-
Yalta Conference
Leaders from the United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom met in the Ukraine for an eight-day conference to divide Germany between the Allied forces for reconstruction purposes. -
Atomic Weapons in US
At the Postwar Settlement Conference, Truman spoke to Stalin and informed him that the United States possessed atomic weaponry. -
First Atomic Bomb Attack
Truman allows for the first atomic bomb attack in the world in Hiroshima, followed by a second attack in Nagasaki three days later, both in Japan near the end of World War II. -
Iron Curtain
Winston Churchill talks about the Iron Curtain metaphor: how the Soviets relish in their communism behind an iron curtain that separates them from Western Europe. -
Second Red Scare
Beginning in 1947 and stretching until 1954 was a period known as the Second Red Scare, or McCarthyism. Joseph McCarthy gained fame and put the United States into panic by claiming he knew which government officials and military individuals were secretly members of the Communist party. -
Berlin Blockade
Joseph Stalin closed any routes leading to the area of Berlin that the Allied forces were located, preventing them from recieving food or supplies. It was an attempt to urge the Allies to negotiate with Stalin on his own terms. -
Berlin Airlift
Truman launches the Berlin airlift. United States aircraft flew supplies and food for the Allies to the area of Berlin that was blocked off. Lasted for over 300 days, -
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is created between the United States, Canada, and a handful of European countries in order to cease the spread of Communism. -
Soviets Begin Atomic Testing
Soviets reveal themselves as a nuclear power by testing Joe 1, their first atomic bomb. -
Warsaw Pact
To create an opposing force to NATO, the Warsaw Pact was formed and included the Soviets and Germany. -
Sputnik
The Soviets take the lead in the "space race" by launching the very first spacecraft, Sputnik. A month later they launched Sputnik II, which had a dog on board therefore being the first living being in space. -
Bay of Pigs
In an attempt to overthrow Cuban Communist leader Fidel Castro, the United States put together troops of exiled Cubans to travel to Cuba and fight. Through secret intelligence, Castro found out about the plan beforehand and captured the troops, later releasing them after negotiation with US officals. -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall is built in order to separate the Communists from the others, therefore keeping the Communism in tact and strong. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
In order to keep America away from Castro and preventing the spread of Communism, the Soviets placed missiles onto the island of Cuba. When the United States found out, they barricaded Cuba with vessels and threatened to search any incoming watercraft. After thirteen days, the United States and the Soviets came to an agreement: the Soviets must remove missiles if America left cuba alone and remove (inactive) missiles from Turkey. -
Limited Test Ban Treaty
The Limited Test Ban Treaty was created in order to limit the testing of nuclear bombs to underground. The Treaty was signed by the United States, United Kingdom, as well and the Soviet Union. -
Kennedy Assassination
President John Kennedy is assassination in Dallas, Texas by Lee Harvey Oswald. -
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
The Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty was signed by the United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom and put into effect in 1970, preventing the spread of nuclear intelligence. -
Apollo 11
Manned by Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 becomes the first successful mission to bring mankind to the moon, pushing the United States to the lead of the space race. -
Reagan and Gorbachev Meet
United States President Ronald Reagan meets with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev for the first time, which is followed with many meetings leading towards peace and treaties limiting nuclear actions. -
Unified Germany
Germany becomes a unified country. -
End of Cold War
After speaking with the Russian President Boris Yeltsin, George Bush Sr. announces the end of the Cold War.
