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The Creation of the United Nations
At Dumbarton Oaks estate in Washington, D.C., delegates from 39 countries met to discuss a new organization. This organization was responsible for peace and security. -
The Yalta Conference
Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met at Yalta, a Soviet resort, to plan the postwar world. They discussed a key issue which was Poland. They wanted them to be free and choose their own government. Yalta later played an important role in causing the cold war. -
Presidents in Office
Harry Truman(1945-1953) was a very aggressive anti-communist and instituted many policies. Dwight Eisenhower(1953-1961) who was a Supreme Commander of Allied forces. John F. Kennedy(1961-1963) who had a short but eventful presidency. -
End of WW2
Germany surrendered to the Allies in May 1945, a week after Adolph Hitler committed suicide. Japan surrendered to the Allies in August 1945, and agreed to unconditional surrender. Winston Churchill announced VE (victory in Europe) Day on May 8, 1945. -
The Long Telegram
George Keenan sent a 8,000 word telegram to the Department of State detailing his views on the Soviet Union and U.S. policy toward the communist state. It provided one of the most influential underpinnings for America's Cold War policy of containment. -
Iron Curtain
The Iron Curtain was a military barrier that isolated Soviet-controlled countries of Eastern Europe after World War 2. -
Truman Doctrine
Its goal was to aid those who worked to resist being controlled by others. It also pledged the U.S. to fight the spread of communism worldwide. -
Marshall Plan
This gave European nations American aid to rebuild their economies. The Marshall Plan pumped billions of dollars in supplies, machinery, and food into Western Europe. The regions recovery opened new markets for trade. -
The Red Scare
The Red Scare was threats posed by communist in the United States. It led to a range of actions that had an effect on the U.S. government and society. -
Berlin Blockade/Airlift
Soviets blockaded West Berlin hoping to force the U.S. to reconsider its decision or abandon west Berlin. To avoid war Truman ordered the air force to fly supplies into Berlin rather than troops. The airlift symbolized American determination to contain communism and not give in to Soviet demands. The airlift brung in more than two million tons of supplies to the city. -
The Creation of NATO
NATO included 12 countries and they agreed to come to the aid of any member who was attacked. Years later they allowed west Germany to join its organization. This made Soviet leaders organize a military alliance known as Warsaw Pact. -
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of treason without proper regard for evidence. Many of the accusers lost their jobs. -
Duck and Cover
This was a method of personal protection against the effects of a nuclear explosion. -
The Korean War
The war began when 75,000 soldiers from the North Korean People's army poured across the 38th parallel. This invasion was the first military act of the Cold War. Five million soldiers and civilians lost their lives during the war. -
The Rosenburgs
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of sharing U.S. atomic secrets to the Soviets. Both refused to admit any wrong doing and proclaimed their innocence up until their deaths. They were executed at Sing Sing prison in New York. -
The Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was Soviet leaders organizing a military alliance in Eastern Europe. This pact included the Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria. It set up a military command under Marshal Ivan S. -
The Suez Canal
Israeli forces pushed into Egypt toward the Suez Canal. They were soon joined by French and British forces. That nearly damaged the Soviets relationship with the U.S. -
Eisenhower Doctrine
President Eisenhower delivered a proposal to a joint session of the U.S. congress calling for new American policy. It came to be known as The Eisenhower Doctrine which established the Middle East as a Cold War battlefield. -
U-2 Incident
A crisis interrupted when the USSR shot down an American U-2 spy plane in Soviet air space and captured the pilot. The pilot was confronted with the evidence of his nation's espionage. President Eisenhower was forced to admit to the Soviets that we had been flying spy missions over the USSR for years.
