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Potsdam Conference Realligns Borders of Unstable Europe
The Postdam Conference of 1945 realligned many borders within Europe as we know it today. In addition, the conference set to settle many of the issues that had arisen from the war, and to also form lasting peace-treaties that would hopefully prevent such catastrophies such as WWII. This event is important because it helps illuminate much of the lack of concern on the Soviet side towards official treaties, pacts,a nd agreements. Depsite the developments of the conference, the Cold War proceeded. -
Dclaration of Nuclear Arms Towards Soviet Union
On the 24th of July, 1945, President Truman announced to the leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, that the United States had nuclear arms. This is one of the first examples of how the Cold War would come to be known as a nuclear arms race, often stalemating along the way. This is a key event because it is one of the first instances of "Cold War" negotiations. -
American and British Forces Join to Create the Bizone
Bizone - Cold WarIn 1947, the British and American occupation zones combined to create the bizone. It had a population of approximately 39 million people. The bizone was created in hopes that it would advance the growing economy in the area. It also served to coordinate police forces of the two seperate zones. -
Berlin Airlift Providing Needed Goods to Cut-off Germany
Lecture LinkThe importance of the Berlin Airlift was that it provided needed goods to the citizens of Berlin who were, in effect, excommunicated from the outside world. The airlift helped sustain semi-normal life within Berlin due to the blockade by the Soviet Union, starting in June of 1948. -
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is Formed
North Atlantic Treaty Organization The North Atlantic Treaty, signed in 1949 by multiple countries, including the United States, Canada, Belgium, Luxemborg, France, Italy, and others as well, was designed initially as a preventative measure against future fighting. An attack toward one country would insinuate an attack towards all members of NATO. This helped to ensure that was would not be struck up so easily as it had before. -
The Warsaw Pact is Formed
Warsaw Pact The Soviet Union meets with seven other coutries. These countries sign a document giving the Soviet Union control of their armed forces. This included the Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria. They carried on this way until the pact dissolved in 1991. -
John F Kennedy is Inaugurated
John Kennedy Inaugurated In January of 1961, John F Kennedy became President of the United States. He was inaugurated on the lawn of the Capitol in Washington D.C. as the 35th President. Included in his speech was the famous line "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." -
Richard Nixon is Inuaugurated
Richard Nixon Inauguration On January 20, 1969, Richard Nixon was inaugurated as the 37th President of the United States. Nixon won the election over Democrat Hubert Humphrey and would hold the position for a full term. -
South Vietnam Falls the the Communists
South Vietnam Falls to Communists In 1975 Communist forces moved into Saigon where they met little resistance from South Vietnam armed forces. This allowed North Vietnam to easily overtake Saigon. America negliected to support the troops in South Vietnam, rendering them helpless in the case of an attack of this scale. -
United States and Allies Boycott Moscow Summer Olympics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_Summer_Olympics
The boycotting of the 1980 Summer Olympic games in Mosow, Russia were primarily caused by Soviet involvement in Afghanistan. Jimmy Carter, the U.S. President at the time stated in Janurary of that year that the U.S. wouldn't participate in the games in Russia did not pull out its troops in Afghanistan. Again, we see the stalemate-like politics of the Cold War: slow, deliberate, and often atagonistic. -
The United States Invades the Island of Grenada
http://www.military.com/Resources/HistorySubmittedFileView?file=history_grenada.htm
In 1983, the United States invaded the island nation of Grenada, aiming to overthrow the communist government, and replace it with a democratic one. This invasion lasted only two months, primarily due to the fact that Grenada was so small and weak compared to the might of the U.S. This invasion also continues to characterize the tendencies of American diplomacy during the Cold War era; one of communist fear. -
Ronald Reagan Delivers a Speech that will Forever be Remembered
Ronald Reagan's Speech In June of 1987, Reagan delivered a speech that would be remembered forever. His audience was the people of West Berlin. He called upon the leader of Soviet Russia to tear down the concrete wall that separated the east and west of Germany. -
The Warsaw Pact Dissolves
Warsaw Pact Dissolves Members of the countries of the Warsaw Treaty Organization met and decided to close down the pact. It was originally founded in 1955, but lost momentum when non-Communists came to power.
