Cold War

Yalta Conference

Feb 4, 1945

February 4–11, 1945, was the World War II meeting of the heads of government of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, represented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Premier Joseph Stalin, respectively, for the purpose of discussing Europe's post-war reorganization.

Potsdam Conference

Jul 17, 1945

The goals of the conference included the establishment of post-war order, peace treaty issues, and countering the effects of the war.

Truman Doctrine

Mar 12, 1947

With the 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.

NATO Ratified

Apr 4, 1949

NATO stood as the main U.S.-led military alliance against the Soviet Union throughout the duration of the Cold War.

Federal Civil Defense Administration established

Jan 12, 1951

The agency attempted to put forward a comprehensive nationwide plan for fallout shelters, but confusion over goals led to insufficient budgets passing Congress, and in later years, the agency focused on evacuation as a strategy

Eisenhower becomes President

Jan 20, 1953

Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes President of the United States.

USS Nautilus

Jan 22, 1954

The United States launches the world's first nuclear submarine, USS Nautilus.

Baghdad Pact

Feb 24, 1955

The Baghdad Pact is founded by Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. It is committed to resisting Communist expansion in the Middle East.

Warsaw Pact Formed

May 1, 1955

A collective defense treaty among eight communist states of Central and Eastern Europe in existence during the Cold War.

Eisenhower Doctrine

Jan 5, 1957

The Eisenhower doctrine commits the US to defending Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan from Communist influence.

Sputnik is Launched

Oct 4, 1957

Soviet artificial satellite.

Explorer I Launched

Jan 31, 1958

Explorer I was the first satellite of the US that was launched during the Cold War.

Soviet Union reveals that U.S. spy plane was shot down over Soviet territory

May 30, 1960

An American U-2 spy plane is shot down while conducting espionage over the Soviet Union.

France Withdraws

Mar 10, 1966

France withdraws from NATO command structure.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Mar 5, 1970

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, ratified by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and the United States, among others, enters into force.

The Field Killings

Apr 18, 1975

The communist Khmer Rouge take power in Cambodia; genocide ensues, later referred to as "The Killing Fields".

Salt II Agreement

Jun 18, 1979

U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev, sign the SALT II agreement, outlining limitations and guidelines for nuclear weapons.

Dieter Gerhardt

Jan 1, 1983

Soviet spy Dieter Gerhardt is arrested in New York.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Mar 11, 1985

Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader of the Soviet Union.

Soviet Operations

Dec 31, 1991

All Soviet institutions cease operations.