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Winston Churchill delivers "Iron Curtain" speech
Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech was presented on March 5,1946 at Westminster College in Fulton. This speech was used to represent the boudary that seperated the Warsaw Pact countries and the NATO countries. -
Marshall Plan is announced
The Marshall plan was announced on June 5, 1947 at Harvard University. It was a economic relief plan conceived by George Marshall to help rebuild a dying postwar Europe. -
Berlin Blockade by USSR begins
The Berlin Blockade by the USSR began on June 24,1948. Blockade of the US, UK and French zones of Berlin by the Soviet Union, intended to force negotiations over the division and future of Germany. -
NATO ratified as a military organization
In July 21, 1949 NATO was ratrified as a military organization. It was created by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. -
USSR explodes its first atomic bomb
On Augest 29, 1949 the USSR explodes its first atomic bomb. At a remote test site at Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, the USSR successfully detonates its first atomic bomb, code name "First Lightning." -
Warsaw Pact formed
On May 14,1955 the Warsaw Pact was formed. The Soviet Union and seven of its European satellites sign a treaty creating the Warsaw Pact, a mutual defense organization that put the Soviets in command of the armed forces of the member states. -
USSR launches Sputnik into Earth orbit
On October 4,1957 the USSR lauches Sputnik into Earth orbit. An artificial Earth satellite whose launch by the Soviet Union entered the space age. -
John F. Kennedy elected President
On November 8,1960 John F. Kennedy was elected president. John F. Kennedy becomes the youngest man ever to be elected president of the United States, barely beating Republican Vice President Richard Nixon. -
Construction of Berlin Wall begins
On Augest 17,1961 the construction of the Berlin Wall began. The Berlin Wall surrounded West Berlin from 1961 to 1989, blocking access to the region from East Berlin and surrounding areas of East Germany. -
Cuban Missile Crisis (nuclear war narrowly averted)
On October 14,1962 the Cuban Missile Crisis began. The Cuban missile crisis between the United States and the Soviet Union brought the world to the brink of nuclear war in October 1962. -
U.S. lands first man on moon
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to step on the moon. He and Aldrin walked around for three hours. They did experiments. They picked up bits of moon dirt and rocks -
SALT I nuclear treaty signed
The United States and the Soviet Union negotiated the first agreements to place limits and restraints on some of their central and most important armaments -
President Nixon resigns
On Augest 8, 1974, the U.S. President Richard Nixon resigned during an evening television broadcast. President Richard Nixon resigned due to the huge scandal caused by the break-in at the Watergate building. -
Reagan reveals Strategic Defense Initiative, "Star Wars"
On March ,1983 Reagan reveals Strategic Defense Initiative, "Star Wars". The U.S. government program responsible for research and development of a space-based system to defend the nation from attack by strategic ballistic missiles. -
Reagan and Gorbachev resolve to remove all intermediate nuclear missiles from Europe
On October 24, 1986 the United States and Soviet Union decided to remove all intermediate nuclear missiles from Europe. -
China puts down protests for democracy
On June 4, 1989 China decided to put down the protests for democracy. Students wanted to remove Deng Xiaoping from his power, as well as the communist party, so they had a giant protest in Beijing. -
Berlin Wall falls
On November 9, 1989 the Berlin wall fell down. The Berlin wall was taken down in the middle of the night and for 28 years kept East Germans from fleeing to the West. This event was celebrated around the world. -
West Germany and East Germany unite
On October 3, 1990 West and East Germany unite. East and West Germany reunite after 45 years. -
Warsaw Pact ends
On March 31, 1991 the Warsaw Pact ended. After 36 years, the Warsaw Pact between the Soviet Union and its eastern European satellites comes to an end. -
USSR Dissolved (end of the Cold War)
On Augest 1991, the USSR Dissolved, putting a end to the Cold War. The Soviet Union itself had fallen apart putting an end to the Cold War.
