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Period: to
Cold War 1947-1966
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U.S. places nuclear missiles in Turkey
The U.S. secretly began placing nuclear missiles in Turkey, close to the Soviet border. This was part of Cold War strategy to surround the USSR with U.S. weapons and later played a major role in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was an American foreign policy whose stated purpose was to counter Soviet geopolitical expansion during the Cold War. -
Marshall Plan
Introduced by Secretary of State George G. Marshall in 1947. Proposed massive and systematic American economic aid to Europe to revitalize the European economies after WWII and help prevent the spread of Communism. -
Rio Pact
The Rio Pact said that if one country in the Americas was attacked, the others would help defend it. It ties into the Cold War because the U.S. wanted to stop the spread of communism in the Americas and make sure countries in the Western Hemisphere stayed united against the Soviet Union. -
Communist Party took over Czechoslovakia
On February 25, 1948, the Communist Party took over Czechoslovakia. They forced the non-communist leaders to resign and took full control of the government, turning the country into a communist state backed by the Soviet Union. -
Truman's Loyalty Program
Truman’s Loyalty Program was a plan to check if government workers were loyal to the United States. It was part of the fear of communism during the Cold War. The government investigated workers to make sure they weren’t secretly helping the Soviet Union or part of communist groups. -
Berlin Blockade
The Soviet Union blocked all roads, railways, and canals into West Berlin, trying to force the U.S., Britain, and France to give up control of their parts of the city. This was one of the first major conflicts of the Cold War and showed the growing divide between the East (Soviets) and West (U.S. and allies). -
NATO ratified
On April 4, 1949, NATO was officially ratified. It was a military alliance between the U.S., Canada, and several Western European countries. The goal was to protect each other from attack especially from the Soviet Union during the Cold War. -
Berlin Blockade Ends
On May 12, 1949, the Berlin Blockade ended. After 11 months of the Berlin Airlift, where the U.S. and its allies flew in supplies to help West Berlin, the Soviet Union gave up and reopened roads, railways, and canals. It was a Cold War victory for the West, showing that the U.S. and its allies would stand up to Soviet pressure without starting a war. -
Russia tested its first atomic bomb
On August 29, 1949, the Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb. This surprised the U.S. and ended its lead in nuclear weapons. It made the Cold War more dangerous and started the nuclear arms race -
Truman approved H-bomb development
On January 30, 1950, President Truman approved making the hydrogen bomb. He did this because the Soviet Union had built its own atomic bomb, and the U.S. wanted to stay ahead in the Cold War. -
Joe McCarthy begins Communist witch hunt and loyalty tests
In February 1950, Senator Joe McCarthy began a communist "witch hunt" in the U.S. government. He claimed there were communists working in the government and pushed for loyalty tests and investigations. This started a period of fear and suspicion during the Cold War, which was known as McCarthyism. -
Korean War Begins
On June 24, 1950, the Korean War began when North Korea invaded South Korea, they used Soviet weapons. This was a key event in the Cold War, as the U.S. and other countries helped South Korea, while China and the USSR backed North Korea. -
Federal Civil Defense Administration Established
On January 12, 1951, the Federal Civil Defense Administration was created in the United States. Its job was to prepare Americans for a possible nuclear attack during the Cold War. The FCDA taught people how to “duck and cover," built warning systems, and helped make emergency plans. -
Truman Fires MacArthur
On April 11, 1951, President Truman fired General Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur wanted to expand the Korean War into China, but Truman disagreed because he didn’t want a bigger war. This showed that in the Cold War, the U.S. government wanted to control the conflict. -
Mutual Security Act Signed
President Truman signed the Mutual Security Act, which gave military and economic aid to U.S. allies fighting communism. It was part of the Cold War strategy to stop the spread of communism by helping countries stay strong against Soviet influence. -
U.S. Increases Military Support in Southeast Asia
The U.S. gave more military aid to France in the fight against communist forces in Vietnam. This deepened American involvement in Asia and showed efforts to contain communism during the Cold War. -
Stalin Proposes A United, Neutral Germany
Joseph Stalin offered a plan to reunite East and West Germany as a neutral country. The West rejected it, they believed it was a Soviet trick. This kept Germany divided and increased Cold War tensions. -
U.S. Tests Its First Hydrogen Bomb
The U.S. successfully tested the first H-bomb (Operation Ivy) in the Marshall Islands. This increased U.S. nuclear power and escalated the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union. -
RAND report on the "Vulnerability of U. S. Strategic Air Power"
It warned that U.S. bombers were at risk of a surprise Soviet attack. This report increased Cold War fears and led to changes in U.S. defense planning, like spreading out air bases and improving early warning systems. -
Korean War Ends
Korean War ended with an armistice agreement signed on July 27. It stopped the fighting but didn’t officially end the war. North and South Korea stayed divided at the 38th parallel. -
Ike's Atoms for Peace speech
President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave his "Atoms for Peace" speech at the United Nations. He said the U.S. wanted to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, like medicine and electricity, instead of just weapons. This speech was part of the Cold War effort to show the world that the U.S. was using its power responsibly -
KGB established
KGB (Committee for State Security) was officially established in the Soviet Union. It became the USSR’s main spy and security agency, responsible for intelligence, surveillance, and crushing opposition. During the Cold War, the KGB played a major role in spying on the U.S. and its allies -
H-bomb Castle-Bravo test
U.S. carried out the Castle Bravo test, its largest hydrogen bomb explosion ever. It took place in the Marshall Islands and was much more powerful than expected. The test caused radioactive fallout that spread far, harming people and the environment. It showed how dangerous the nuclear arms race had become during the Cold War. -
Vietnam split at 17th parallel
The Geneva Accords ended the First Indochina War and split Vietnam at the 17th parallel. North Vietnam became communist, led by Ho Chi Minh, and South Vietnam was non-communist, backed by the U.S. This division became a key Cold War conflict, leading to the Vietnam War as the U.S. tried to stop the spread of communism in Asia. -
West Germany joins NATO
The U.S. and its allies let West Germany join NATO, a Western military alliance. This angered the Soviet Union and raised tensions in Europe. -
Warsaw Pact is formed
In response to West Germany joining NATO, the Soviet Union and its allies created the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance of communist countries. It became the Eastern Bloc’s version of NATO. -
Geneva Summit
Leaders from the U.S., USSR, Britain, and France met in Geneva to ease Cold War tensions. No major agreements were made, but it was the first big meeting between the superpowers since World War II, showing a brief hope for peace. -
USSR sent tanks into Poznan, Poland, to suppress demonstrations by workers
The Soviet Union sent tanks into Poznań, Poland, to crush protests by workers demanding better wages and more freedom. The protest turned into a major anti-communist uprising, and the Soviets used force to stop it, killing dozens. This event showed how the USSR controlled Eastern Europe during the Cold War -
USSR sent military aid to Afghanistan
The Soviet Union sent military aid to Afghanistan for the first time. This was part of the Cold War competition for influence in the Middle East and South Asia. Both the USSR and the U.S. were trying to win over countries by giving them weapons and support, hoping to pull them to their side in the global power struggle. -
Rebellion put down in Communist Hungary
A rebellion broke out in Communist Hungary as people protested for freedom and democracy. At first, the Soviets pulled back, but when Hungary tried to leave the Warsaw Pact, the USSR sent in tanks and crushed the uprising. Thousands were killed or arrested, and a pro-Soviet government was put back in power. This showed that the Soviet Union would not allow any country in Eastern Europe to break away from communist control during the Cold War. -
Vostok rocket launched 1st ICBM
Showed the USSR could now hit the U.S. with nuclear missiles from far away. This meant the balance of power changed both countries had to worry about a sudden, devastating attack. It made the nuclear arms race more dangerous and led to both sides building more weapons and better defense systems. It also pushed the space race forward because these rockets could be used to launch satellites or missiles. -
Sputnik launched into orbit
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. This was a huge moment in the Cold War because it showed that the USSR had advanced rocket technology capable of sending objects into space and potentially delivering nuclear weapons anywhere in the world. -
Sputnik II launched - Laika died in space
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik II, the second satellite sent into space. It carried Laika, the first living creature (a dog) to orbit Earth. Sadly, Laika died a few hours after launch due to overheating. This event was important in the Cold War because it showed the USSR was quickly advancing in space technology, increasing pressure on the U.S. in the Space Race. -
Explorer I launched
The United States launched Explorer 1, its first successful satellite into orbit. This was a big moment in the Cold War Space Race because it was America’s response to the Soviet Sputnik satellites. Explorer 1 helped discover the Van Allen radiation belts around Earth and showed the U.S. was catching up in space technology. -
NASA began Mercury project using Atlas rocket
The U.S. started the Mercury Project, its first manned space program. They planned to use the Atlas rocket to launch astronauts into orbit. This was part of the Cold War Space Race, aiming to compete with the Soviet Union’s early successes like Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin’s flight. The project helped the U.S. work toward sending people into space and eventually to the Moon. -
Khrushchev demands withdrawal of troops from Berlin
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev demanded that Western troops leave West Berlin. He wanted the U.S., Britain, and France to pull their forces out and give East Germany control over the city. This increased Cold War tensions because West Berlin was a symbol of freedom inside communist East Germany, and the West refused to leave. -
Fidel Castro takes over Cuba
Castro’s rebels overthrew the Cuban government. Soon after, Cuba became aligned with the Soviet Union, creating a communist ally close to the U.S., which worried American leaders. -
U.S. places nuclear missiles in Turkey
The U.S. secretly began placing nuclear missiles in Turkey, close to the Soviet border. This was part of Cold War strategy to surround the USSR with U.S. weapons and later played a major role in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. -
Khrushchev visits the United States
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev made a historic visit to the U.S., meeting with President Eisenhower. It was the first time a Soviet leader visited America, showing a brief moment of reduced tension, even though big issues like Berlin and nuclear weapons were still unsolved. -
Soviet Union reveals that U.S. spy plane was shot down over Soviet territory
The Soviet Union announced that it had shot down a U.S. U-2 spy plane flying over Soviet territory. The U.S. first denied it was spying, but the Soviets had captured the pilot, Gary Powers, and proved it. This event became known as the U-2 incident and made Cold War tensions worse, especially just before a planned peace summit between the U.S. and the USSR which was then canceled. -
John F. Kennedy elected President of USA
On November 8, 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected as the 35th President of the United States, narrowly defeating Republican Vice President Richard Nixon in one of the closest elections in U.S. history. At 43, Kennedy became the youngest person elected president and the first Roman Catholic to hold the office. Kennedy's victory was significant in the context of the Cold War. -
Cuba openly aligns itself with the Soviet Union and their policies.
On December 19, 1960, Cuba officially aligned itself with the Soviet Union and its communist policies. This confirmed that Fidel Castro's government was now a close ally of the USSR, just 90 miles from the U.S. It was a major Cold War turning point, increasing tensions and leading to future crises like the Bay of Pigs invasion -
Bay of Pigs invasion
In April 1961, the Bay of Pigs invasion took place. It was a failed attempt by the U.S. to use Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro’s communist government in Cuba. The invasion was quickly crushed by Cuban forces. It was embarrassing for the U.S. and made Castro turn even more to the Soviet Union for help. -
Berlin border is closed
On August 13, 1961, East Germany, backed by the Soviet Union, closed the border between East and West Berlin. They wanted to stop people from fleeing communist East Berlin to the free West. Soon after, they began building the Berlin Wall, which became a powerful symbol of the Cold War divide -
Construction of Berlin Wall begins
On August 17, 1961, construction of the Berlin Wall began. The wall was built by East Germany to stop people from escaping to West Berlin, where life was freer and more prosperous. -
Nuclear Test Ban negotiations begin
After rising nuclear tensions, the U.S., USSR, and UK began talks to limit nuclear weapons testing, leading to the Partial Test Ban Treaty the next year. This showed a small move toward easing Cold War tensions. -
U.S. increases military presence in Vietnam
The U.S. sent more military advisors and helicopters to support South Vietnam against the communist Viet Cong, deepening U.S. involvement in what would become the Vietnam War. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The U.S. discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, leading to a 13-day standoff that almost caused a nuclear war. It ended when the USSR agreed to remove the missiles, and the U.S. secretly agreed to remove missiles from Turkey. This was the closest the world came to nuclear conflict during the Cold War. -
“Ich bin ein Berliner” speech
President John F. Kennedy gave a famous speech in West Berlin where he said, "Ich bin ein Berliner" (“I am a Berliner”). This speech showed strong U.S. support for West Berliners living in a city divided by the Berlin Wall, standing up against communist East Germany and the Soviet Union. -
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty ratified
In 1962, the U.S., Soviet Union, and Britain started talking about stopping nuclear weapons testing because people were scared after the Cuban Missile Crisis. These talks led to the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which was signed in August 1963. The treaty banned nuclear tests in the air, space, and oceans, but still allowed testing underground. -
President Kennedy assassinated in Dallas, Texas
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas while riding in a motorcade. His death shocked the world and created uncertainty during the Cold War, especially since he had just handled major events like the Cuban Missile Crisis. After his death, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson became president and continued many of Kennedy’s Cold War policies. -
Gulf of Tonkin incident
In August 1964, two U.S. Navy ships were reportedly attacked by North Vietnamese boats in the Gulf of Tonkin. The U.S. government used this to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave President Lyndon B. Johnson the power to send American troops into Vietnam without a formal declaration of war. -
A-bombs developed by China
This made China the 5th country in the world to have nuclear weapons, after the U.S., USSR, UK, and France. It was a big deal in the Cold War because it showed that communist China was becoming a powerful player. -
Nikita Khrushchev removed from power
Soviet leader Khrushchev was forced to step down by other Soviet officials. He had lost support after events like the Cuban Missile Crisis and problems at home. He was replaced by Leonid Brezhnev, who would lead the Soviet Union for many years -
Operation Rolling Thunder begins
The U.S. launched Operation Rolling Thunder, a massive bombing campaign against North Vietnam. It lasted for over 3 years and was meant to weaken the communist forces and pressure North Vietnam to stop supporting the Viet Cong in the South. -
U.S. Marines sent to Dominican Republic to fight Communism
The United States sent U.S. Marines to the Dominican Republic during a civil war. The U.S. was worried that communists might take over the country, like what had happened in Cuba. So, President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered the military to step in and stop a possible communist revolution. This was part of the Cold War policy of containment -
Announcement of dispatching of 200,000 U.S. troops to Vietnam
President Lyndon B. Johnson announced that the U.S. would send 200,000 more troops to Vietnam. This marked a big escalation of the Vietnam War, turning it into a major conflict for the United States. It was part of the Cold War effort to stop communism from spreading in Southeast Asia -
B-52s Bomb North Vietnam
The U.S. began using B-52 bombers to heavily bomb North Vietnam as part of the Vietnam War. These long-range planes dropped tons of explosives to destroy enemy supply routes, bases, and morale. This was part of America’s Cold War effort to stop communist North Vietnam from taking over the South -
France withdraws from NATO’s military command
French President Charles de Gaulle pulled France out of NATO’s military structure wanting more independence from U.S. control. This caused tension among Western allies during the Cold War and showed cracks in the Western alliance against communism. -
U.S. bombed Hanoi and Haiphong
The U.S. bombed the North Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, and its main port, Haiphong. These attacks showed the escalation of the Vietnam War and the U.S.'s determination to weaken the communist government in the North.