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The Cold War Began
The historians have so far not reached any agreement on the time in which the Cold War began. It is, however, quite safe to say that since 1947 when President Truman of the United States declared an anti-communist policy, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union has begun. -
Period: to
THE COLD WAR
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Red Army had liberated and controlled a large part of eastern Europe
Even before the end of the war, the Soviet Union had gradually extended her influence in Europe. By the fall of 1944, the Red Army had liberated and controlled a large part of eastern Europe. By 1945, at the Yalta Conference, the Soviet Union obtained the Curzon Line as her new boundary line with Poland and also the control of the eastern zone of Germany. -
President Roosevelt died
The first reason was that President Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. He was succeeded by Harry S. Truman. President Roosevelt was an optimistic man. He seemed to have believed that although eastern Europe had fallen under the influence of Russia, she would keep her promise (made at Yalta) by setting up freely-elected parliamentary governments in the area. So Roosevelt did not advocate strong resistance against Russian expansion. -
Soviet Union quickly consolidated her control of eastern Europe
As the war was drawing to a close in May 1945, the Soviet Union quickly consolidated her control of eastern Europe. The Red Army began by influencing the post-war elections. They intimidated the voters and changed the voting lists as they desired. -
President Truman declared the Truman Doctrine
Incipient conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States began at the peace-time conferences. Their conflict was intensified after President Truman declared the Truman Doctrine and launched the Marshall Plan in 1947. -
No part of the world escaped the effects of the Cold War.
No part of the world escaped the effects of the Cold War. But up to 1949 the Cold War was mainly confined to Europe and the chief arena was in Germany. -
Stalin realized that he could not force the withdrawal of western nations
On May 9, 1949, Stalin realized that he could not force the withdrawal of western nations from West Berlin. He admitted defeat by lifting the Berlin Blockade. -
North Korea troops began to invade South Korea.
On June 25, 1950 the North Korea troops began to invade South Korea. They attempted to unify Korea and set up a communist regime for the whole nation. -
with the help of the United Nations, an armistice was arranged.
Finally in July 1953, with the help of the United Nations, an armistice was arranged. It was agreed to restore the status quo ante: Korea remained divided along the 38th parallel. -
most critical phase of the Cold War was over both Russia and the United States
By 1955 when the most critical phase of the Cold War was over both Russia and the United States had organized their satellites into opposing alliances. Political tension between the East and the West will continue. -
The Soviet Union looked at these anti-communist moves with fear.
The Soviet Union looked at these anti-communist moves with fear. She concluded the Warsaw Pact with her satellites in May 1955. -
Khrushchev met with President Eisenhower at the Geneva Conference
In 1955 Khrushchev met with President Eisenhower at the Geneva Conference. Although they could not agree on a specific programme for more peaceful East-West relations, the cordial atmosphere of their informal discussion had suggested a remarkable lessening of the world tension. -
October and November 1956 also showed that the relations between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. were improving.
The events of October and November 1956 also showed that the relations between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. were improving. In the above-mentioned Hungarian revolt, the United States did nothing to assist the Hungarian rioters. In the Suez crisis of the same year, the United States did not help the British and the French in their attack on Egypt. Instead the United States co-operated with Soviet Russia in condemning the Anglo-French attack. -
Polish embassy in Hungary
On October 23, 1956 before the Polish embassy in Hungary, 50,000 people participated in an anti-Russian demonstration. -
ussian troops entered Budapest
On November 4, Russian troops entered Budapest to put an end to the uprising -
peaceful co-existence between the East and the West seemed to have been accepted by both the United States and the Soviet Union.
Up to 1960, peaceful co-existence between the East and the West seemed to have been accepted by both the United States and the Soviet Union.