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D-Day
Allies initiate D-Day as they land on the beaches of Normandy, France, to drive Nazi forces out of France. -
Atomic Bomb Developed
The first atomic bomb was detonated at the Los Alamos Labs near Sante Fe, New Mexico. -
Harry Truman Becomes the 33rd President of the US
Following Franklin D. Roosevelt's death, Harry Truman became the 33rd President of the United States and served for two terms. During his presidency, he ordered the atomic bombs to be dropped on Japan and worked to prevent the spread of Communism during the Cold War. He also proposed the Fair Deal, a program which included the expansion of Social Security, a full-employment program, a permanent Fair Employment Practices Act, and public housing and slum clearance. -
V-E Day
May 8, 1945, marked V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) when Germany surrendered to the Allies. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
The United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, killing 80,000 people. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
The United States dropped a second bomb on Japan. This time, it was dropped on Nagasaki and claimed 70,000 lives. -
V-J Day
September 2, 1945, marked V-J Day (Victory Over Japan Day) as Japan surrendered to the Allies after having two atomic bombs dropped on them. -
Creation of NATO
In 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created by the US, Canada, and many Western European nations. It was the first peacetime military alliance the US joined outside the Western Hemisphere. NATO provided protection from the Soviet Union and gave economic aid to Europe. -
Korean War Begins
The Korean War was a war between the Soviet supported government of North Korea and the US supported government of South Korea. The War began on June 24, 1950, when North Korean troops began attacking several strategic points along the border in order to capture South Korea. -
Dwight D. Eisenhower Elected as 34th President of the US
In 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected the 34th President of the United States and served for two terms. During his presidency, he ended the Korean War with a truce and sought to reduce the tensions of the Cold War.