba if Kennedy pledges not to invade Cuba. Kennedy agrees and action is taken. -
Hotline Communications System
Installed between Moscow and Washington, D.C., so that the superpowers could now communicate quickly in times of crisis. -
JFK Assassination
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, by Lee Harvey Oswald. -
Inauguration of Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson was inaugurated on Air Force One following the assassination of JFK. -
Nixon into Office
Richard Nixon is sworn into the presidency succeeding Lyndon Johnson. He won with his pledge to stop the war and bring the American soldiers home. In 1973, he reached an agreement with North Vietnam to withdraw American soldiers.
