COLD WAR

Potsdam Conferences

1945

This was the meeting of Truman, Stalin, and Churchill. This was their last meeting all together. One of the main reasons they meet was to agree on unconditional surrender of Japan. They actually let Japan keep their empire.

Cold War

Period: 1945 to 1991

Yalta conference

Feb 4, 1945

This was a meeting of FDR, Churchill, and Stalin. This was a meeting to decide what to do with Nazi Germany. It was decided that Germany would be divided into American, British, French, and Soviet section. All they had to do was give Germans the minimum supplies required. Also German armies were abolished

Truman Doctrine

Mar 12, 1947

This was an American policy during the Cold War. It was presented to congress by president Harry S. Truman. It stated that the US would fight the expansion of communist. It started after threats to Greece and Turkey.

Berlin Airlift

Jun 1, 1948

Berlin was split into four sections, but it was located deep in the Soviet zone. The Russians cut off all roads and railroads to Berlin so that Americans and the British and french would leave. However this started air drops into Berlin that lasted for a year.

NATO

Apr 4, 1949

This was an organization to strengthen the western powers. It was in response to a possible invasion. They were worried That the soviets would try to over throw the western European powers.

Korean War

Jun 25, 1950

This was a fight between the North Koreans backed by the Soviets and the South Koreans backed by America. It was the first fighting of the cold war. many people were worried that it would lead to world war III. After some back and fourth across the thirty-eighth parallel and 5 million casualties fighting stopped. Korea is still divided today.

Vietnam War

Nov 1, 1955

This was a war between Communist-backed North Vietnam and American-backed South Vietnam. This war was intensified by the ongoing cold war between America and the Soviet-Union. After lots of opposition to the war America finally backed out. The next year communist took over South Vietnam.

space race

Oct 4, 1957

This was a race between the US and the USSR. The were fighting for space flight capability. This was started by the USSR satellite Sputnik.

Sputnik

Oct 4, 1957

Sputnik I was a very big milestone. Especially in the space race. Sputnik was the first artificial satellite. It was launched by the Soviet Union. Even though Sputnik was small( The size of a beach ball) it marked a big point in the space race.

U-2 incident

May 1, 1960

In soviet airspace an American U-2 spy plane was shot down and the pilot was captured(Gary Powers). President Eisenhower admitted to spying on the Soviets for several years. The pilot was sentenced to ten years in prison. After less then two years he was traded for another prisoner of the soviets.

Berlin Wall

Aug 13, 1961

This wall was built by East Germany. It was made to stop the fascist of the east coming over. The soviets didn't want to tarnish there socialism.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Oct 16, 1962

This was a 13 day standoff near Cuba just 90 miles from America. This is were the Soviets held nuclear weapons. JFK told the American people of the situation. Total nuclear war was avoided when we agreed not to invade Cuba and remove missiles from Turkey.

Moon Landing

Jul 20, 1969

This was one of the biggest moments in history. it was the first time someone stepped on the moon. This really helped show that the US was dominant in the space race.

Soviet Afghan War

1979

Afghan was invaded by Soviet Union soldiers. This was a push to spread communism. This was a large fight against the anticommunist Muslims. The soviets would help for almost a year then leave.

Berlin Wall Falls

Nov 9, 1989

Near the end of the cold war the western German leader decided to reevaluate their relations with western Germany. So he decided that mid day any one could cross the border as they pleased this wa a huge step for peace in this war.