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Period: to
Cold War
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Truman Doctrine Announced
President Truman declares U.S. support for countries resisting communism, marking the start of the containment policy. -
Marshall Plan Proposed
U.S. proposes economic aid to rebuild European economies to prevent the spread of communism. -
Cominform Established
Soviet Union forms the Communist Information Bureau to coordinate actions among communist parties. -
Czechoslovak Coup d'État
Communist Party seizes control in Czechoslovakia, consolidating Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. -
Marshall Plan Implemented
U.S. Congress approves funding for the European Recovery Program to rebuild war-torn Europe. -
Berlin Blockade Begins
Soviet Union blocks Western Allies' access to West Berlin, prompting the Berlin Airlift. -
NATO Formed
Twelve nations sign the North Atlantic Treaty, creating a mutual defense alliance against Soviet aggression -
Soviet Union Tests Atomic Bomb
USSR successfully detonates its first atomic bomb, ending U.S. nuclear monopoly. -
People's Republic of China Established
Mao Zedong proclaims the establishment of communist China, shifting the balance in Asia. -
Korean War Begins
North Korea invades South Korea, leading to a UN-backed military response led by the U.S. -
UN Condemns North Korea
United Nations Security Council passes Resolution 83, recommending member states assist South Korea. -
China Enters Korean War
Chinese forces cross the Yalu River to support North Korea, escalating the conflict. -
ANZUS Pact Formed
Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. sign a security treaty to cooperate on defense matters in the Pacific. -
Japanese Peace Treaty Signed
Treaty of San Francisco officially ends WWII with Japan, restoring its sovereignty. -
Mutual Security Act Signed
U.S. legislation provides military aid to allies to counter Soviet expansion. -
UK Develops Atomic Bomb
United Kingdom conducts its first atomic bomb test, becoming the third nuclear power. -
U.S. Tests First Hydrogen Bomb
Operation Ivy results in the first successful detonation of a thermonuclear device by the U.S. -
NSA Established
U.S. creates the National Security Agency to coordinate intelligence and cryptographic activities. -
Stalin Dies
Death of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin leads to a power struggle and eventual de-Stalinization. -
Rosenbergs Executed
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are executed in the U.S. for espionage, accused of passing atomic secrets to the USSR. -
Korean War Armistice Signed
Ceasefire agreement ends active combat in Korea, establishing the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). -
Army-McCarthy Hearings
Televised hearings expose Senator McCarthy's tactics, leading to his censure and the decline of McCarthyism. -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu Ends
The Viet Minh defeat French forces, leading to the end of French colonial rule in Indochina and setting the stage for U.S. involvement -
Geneva Accords Signed
Agreements temporarily divide Vietnam at the 17th parallel, setting the stage for future conflict. -
SEATO Established
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization is formed to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. -
Warsaw Pact Formed
The Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries establish a military alliance as a counterbalance to NATO. -
Geneva Summit
Leaders from the U.S., U.K., USSR, and France meet to discuss Cold War tensions, marking a thaw in relations. -
Vietnam War Begins
The conflict escalates as the U.S. supports South Vietnam against the communist North. -
Khrushchev's Secret Speech
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev denounces Stalin's cult of personality, initiating de-Stalinization. -
Hungarian Revolution
A nationwide revolt against Soviet-imposed policies is crushed by Soviet forces, highlighting the USSR's control over Eastern Europe. -
Suez Crisis
Britain, France, and Israel invade Egypt after nationalization of the Suez Canal, leading to a political crisis and U.S.-Soviet intervention. -
Eisenhower Doctrine Announced
The U.S. pledges military and economic aid to Middle Eastern countries resisting communism. -
Sputnik Launched
The USSR launches the first artificial satellite, sparking the space race. -
Gaither Report Released
A report recommending the strengthening of U.S. defenses against potential Soviet attacks is presented to President Eisenhower. -
Lebanon Crisis
U.S. Marines land in Lebanon to support the pro-Western government amid internal unrest and regional tensions. -
NASA Established
The U.S. creates the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to coordinate space exploration efforts. -
Second Taiwan Strait Crisis
The People's Republic of China shells islands held by Taiwan, leading to U.S. support for Taiwan and heightened tensions. -
Cuban Revolution Triumphs
Fidel Castro's forces overthrow the Batista regime, leading to the establishment of a communist government in Cuba. -
U.S. Recognizes Fidel Castro's Government
The U.S. officially recognizes the new Cuban government, though relations will soon deteriorate. -
Khrushchev Visits the U.S.
Soviet Premier Khrushchev tours the U.S., marking a rare moment of diplomacy during the Cold War. -
U-2 Incident
An American spy plane is shot down over the USSR, causing a major diplomatic crisis. -
Paris Summit Collapse
The planned summit between the U.S. and USSR collapses due to the U-2 incident. -
Kennedy Elected President
John F. Kennedy wins the U.S. presidential election, bringing a youthful image to Cold War leadership. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
A failed CIA-backed operation by Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro's government, leading to increased tensions between the U.S. and Cuba. -
Vienna Summit
A meeting between U.S. President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Khrushchev, highlighting Cold War tensions and disagreements over Berlin. -
Construction of the Berlin Wall
East Germany, backed by the Soviet Union, erects the Berlin Wall to prevent East Germans from fleeing to West Berlin, symbolizing the Cold War's division. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
A 13-day confrontation between the U.S. and the USSR over Soviet ballistic missiles in Cuba, bringing the world close to nuclear war. -
U.S. Naval Blockade of Cuba
President Kennedy announces a naval blockade to prevent further Soviet missiles from reaching Cuba, escalating the missile crisis. -
Resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis
The USSR agrees to dismantle missile sites in Cuba in exchange for a U.S. public declaration not to invade Cuba and a secret agreement to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey. -
Hotline Agreement Established
The U.S. and USSR establish a direct communication link to prevent misunderstandings that could lead to nuclear war. -
President Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner" Speech
Kennedy expresses solidarity with West Berliners during a speech in West Berlin, reinforcing U.S. commitment to defending the city. -
Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Signed
The U.S., USSR, and U.K. sign a treaty banning nuclear tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater, aiming to reduce nuclear fallout. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Alleged attacks on U.S. naval vessels by North Vietnamese forces lead to increased U.S. involvement in Vietnam. -
Khrushchev Ousted from Power
Nikita Khrushchev is removed as Soviet leader, replaced by Leonid Brezhnev, signaling a shift in Soviet policies. -
China's First Nuclear Test
China detonates its first atomic bomb, becoming the fifth nuclear power and altering the global balance of power. -
Operation Rolling Thunder Begins
A sustained U.S. bombing campaign against North Vietnam aims to weaken the enemy's capacity and morale. -
U.S. Combat Troops Deployed to Vietnam
The first U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam, marking a significant escalation in American involvement. -
Second Indo-Pakistani War
India and Pakistan engage in a brief war over Kashmir, with both superpowers urging restraint to prevent broader conflict. -
U.S. Increases Troop Levels in Vietnam
U.S. military presence in Vietnam grows significantly, reflecting deepening involvement in the conflict. -
Soviet Luna 9 Lands on the Moon
Luna 9 becomes the first spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, marking a milestone in the space race. -
Cultural Revolution Begins in China
Mao Zedong initiates the Cultural Revolution to reassert his control, leading to widespread upheaval and affecting China's foreign relations.