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Yalta Conference
Allied forces, Great Britain, U.S. and the Soviet Union, met to discuss post war arrangements. Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin agreed to allow Stalin have control of much of the Pacific theatre and eastern Europe while they were holding free elections after the war in exchange for Stalin's help in the war against Japan. -
World War II Ends in Europe
Nazi Germany surrenders to the allied forces ending WOrld War II in Europe. -
Potsdam Conference
Churchill, Truman and Stalin met to discuss post-war Germany. The Soviets wanted half the reparations and control of a united but unarmed Germany. Truman feared the spread of Soviet power across western Europe. They settled on each allied country controlling a zone of Germany therefore limiting Soviet power. -
Hiroshima
U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city Hiroshima demolishing 90% of the city. Anotehr bomb was dropped three days later. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine revised the U.S.'s foreign policy to state that the U.S. government would provide political, military and economic support for democratic nations under threat from authoritarian powers. He did this in response to the Soviet's supporting the communist war in Greece for fear of Stalin spreading his communist power. -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Established
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) established to protect the participating countries from Soviet aggression. -
Soviets Drop Their FIrst Atomic Bomb
The Soviet Union successfully tested their first atomic bomb, "First Lightning." This inittiated the fear in the U.S. that would become the Cold War. -
Warsaw Pact Formed
The Soviet Union brought together seven European allies to sign this act which stated that they would all come to each other's defense should their be an attack from an outside force. This was done out of fear and retalliation of the formation of NATO. -
First Summit Meeting
Eisenhower, the Prime Minister and Khrushchev met to ease tensions over post war tensions and the Cold War crisis. Eisenhower suggested the "Open Skies" agreement which was accepted by all except the Soviets. This showed that they have something to hide. -
Sputnik I
The Soviets successfully launched a satellite before the U.S. This scientific achievement made the U.S. fear the Soviet's speed and ability to create nuclear missiles, starting a nuclear race. -
Castro Comes to Power
Fidel Castro becomes premier of Cuba. He puts a communist government in place. This is the first communist government in the western hemisphere. -
Bay of Pigs
Presiden Kennedy and the CIA launched a plan for escaped Cubans to be trained and invade Cuba, sparking and anti-Castro revolution. The plan failed however because Castro's troops outnumbered the U.S. and the fighting barely lasted 24 hours. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Missiles were found in Cuba causing the U.S. to fear nuclear war. A naval blockade was put up by the U.S. and eventually the Soviets agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for the U.S. not invading Cuba. -
South Vietnam Falls to Communism
South Vietnam surrenders after a communist attack on Saigon, causing South Vietnam to fall under communist control. This furthers the spread of communism. -
Abolishing of Soviet Union
Boris Yeltsin, soon to be president of Russia, and Gorbachev dismantled the Soviet Union after 74 years. A Commonwealth of Independent States took its place.
