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Period: to
Cold war 1947-1966
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Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine, announced in 1947, was a U.S. policy aimed at containing the spread of communism by providing political, military, and economic assistance to countries threatened by Soviet influence, particularly Greece and Turkey. It marked the beginning of the Cold War and established the framework for American foreign policy focused on containment. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan, announced in June 1947, was a U.S. initiative to provide economic aid to help rebuild European countries after World War II. It aimed to prevent the spread of communism by promoting political stability and economic recovery through extensive financial support. -
Rio Pact
The Rio Pact, also known as the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, is a mutual defense agreement among countries in the Americas. It states that an attack against one member is considered an attack against all. -
Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia
In February 1948, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, backed by the Soviet Union, seized power through a political coup rather than a military takeover. Facing mass resignations from non-Communist ministers and mounting pressure, marking the beginning of four decades of one-party rule. -
Truman's Loyalty Program created to Cold War spies
In March 1948, President Truman's Loyalty Program was established to investigate and remove any federal employees suspected of having Communist ties, aiming to prevent espionage during the Cold War. The program led to extensive background checks and loyalty oaths, fueling fears of subversion and contributing to the broader Red Scare in America. -
Berlin Blockade begins lasting 11 months
The Berlin Blockade, a critical event in the early Cold War, began on June 24, 1948, and lasted for 11 months, concluding on May 12, 1949. The Soviet Union blockaded all road, rail, and water routes into West Berlin, effectively isolating it from the rest of Western Germany. This action was a direct response to the introduction of a new currency in the Western-controlled zones of Germany. -
NATO ratified
The United States ratified the North Atlantic Treaty, establishing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), on July 21, 1949, by a vote of 82 to 13. President Truman and Secretary of State Dean Acheson signed the Instrument of Accession on July 25, 1949, officially making the United States a founding member. -
Berlin Blockade ends
The Berlin Blockade, a critical Cold War event, ended on May 12, 1949, when the Soviet Union lifted its blockade of West Berlin. This 11-month blockade, initiated in June 1948, had cut off land and river access to the western sectors of Berlin, which were under Allied control. The Western Allies responded with the Berlin Airlift, a massive operation to supply West Berlin by air. -
Russia tested its first atomic bomb
The Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb on August 29, 1949, at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan. The test, code-named "First Lightning" by the Soviets and "Joe-1" by the Americans, was a plutonium-based implosion-type bomb similar in design to the US "Fat Man bomb. This test marked the beginning of the nuclear arms race during the Cold War -
Truman approved H-bomb development
President Harry Truman approved the development of the hydrogen bomb in 1950. He made this decision after the Soviet Union successfully tested its first atomic bomb in 1949. Truman's approval came in response to this development and a desire to maintain a weapons advantage over the Soviets. -
Joe McCarthy begins Communist witch hunt and loyalty tests
Senator Joe McCarthy launched a fervent campaign accusing government officials and others of Communist ties without solid evidence, sparking widespread fear and suspicion. This led to loyalty tests and blacklists, damaging careers and civil liberties during what became known as the Red Scare. -
Korean War Begins
The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea. North Korean forces, equipped with Soviet weapons, initially achieved significant gains, pushing South Korean forces and their US allies back. -
Development of the H-Bomb
In 1951, the United States accelerated development of the hydrogen bomb, conducting crucial tests like the "George" shot that proved key design principles. These advancements set the stage for the first full-scale H-bomb detonation in 1952, intensifying the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union. -
Federal Civil Defense Administration established
The Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA) was organized by President Harry S. Truman on December 1, 1950, through Executive Order 10186, and became an official government agency via the Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950 on 12 January 1951. -
Truman fires MacAuthur
In 1951, President Harry S. Truman fired General Douglas MacArthur after he publicly criticized Truman's policy of limited war in Korea. Truman believed MacArthur's actions threatened control of the military and risked escalating the conflict with China and the Soviet Union. -
A-bombs developed by Britain
In 1952, Britain successfully tested its first atomic bomb, becoming the third country to develop nuclear weapons. This marked a major step in the Cold War, strengthening the Western alliance and showing Britain's commitment to nuclear deterrence. -
Dwight D Eisenhower was Elected
Eisenhower was elected president in November 1952 with a strong anti-communist stance, showing a more aggressive approach to Cold War policy, including the rollback of communism and expansion of nuclear tension. -
Increased Military Buildup + Spending
In response to Cold War tensions and the Korean War, the U.S. ramped up military spending in 1952, further strengthening its global military presence and readiness to counter Soviet influence. -
Nuclear Arms Race
In 1952, the U.S. conducted a series of 11 atomic bomb tests at the Nevada Test Site as part of the nuclear arms race. These tests helped improve American nuclear weapons and demonstrated the country's growing atomic power during the Cold War. -
RAND releases report
In 1953, the RAND Corporation released a report titled "Vulnerability of U.S. Strategic Air Power," warning that American bombers were highly vulnerable to a surprise Soviet attack. The report urged improvements in early warning systems and the development of more secure and dispersed air bases. -
Korean War ends
The Korean War ended in 1953 with an agreement signed on July 27, stopping the fighting but not officially ending the war. The agreement created the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), leaving North and South Korea divided at the 38th parallel. -
H-bomb Castle-Bravo test
The Castle Bravo test, conducted by the United States on March 1, 1954, was the first dry fuel thermonuclear (H-bomb) test and unexpectedly became the most powerful nuclear explosion ever detonated by the U.S. at that time. -
KGB established
The KGB (Committee for State Security) was established by the Soviet Union in 1954 as its main security agency, responsible for intelligence, counterintelligence, and secret police activities. It played a major role in spying, political repression, and maintaining state control during the Cold War. -
Vietnam split at 17th parallel
In 1954, Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel as part of the Geneva Accords, with the North led by a communist government and the South by a non-communist regime. -
Warsaw Pact formed
The Warsaw Pact was formed in 1955 as a military alliance between the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries to counter NATO. -
Geneva Summit
President Dwight D. Eisenhower met with leaders from the USSR, UK, and France, marking the first major Cold War summit and an attempt to ease tensions. -
Eisenhower’s "Open Skies" Proposal
At the Geneva Summit, Eisenhower proposed mutual aerial surveillance between the U.S. and USSR to reduce the chance of surprise attacks, though the Soviets rejected it, showing ongoing mistrust. -
USSR sent tanks into Poznan
In 1956, the USSR sent tanks into Poznań, Poland, to crush a workers' uprising demanding better conditions and more freedom, showing the Soviet Union's harsh control over Eastern Europe. -
USSR sent military aid to Afghanistan
In 1956, the USSR began sending military aid to Afghanistan to strengthen ties and expand its influence in the region during the Cold War. -
Suez Crisis began with Israeli
The Suez Crisis began in 1956 when Israel invaded Egypt, soon joined by Britain and France, aiming to regain Western control of the Suez Canal and remove Egyptian President Nasser. -
Vostok rocket launched 1st ICBM
In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the Vostok rocket carrying the world’s first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), marking a major advancement in Cold War-era military technology. -
Soviet Union launched Sputnik
In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, into orbit, sparking the start of the space race during the Cold War. -
Sputnik II launched
In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik II, carrying the first living creature, the dog Laika, into space. -
Explorer I launched
In 1958, the United States launched Explorer I, its first successful satellite, marking America’s entry into the space race. -
NASA began Mercury project
In 1958, NASA began the Mercury project, aiming to send the first American astronauts into space. -
Khrushchev demands withdrawal of troops from Berlin
In 1958, Khrushchev demanded the withdrawal of Western troops from Berlin, escalating tensions over the city's status during the Cold War. -
Cuba taken over by Fidel Castro
In 1959, Fidel Castro led a revolution that overthrew the Cuban government, establishing a communist regime allied with the Soviet Union. -
Khrushchev visits United States
In 1959, Soviet leader Khrushchev visited the United States, marking a significant step in Cold War diplomacy between the two superpowers. -
Hotline
In 1959, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to establish a direct "hotline" communication link to reduce the risk of accidental nuclear war. -
U.S. spy plane was shot down
In 1960, the Soviet Union revealed that it had shot down a U.S. spy plane flying over its territory, worsening Cold War tensions. -
John F. Kennedy elected
In 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected the 35th President of the United States, narrowly defeating Vice President Richard Nixon in one of the closest elections in U.S. history. -
Cuba openly aligns itself with the Soviet Union
In 1961, Cuba officially aligned itself with the Soviet Union, deepening Cold War tensions in the Western Hemisphere. -
Bay of Pigs invasion
In 1961, the failed Bay of Pigs invasion by U.S.-backed Cuban exiles aimed to overthrow Fidel Castro but strengthened his hold on Cuba. -
Berlin border is closed
In 1961, the failed Bay of Pigs invasion by U.S.-backed Cuban exiles aimed to overthrow Fidel Castro but strengthened his hold on Cuba. -
Construction of Berlin Wall begins
In 1961, East Germany, backed by the USSR, began building the Berlin Wall to stop East Germans from fleeing to West Berlin. -
US tested the first communications satellite
In 1962, the United States successfully tested the first communications satellite, strengthening its technological edge during the Cold War. -
U.S. involvement in Vietnam increases
In 1962, U.S. involvement in Vietnam was growing, with more advisors and military support sent to assist South Vietnam against the communist North. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
In 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the U.S. and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war over Soviet missiles stationed in Cuba. -
Limited Nuclear Test Ban
In 1963, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty to curb the arms race and ease Cold War tensions. -
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty ratified
In 1963, the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was ratified, banning nuclear tests in the atmosphere, underwater, and in space to help reduce Cold War tensions. -
President Kennedy assassinated
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, shocking the world and deeply impacting the United States during the Cold War era. -
Nikita Khrushchev was removed from Soviet Union
In 1964, Nikita Khrushchev was removed from power in the Soviet Union, leading to a leadership change that affected Cold War policies and Soviet-American relations. -
Gulf of Tonkin incident
In 1964, the Gulf of Tonkin incident involved alleged attacks on U.S. Navy ships by North Vietnamese forces, leading to increased U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. -
A-bombs developed by China
In 1964, China successfully tested its first atomic bomb, becoming the fifth nuclear power and shifting the balance of power in the Cold War. -
U.S. Marines sent to Dominican Republic
In 1965, the U.S. sent Marines to the Dominican Republic to prevent a suspected communist takeover, reflecting Cold War fears in the Western Hemisphere. -
Dispatching of 200,000 U.S. troops
In 1965, the U.S. dispatched 200,000 troops to Vietnam, marking a major escalation in its direct military involvement in the Cold War conflict. -
Voting Rights Act Passed
On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, strengthening U.S. global credibility during the Cold War by addressing civil rights issues at home. -
B-52s Bomb North Vietnam
In 1966, U.S. B-52 bombers began heavy bombing raids on North Vietnam, intensifying the Vietnam War during the Cold War. -
United States bombed oil depots
On June 29, 1966, the United States bombed oil depots and industrial targets in Hanoi and Haiphong, escalating its military pressure on North Vietnam. -
Soviet Union launched Luna 12
On October 25, 1966, the Soviet Union launched Luna 12, a lunar orbiter mission that showcased Soviet space advancements amid the Cold War space race.