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Period: to
Cold War 1947-1966
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Truman Doctrine announced
U.S. President Harry Truman declared support for countries resisting communism, beginning with aid to Greece and Turkey. This marked the official start of the U.S. containment policy against Soviet expansion -
Marshall Plan Proposed
The U.S. offered massive economic aid to rebuild Western Europe. It aimed to stabilize economies and reduce the appeal of communism in war-torn nations. -
Cominform Established
The Soviet Union created the Communist Information Bureau to coordinate actions among communist parties. It formalized the division between East and West. -
Czechoslovak Coup
The Soviet-backed Communist Party seized control of Czechoslovakia. This further alarmed the West and underscored Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe. -
Marshall Plan Enacted
Congress passed the Economic Recovery Act, putting the Marshall Plan into action. Over $12 billion was allocated to rebuild Europe, strengthening Western alliances. -
Berlin Blockade Begins
The USSR blocked all ground routes into West Berlin, aiming to force the Allies out. It triggered a major -
Soviet Union test atomic bomb
The USSR successfully detonated its first nuclear weapon. This ended U.S. nuclear monopoly and escalated the arms race. -
japanese Peace Treaty Signed (Treaty of San Francisco)
Japan regained sovereignty and aligned with the West. This marked its reentry into global politics during the Cold War. -
Communist victory in China
Mao Zedong declared the People's Republic of China. A major nation aligned with the Soviet bloc, shifting global power. -
U.S. Tests First Hydrogen Bomb
The U.S. detonated the first thermonuclear device. It massively escalated the arms race with the USSR. -
NATO formed
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established as a military alliance against Soviet aggression. It formalized the Western bloc. -
Korean War begins
North Korea invaded South Korea, prompting U.S. and UN intervention. It became the first military conflict of the Cold War. -
Truman orders troops to Korea
President Truman committed American forces to defend South Korea. This expanded U.S. Cold War involvement into Asia. -
China enters Korean War
Chinese troops crossed into Korea, pushing UN forces back. This prolonged the war and deepened U.S.-China hostility. -
Greece and Turkey join NATO
In Greece and Turkey joining Nato it gave the opportunity to the USA to gain more land protection in the southeastern area. -
General MacArthur dismissed
President Truman removed MacArthur for insubordination during the Korean War. It highlighted civil-military tensions during Cold War crises. -
ANZUS Treaty Signed
The U.S., Australia, and New Zealand formed a security alliance. It expanded Cold War alliances into the Pacific. -
U.S. Tests First Hydrogen Bomb
The U.S. detonated the first thermonuclear device. It massively escalated the arms race with the USSR. -
Stalin Tightens Control in Eastern Europe
Show trials and purges increased in satellite states. It showed continued Soviet repression and control in the Eastern Bloc. -
Eisenhower Becomes U.S. President
His administration adopted a more aggressive stance, including brinkmanship and massive retaliation strategies. -
Joseph Stalin Dies
The death of Stalin sparked a power struggle in the USSR. It later led to shifts in Soviet policy under Khrushchev. -
Korean War Armistice Signed
An armistice ended active fighting in Korea, though no peace treaty was signed. The peninsula remained divided. -
Dien Bien Phu Falls
Vietnamese communists defeated French forces, ending French colonial rule. It set the stage for U.S. involvement in Vietnam. -
Geneva Conference on Indochina
Vietnam was temporarily divided at the 17th parallel. It heightened Cold War tensions in Southeast Asia. -
SEATO Formed
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization aimed to block communism in Asia. It mirrored NATO’s structure in the Pacific. -
Warsaw Pact Formed
In response to NATO, the USSR created a military alliance with Eastern bloc countries. It solidified the East-West divide. -
Austria Becomes Neutral
The State Treaty ended Allied occupation and declared Austria neutral. It was a rare Cold War compromise. -
Geneva Summit
Eisenhower and Khrushchev met to reduce tensions. Though no major agreements were reached, it . -
Khrushchev’s “Secret Speech”
He denounced Stalin’s purges, beginning de-Stalinization. It shocked communist parties and sparked unrest. -
Suez Crisis
Western powers intervene in Egypt, straining NATO unity. It revealed shifting global power dynamics during the Cold War. -
Hungarian Uprising
Occurred during the months of October and November. A revolt against Soviet control was crushed by the USSR. It showed the limits of liberalization in Eastern Europe. -
Eisenhower Doctrine Announced
The U.S. pledged to defend Middle Eastern countries against communism. It extended Cold War rivalry into a new region. -
Eisenhower Doctrine Announced
The U.S. pledged to defend Middle Eastern countries against communism. It extended Cold War rivalry into a new region. -
Khrushchev Visits the U.S.
The visit was a symbolic attempt at diplomacy. It included a tense but famous meeting with Eisenhower. -
Sputnik Launched
The USSR launched the first artificial satellite. It triggered the Space Race and U.S. fears of Soviet technological superiority. -
Gaither Report Published
It warned of a missile gap favoring the USSR. This spurred increased U.S. defense spending. -
NASA Created
The U.S. established NASA to compete in the Space Race. It marked a shift in Cold War rivalry into scientific domains. -
Second Taiwan Strait Crisis
The U.S. defended Taiwan from Chinese shelling. It reaffirmed American commitments in Asia. -
Khrushchev Berlin Ultimatum
Khrushchev demanded Western powers leave Berlin within six months. It escalated tensions in divided Germany. -
Cuban Revolution
Fidel Castro overthrew Batista, eventually aligning with the USSR. It brought the Cold War to the Western Hemisphere. -
U-2 Incident
An American U-2 spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers was shot down over the Soviet Union. This event embarrassed the U.S., scuttled an upcoming summit between Eisenhower and Khrushchev, and intensified Cold War tensions. -
Limited Test Ban Treaty Signed
The U.S., USSR, and UK signed a treaty banning nuclear tests in the atmosphere, space, and underwater. It was a rare moment of cooperation, reducing radioactive fallout and symbolizing détente. -
Congo Crisis Begins
After gaining independence from Belgium, the Congo descended into chaos. The U.S. and USSR backed opposing factions, turning the internal conflict into a Cold War proxy struggle in Africa. -
Khrushchev at the UN
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev famously pounded his shoe on a desk at the United Nations General Assembly. The outburst symbolized Cold War hostility and the deep divide between East and West. -
Yuri Gagarin Orbits Earth
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. The feat was a major victory for the USSR in the space race and challenged American technological superiority. -
Bay of Pigs
A failed CIA-backed invasion by Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro. The debacle humiliated the U.S. and strengthened Soviet-Cuban ties, contributing to future crises. -
Geneva Foreign Ministers’ Conference
Talks on Berlin ended without agreement. It highlighted the impasse over Germany. -
Operation Rolling Thunder Begins
The U.S. launched a massive bombing campaign against North Vietnam. The goal was to weaken communist resolve, but it escalated the war and hardened opposition. -
Construction of the Berlin Wall
East Germany, backed by the USSR, erected the Berlin Wall to stop East Germans from fleeing to the West. It became a powerful symbol of the division between communist and capitalist blocs. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The U.S. discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba, leading to a 13-day standoff. It was the closest the world came to nuclear war and ended with a U.S.-Soviet agreement to withdraw missiles from Cuba and Turkey. -
Sino-Indian War
China and India clashed over border disputes. Although not directly a U.S.-USSR conflict, it affected Cold War alignments as the U.S. and USSR supported different sides. -
U.S. Increases Vietnam Aid
The U.S. escalated its involvement in Vietnam by sending more advisors and equipment to South Vietnam. It marked a deeper American commitment to containing communism in Southeast Asia. -
Kennedy's “Ich bin ein Berliner” Speech
U.S. President John F. Kennedy declared solidarity with West Berliners in a powerful speech. It reinforced U.S. commitment to defending Western Europe from communism. -
Limited Test Ban Treaty Signed
The U.S., USSR, and UK signed a treaty banning nuclear tests in the atmosphere, space, and underwater. It was a rare moment of cooperation, reducing radioactive fallout and symbolizing détente. -
Diem Assassinated in South Vietnam
South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem was overthrown and killed in a coup tacitly supported by the U.S. The event destabilized South Vietnam, complicating U.S. policy in the region. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Alleged attacks on U.S. ships by North Vietnamese forces led Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. It gave President Johnson broad powers to escalate U.S. involvement in Vietnam. -
Khrushchev Removed from Power
Nikita Khrushchev was ousted and replaced by Leonid Brezhnev. His removal marked a shift toward more conservative Soviet policies and solidified Brezhnev’s rise to power. -
China Test FIrst Nuclear Bomb
China detonated its first atomic bomb, becoming the fifth nuclear power. This altered the global power balance and raised Cold War stakes in Asia. -
Operation Rolling Thunder Begins
The U.S. launched a massive bombing campaign against North Vietnam. The goal was to weaken communist resolve, but it escalated the war and hardened opposition. -
U.S. Ground Troops Deployed to Vietnam
The first U.S. combat troops landed in Da Nang, marking the start of direct American military involvement. This began the Vietnam War in earnest for the U.S. -
Indo-Pakistani War
India and Pakistan fought over Kashmir, with the USSR and U.S. trying to mediate. The war reflected how Cold War powers became involved in regional conflicts outside Europe. -
Cultural Revolution Begins in China
Mao Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution to reassert his control. It disrupted China internally and distanced it further from both the U.S. and USSR, changing Cold War dynamics in Asia. -
U.S. Troop Numbers in Vietnam Reach 400,000+
American military presence in Vietnam surged. The escalation reflected the deepening U.S. commitment and foreshadowed the prolonged nature of the conflict. -
France Withdraws from NATO Military Command
President Charles de Gaulle pulled France from NATO’s military structure to assert independence. This strained Western unity and highlighted divisions within the anti-Soviet alliance.