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Yalta Conference --- Genesis Of Cold War
Meeting in the city of Yalta in the Russian Crimean from February 4 to 11, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin each arrived with their own agendas for the conference. For Stalin, postwar economic assistance for Russia, and U.S. and British recognition of a Soviet sphere of influence in eastern Europe were the main objectives. Churchill had the protection of the British Empire foremost in his mind, but also wanted to clarify the postwar status of Germany. -
Winston Churchill delivers "Iron Curtain" speech
In one of the most famous orations of the Cold War period, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill condemns the Soviet Union’s policies in Europe and declares, “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent.” Churchill’s speech is considered one of the opening volleys announcing the beginning of the Cold War. -
Marshall Plan is announced
At the time, Americans perceived the plan as a generous subvention to Europe. The Soviet Union, however, viewed the Marshall Plan as an attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of other states and refused to participate. Ultimately, the Soviets prevented Poland and Czechoslovakia from taking part, despite their eagerness to do so. -
Berlin Blockade by USSR begins
One of the most dramatic standoffs in the history of the Cold War begins as the Soviet Union blocks all road and rail traffic to and from West Berlin. The blockade turned out to be a terrible diplomatic move by the Soviets, while the United States emerged from the confrontation with renewed purpose and confidence. -
Berlin Blockade ends
On May 12, 1949, an early crisis of the Cold War comes to an end when the Soviet Union lifts its 11-month blockade against West Berlin. The blockade had been broken by a massive U.S.-British airlift of vital supplies to West Berlin’s two million citizens. -
Korean War begins
Armed forces from communist North Korea smash into South Korea, setting off the Korean War. The United States, acting under the auspices of the United Nations, quickly sprang to the defense of South Korea and fought a bloody and frustrating war for the next three years. -
Fed. Civil Defense Administration established
Started by Harry S. Truman on December 1st 1950 the FCDA or Federal Civil Defense Administration was a very important organization that helped the government reach out to the people. The type of information that they released were important news about communism and warnings on attacks and current wars going on. This organization was eventually merged into FEMA or Federal Emergency Management Agency and lated renamed the well known Homeland Security. -
Vietnam split at 17th parallel after French defeated
Vietnam would be temporarily divided at the 17th parallel, pending elections within two years to choose a president and reunite the country. During that two-year period, no foreign troops could enter Vietnam. Ho reluctantly signed off on the agreement though he believed that it cheated him out of the spoils of his victory. The non-communist puppet government set up by the French in southern Vietnam refused to sign, but without French support this was of little concern at the time -
Warsaw Pact formed
The Soviet Union and seven of its European satellites sign a treaty establishing the Warsaw Pact, a mutual defense organization that put the Soviets in command of the armed forces of the member states. -
Rebellion put down in Communist Hungary
Following nearly two weeks of protest and political instability in Hungary, Soviet tanks and troops viciously crush the protests. Thousands were killed and wounded, and nearly a quarter-million Hungarians fled the country.The problems in Hungary had begun in October, when thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding a more democratic political system and freedom from Soviet oppression. In response, Communist Party officials appointed Imre Nagy, (a former premier who had been dismissed f -
Khrushchev demands U.S. troops leave Berlin
With foreign affairs, Khrushchev set high, but almost impossible, goals and seemed to enjoy humiliating the West. It was his ideas to send the first dog, man and woman into space (but, needless to say, not at the same time) and to launch Sputnik, the first satellite. He had an enthusiasm for being flamboyant in his mannerisms, which was not very helpful for him with the conservative Party from the very beginning. Many were very embarassed by his antics, including one memorable time where he bang -
Fidel Castro takes over Cuba
Cuban leader Fidel Castro (1926-) established the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere after leading an overthrow of the military dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959. He ruled over Cuba for nearly five decades, until handing off power to his younger brother Raúl in 2008. During that time, Castro’s regime was successful in reducing illiteracy, stamping out racism and improving public health care, but was widely criticized for stifling economic and political freedoms. Castro’s Cub -
U.S. U2 spy plane shot down over Russia
An American U-2 spy plane is shot down while conducting espionage over the Soviet Union. The incident derailed an important summit meeting between President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev that was scheduled for later that month. -
Bay of Pigs invasion, Cuba
The Bay of Pigs invasion begins when a CIA-financed and -trained group of Cuban refugees lands in Cuba and attempts to topple the communist government of Fidel Castro. The attack was an utter failure. -
U.S. involvement in Vietnam increases
US involvement in Vietnam was slow coming but increased significantly in the early 1950s. The United States had only a moderate interest in Asia until 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbour and Washington reciprocated by declaring war on Tokyo. The Viet Minh was formed the same year, as an underground movement to resist both the French and Japanese. By 1944, American agents of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services, the forerunner of the CIA) were operating in southern China and northern Vietnam -
President Richard Nixon extends Vietnam War to Cambodia
The invasion marked a change in the atmosphere between the citizens of the United States and the President of the country. Citizen’s reveled in the fact that our soldiers would be coming home, but they also felt, after watching the Presidential address, that our president was not prepared for this part of the Vietnam war.
Many people continued to protest this war, which ess
