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The Cold War
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The Cold War Begins
Yalta Conference meeting of FDR, Churchill, Stalin - the 'Big Three'
Soviet Union has control of Eastern Europe. Power struggle between Soviet Union and United States for being a superpower. Source: http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm -
Hiroshima Bomb dropped on Japan
The United States drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima (20 kiloton bomb 'Little Boy' kills 80,000) Source: http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm -
Berlin Blockade Begins
Berlin Blockade begins lasting 11 months. Truman sends Berlin Airlift and food is dropped down on East Berlin with parachutes. Soviets eventually decide that it looks bad to have children cheering just because they have food being dropped down to them and end the Berlin Blockade. Source: Online Lecture and http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm -
McCarthyism Begins
Joseph McCarthy, Jr. Senator from Wisconson pursued different passions that would advance his career. In a speech on Feb. 9th he claimed to have a list of communists. Although most of his efforts were lost leads, he did find a small number of communists with his efforts. He was eventually shut down for misorderly conduct. Source: Online Lecture and http://www.ushistory.org/us/53a.asp
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Korean War begins.
Stalin supports North Korea who invade South Korea equipped with Soviet weapons. America supports South Korea when the South looks like it is in trouble. General Douglas MacArthur takes charge and the North Koreans retreat North. There was never a complete resolution, but just a demilitarized zone that still exists today. Source: Online Lecture and http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm -
Space Race started by Soviet Union
Soviet Union launches Sputnik satellite into space. Soon after they launch their second satellite containing a dog. Although the dog does not live, this begins a "Space Race" that causes Jack Kennedy to promise that the U.S. will be the first to place a man on the moon. Source: Online Lecture and http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm -
Berlin Wall Contruction Begins
Soviets build Berlin Wall to cut Berlin off from the rest of the country and to keep Germans from escaping Soviet/Communist control. Source: Online Lecture and http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm -
JFK Elected as President
Democratic John F. Kennedy won in the election against Republican Richard Nixon. The vote was one of the closest elections in history. Source: http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm -
President Kennedy Assassinated
President Kennedy assassinated in Dallas, Texas as he rode in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza. President Johnson takes over as the President of the United States. Source: http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/November-22-1963-Death-of-the-President.aspx -
Apollo 11 lands on the moon
July 20 : Apollo 11 lands on the moon. Among the men on the rocket, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins successfully land on the moon. Neil Armstrong being the first man to walk on the moon states "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Millions of people watched this occur from their TVs at the time. Source:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11.html#.VCMtvV74vwI -
The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) or Star Wars
President Reagan proposes Strategic Defence Initiative. This program was aimed at shooting down missles mid-air (no pun intended). These plans involved extensive use of power and technology. 30 billion dollars went into this program, however there were more trial and error effects rather than actual results. Source: http://www.coldwar.org/articles/80s/SDI-StarWars.asp
Source: http://www.coldwar.org/articles/80s/SDI-StarWars.asp -
Gorbachev Assumes Power in Soviet Union
Using polocies such as glasnot, or openness, meant a greater willingness on the part of Soviet officials to allow western ideas and goods into the USSR. Gorbachev begins the freedom revolution in the Societ Union that brings about the end of the Cold War. Source: http://www.ushistory.org/us/59e.asp and http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/11/newsid_2538000/2538327.stm -
Nuclear missiles removed
Reagan and Gorbachev agree to remove all medium and short-range nuclear missiles. This is known as the INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces) Treaty. Source: http://www.state.gov/t/avc/trty/102360.htm -
The Berlin Wall comes down
A mob of people heard that they were able to leave East Berlin. They tore down the wall and freely entered into West Berlin after 30 years of not being allowed to enter. Source: http://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/berlin-wall6.htm -
The End of the War
Bush and Gorbachev declare the end of the Cold War at the Malta Summit declaring that the Soviet Union and U.S. will work to be cooperative. Source: http://www.history.com/speeches/bush-and-gorbachev-declare-end-of-cold-war#bush-and-gorbachev-declare-end-of-cold-war -
Germany Reunited
After WWII Germany was devided between France, United States, Soviet Union and Britain. Germany becomes one with the ring of the Freedom Bell signaling freedom for all Germans. Source: Online Lecture and http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm
