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Yalta Conference
The Big Three met to discuss what the postwar world would look like. This will be significant in the years to come, as Europe, particularly Germany, ends up torn into pieces. The country and Berlin are divided into 4 zones of influence after World War II. The West remains in the hands of the United States, France, and Great Britain, and the East in the hands of the USSR. The USSR promised to declare war on Japan after V-E Day. Big Three also accepted Stalin’s demand for Poland and North Korea. -
President Truman
Harry S. Truman becomes president when Roosevelt dies. President Truman had not been included in important policy decisions during FDR's term. As a result, Truman has to the hard job to take over FDR's projects, including the secret of the Manhattan Project. It is ultimately Truman who decides to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This event marks the end of World War II and the beginning of a new technological age with the newly created atomic bomb. -
The United Nations
In San Francisco, California, representatives from 50 nations met to establish a peace-keeping body. In June 26, 1945, the charter is signed.The United Nations achieved its greatest early success in humanitarian aid to victims of World War II. All members in the United Nations were represented in the General Assembly. -
Potsdam Conference
The Big Three, United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union, meet once again. The US and Great Britain wanted self-determination for all nations and access to raw materials in Eastern Europe, and they agreed that each country would take reparations from own occupation zone. -
Containment
Proposed by American diplomat George F. Kennan serving in Moscow. He never believed U.S. and U.S.S.R. would go to war. Instead, he believed communism would either mellow or eventually break up. As a result, Europe divided into two political regions: democratic Western Europe and communist Eastern Europe. The term “iron curtain” comes to stand for the division of Europe once Winston Churchill delivers speech in Missouri. -
The Truman Doctrine
Conflict erupts over aims of both the United States and the USSR; this leads to the Cold War. The first attempts to contain Soviet influence in Greece and Turkey are in March 12, 1947, when Truman asks Congress for $400 million in economic and military aid for Greece and Turkey. From1947 to 1950, Congress sends the money. The Truman Doctrine committed the United States to intervening to prevent further communist takeovers. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was devised by Secretary of State General George C. Marshall and was intended to help rebuild the devastated European nations. Countries who wanted help would have to remove trade barriers and cooperate economically with other nations.16 European nations drew up a plan asking for $22.4 billion and Congress approved $5.31 billion for the first year. By December 1951, $12 billion had been distributed. This plan reflected the fear of political consequences of economic chaos. -
Berlin Airlift
West Berlin was completely surrounded by Soviet occupied territory. American and British officials flew food and supplies into West Berlin. This lasted approximately 327 days: June 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949. There were about 277,000 flights, as planes took off and landed every few minutes.2.3 million tons of supplies such as food, fuel, and medicine were distriuted to the West Berlin people. These acts boosted American prestige. -
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was a defensive military alliance formed during peace time. Twelve members pledged military support if another member was attacked.In 1955, in response to NATO rearming West Germany, the Soviet Union organized the Warsaw Pact. -
Korean War
First Hot War of the Cold War. North Korea marches across the 38th parallel on June 25, 1950. The Soviet Union gave military supplies to North Korea and China. U.N. Security Council votes to assist South Korea. The fight continues for two more years until July 27, 1953 when the war ends in a stalemate. The 38th parallel divides North Korea and South Korea. The US and U.S.S.R.’s negative feelings escalated and the current economy of both North and South Korea were determined. -
National Highway Act
The Eisenhower administration approved the National Highway Act, which allowed money to be spent on the construction of the interstate highway. This allowed people to evacuate the cities, use landing strips, and for transport of the military to be faster. America still has the highways that were constructed during this time period. -
Space Race Begins!
The Soviets shocked the Western world by putting two
satellites into orbit that were both powered by rockets that potentially could carry missiles someday. So, even though a satellite by itself does not necessarily pose a military threat, the launching of the Sputnik satellites in 1957 did portend the possibility of space-based weapons raining down into the airspace of the United States. Because of this, more money is invested into the development of technology to compete against the USSR. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
In January 1959, Fidel Castro overthrew U.S. backed Fulgencio Batista aided by USSR. In response, Eisenhower approved the training of Cuban exiles to retake capital. In April 1961, the Kennedy administration inherits conflict.The mission was a complete failure and 1,200 Cubans are slaughtered; there is no air support because the United States did not send in Marines -
Berlin Wall
Soviet occupied Germany put up the Berlin Wall. Khrushchev wanted to halt refugees fleeing from East Germany to West Berlin andseize West Berlin. In response, Kennedy activated 150,000 reserves. This wall represented the oppresion of the people under the Soviet Union. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
In the summer 1962, there is the issue of Soviet expansion into Cuba. Soviets constructed missile bases, which heightened tensions with the United States. Joint Chiefs of Staff propose air strike on missiles followed by invasion. President Kennedy then sets up naval quarantine to prevent future shipments and give Soviets time to remove missiles already in Cuba.
