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Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was a meeting help in Yalta between FDR, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill. Their goal was to create a post-war peace. The result of this meeting was that Russia would declare war on Japan after Germany surrenders, and FDR and Churchill promised the USSR concession in Manchuria. -
Postdam Conference
This was the last WWII meeting held by the leaders of the Big Three. The major issue the countries were trying to handle was how to deal with post-war Germany, but the U.S and Britain didn't agree with the Soviet Union's ideas. This lead to tension between the countries, and helped set up the Cold War. -
U.S Drops First Atomic Bomb
In order to cause Japan to surrender, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb used on Hiroshima, killing 180,000 people. They proceeded to drop another bomb on Nagasaki, and after that bomb the Japanese finally surrendered. -
"Iron Curtain" Speech
A speech given by Winston Churchill in Missouri, and he expressed, "An iron curtain has descended across Europe". The significance of this speech was that iron curtain was the imaginary boundary that divided Europe in two. The Soviet Union wanted to block itself from the West, and Churchill condemned this idea. -
Marshall Plan Announced
Secretary of State, George Marshall, had proposed a plan to provide assistance to European countries that would join in drafting a program for recovery. 16 nations had joined from Europe, and the plan collected $12.5 billion of American Aid to Europe, helping their reconstruction. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was an American foreign policy that stated that the United States would give financial assistance to any country that would be threatened by communism from the Soviet Union. -
National Security Act
This was an act to help restructure the United States government's military and intelligence agencies. The act also established the National Security Council to advise the president on foreign policy and defense policy, and this was the first major reconstruction on the government. -
Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade was the first serious event of the Cold War, and was an attempt from the Soviet Union to force Allied Powers to abandon the city. They had blocked railroads, streets, and canal access of Western Berlin. -
Berlin Airlift
Because of the blockade in Berlin, President Truman organized a transport of food and resources to the citizens of Berlin that had been trapped. This lasted for around 10 months, and it even lead for West Berlin to become a symbol for resistance of communism. -
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was an alliance made by western European nations along with U.S and Canada to defend each other if one were under attack. This was a big step in the militarization of the Cold War, and was a good foundation for American policy in Europe. -
NSC-68
The National Security Council Memorandum Number 68 was a key document of the Cold War because it helped the militarization of American policy, and reflected possibility that filled postwar America. This document advised the best way to combat the USSR, and allowed for the U.S to build up its military for the Korean conflict. -
Start of Korean War
The Korean War was a war fought between North and South Korea. North Korea's communist army had crossed the 38th Parallel, and invaded South Korea. The Soviet Union was helping North Korea as they sent them supplies and even used Soviet tanks to attack. -
End of Korean War
The United States had gotten involved in the war because the wanted to stop the spread of communism. They helped South Korea out, and helped lead to the Korean Armistice Agreement. This agreement created the Korean Demilitarized Zone that separated North and South Korea. -
Warsaw Pact
In response to the NATO, the Soviet Union along with communist nations in eastern Europe created in alliance. The goal of this alliance was for the Soviet Union to be able to control West Germany, and negotiate with NATO. -
Start of Vietnam War
The United States had support and funded materials to South Vietnam to help the from the communism of North Vietnam. Tensions had grew between the countries, causing the beginning of the Vietnam War. -
Suez Crisis
The Israeli forces invaded Egypt after the Egyptian president nationalized the canal. The French and British had helped the Israelis to fight which caused conflict with the Soviet Union. Egypt had eventually won, but this was a pivotal moment in the Cold War powers. -
Sputnik
The Soviet Union surpassingly launched Sputnik, the first satellite to orbit earth. This action put the United Staes in fear because they believed the Soviets could be more advanced in military missiles. Because of the fear, it caused them to increase spending and better America's space program. -
Bays of Pig Invasion
The Bays of Pig Invasion was a failed attack from the United States to force Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, out of power. Their goal was to have the Cuban people participate as well and have Cuba become a non-communist government. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. The U.S discovered Soviet missiles on Cuba, and they had a naval blockade on the island. The Soviet leader then removed Russian missiles from Cuba as long as the U.S respected Cuba's sovereignty. -
End of Vietnam War
After 3 million people died, including 58,000 Americans, President Richard Nixon had the U.S troops withdraw from the war in 1973. In 1975, communist forces then seized control of South Vietnam, and the country was then the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. -
Soviet-Afghan War.
This war was fought between Afghanistan rebels, and the Soviets had supported the Afghanistan government. Afghanistan was a communist country, and because the United States was trying to prevent the spread of communism they stepped in and helped the rebels. The Soviets then realized this war was really hurting their economy, and decided to sign a peace treaty to end it. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a wall that surrounded West Berlin to prevent
East Germans from traveling west. When the wall had crashes, it symbolized the end of the Cold War as individuals would be able to escape and have freedom
