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United Nations (UN)
The United Nations (U.N.) is a global diplomatic and political organization dedicated to international peace and stability. The U.N. was officially established in 1945 following the horrific events of World War II, when international leaders proposed creating a new global organization to maintain peace and avoid the abuses of war. -
Germany Divided
After the Potsdam conference, Germany was divided into four occupied zones: Great Britain in the northwest, France in the southwest, the United States in the south and the Soviet Union in the east. Berlin, the capital city situated in Soviet territory, was also divided into four occupied zones. -
Truman Doctrine
President Truman’s foreign policy of financially supporting Greece and Turkey to help them fight Soviet communist threats -
Berlin Airlift
The supply of West Berlin in Germany by American and British planes during a Soviet blockade in 1948. -
Marshall Plan
U.S. gave over $13 billion ($140 in current dollar) in economic assistance to help rebuild Western Europe after WWII. -
NATO Formed
A defensive military alliance with the West European nations and the US. (opposite was Warsaw Pact). -
Ethel and Julius Rosenberg Execution.
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg who were executed after having been found guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage. The charges were in relation to the passing of information about the American atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. -
Warsaw Pact Formed
The Warsaw Pact was created in reaction to the integration of West Germany into NATO in 1955 per the London and Paris Conferences of 1954, but it is also considered to have been motivated by Soviet desires to maintain control over military forces in Central and Eastern Europe. -
Sputnik I
Created by Soviet Union, first satellite to orbit the Earth launched in 1957 causing the “space race”