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The First Use of the Atomic Bomb
The president was warned that if he tries to invade Japan, large amounts of American casualties would occur. He wanted to quickly end the war, so he ordered a five-ton bomb to drop on Hiroshima. The city had high concentration of troops, military facilities and military factories that had not yet been subject to significant damage. The U.S. became the first and only nation to use atomic weaponry during wartime. -
Gouzenko Affair
After the capitulation of Japan, Igor Sergeievich Gouzenko, fled the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa. He took a number of documents, and proving the existence of a Soviet spy ring in Canada. It marked the beginning of the Cold War and an awakening of anti-Communist sentiment. -
Formation of the United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization committed to maintaining international peace and security. The UN develops friendly relations among nations, promotes social progress, better living standards and human rights. -
Formation of NATO
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. NATO is an alliance between North America and Europe. Its main purpose was to defend each other from the possibility of communist Soviet Union taking control of their nation. This was the first peacetime military alliance the United States entered into outside of the western hemisphere. -
Korean War
This was the first armed conflict of the Cold War. North Korea's army overran South Korea, so the U.S. and 21 countries of the United Nations came to the South Korean's aid. When the North Koreans were being pushed back, China was scared that they might be invaded, thus helping North Korea. This event was significant because it Showed that America was willing to send troops to contain communism. -
Formation of the Warsaw Pact
It was the Communist counteraction to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). The Warsaw Pact was seen as a potential militaristic threat, as a sign of Communist dominance, and a dangerous opponent to American capitalism. The signing of the pact became a symbol of Soviet dominance. -
Vietnam War
This was the conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam and their communist allies such as the Soviet Union and China, against the government of South Vietnam backed by anti-communist countries and members of the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). The Vietnam war was a direct result of the First Indochina War between France, which claimed Vietnam as a colony. -
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, was an invasion of Egypt by Israel, which was followed by the United Kingdom and France. This was caused after the Egyptian president nationalized the Canal. When the Israelis joined the French and British forces, the Soviet Union was nearly brought into the conflict, and damaged their relationships with the United States. In the end, the French, British, and Israeli governments withdrew their troops. -
Formation of NORAD
NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) was an integrated system of defensive measures, installations and systems that would provide early warning and protection to North Americans. NORAD gives early warnings of attack to North America. -
Cancellation of Avro Arrow
The Avro Arrow was a jet aircraft developed by A.V. Roe of Canada. Recognizing the need for an aircraft to counter the threat of Soviet bombers, RCAF officers, defense scientists and defense-industry officials had persuaded the Liberal government to authorize two prototypes. After export efforts again failed, the project was cancelled -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union. America was threatening to deploy ballistic missiles in Italy and Turkey, while the Soviet was threatening Cuba. This crisis is seen as one of the most important confrontations of the Cold War. It may have been the moment when the Cold War came closest to a nuclear war. -
SALT Treaty
The SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) treaty was intended to restrain the arms race in strategic (long-range or intercontinental) ballistic missiles armed with nuclear weapons. -
Strategic Defense Initiative
The Strategic Defense Initiative was a program initiated under President Ronald Reagan. The intent of this program was to develop a sophisticated anti-ballistic missile system in order to prevent missile attacks from other countries, specifically the Soviet Union. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
President Ronald Reagan ordered the Berlin Wall to be brought down as a symbol of the fall of the repressive east German communist government. This reunited Germany and foretold the collapse of the Soviet Union. On Midnight that day, citizens of the GDR were free to cross the country's borders. -
Breakup of the Soviet Union
The collapse of the Soviet Union was complete when the country broke up into 15 independent states. This signaled the end of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States.
