-
Period: to
Cold War 1947-1966
-
Containment policy
The containment policy was a US foreign policy adopted during the Cold War, primarily to prevent the spread of communism and Soviet influence -
Truman Doctrine
U.S. President Harry S. Truman announced the Truman Doctrine, pledging American support to countries threatened by communism, specifically Greece and Turkey. This marked the official start of the U.S. policy of containment of Soviet influence. -
Marshall Plan Proposal
U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall proposed the European Recovery Program (Marshall Plan), offering extensive economic aid to rebuild European economies. The goal was to prevent the spread of communism by stabilizing countries economically. The USSR rejected it and pressured Eastern Bloc nations to do the same. -
Chinese Communist Revolution Triumphs
Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China after the Communist Party defeated the Nationalists. China aligned with the Soviet Union, expanding the communist bloc and shifting Cold War dynamics globally. -
Czechoslovak Coup
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, backed by the USSR, took full control of the government in a coup. This alarmed the West and further justified the containment policy. It marked a significant expansion of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. -
Marshall Plan Enacted
The U.S. Congress officially approved the Marshall Plan, allocating over $12 billion in aid to Western European countries. This strengthened U.S. alliances and deepened the divide with the Soviet-controlled Eastern Bloc. -
Berlin Blockade Begins
The Soviet Union blocked all road, rail, and canal access to West Berlin in an attempt to force the Western Allies out of the city. This was one of the first major confrontations of the Cold War and led to the Berlin Airlift. -
NATO Formed
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established by the U.S., Canada, and 10 Western European nations as a military alliance to counter Soviet expansion. It marked a formal commitment to collective defense against communism. -
Soviet Union Tests Atomic Bomb
The USSR successfully detonated its first nuclear weapon (RDS-1), ending the U.S. monopoly on atomic weapons and intensifying the arms race. This drastically increased Cold War tensions. -
Sino-Soviet Alliance Signed
China and the Soviet Union signed the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, and Mutual Assistance, formally aligning the two largest communist nations. This alliance deepened Western fears of a unified communist front. -
NSC-68 Report Completed
The U.S. National Security Council issued NSC-68, a top-secret policy paper recommending a massive buildup of U.S. military power to counter the Soviet threat. It significantly shaped U.S. Cold War strategy for decades. -
The Korean War Begins
The Korean War, a conflict between North and South Korea and their respective allies, was a major proxy war of the Cold War, initiated by North Korea's invasion of South Korea. -
First U.S. Combat Use of Jet Fighters in Korea
In 1951, the U.S. began using jet aircraft in combat during the Korean War, particularly the F-86 Sabre against Soviet-built MiG-15s. This development reflected the increasing technological competition and intensity of proxy wars in the Cold War era. -
General MacArthur Dismissed
U.S. President Harry Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur of his command in Korea after MacArthur publicly disagreed with Truman's policy of limited war. The incident highlighted tensions between military and civilian leadership and reinforced Cold War caution against escalation with China or the USSR. -
Mutual Security Act Signed
The U.S. passed the Mutual Security Act, replacing the Marshall Plan with a global military and economic aid program aimed at resisting communism. It marked a shift toward militarized foreign assistance as a Cold War strategy. -
U.S. Tests First Hydrogen Bomb
The United States successfully detonated “Ivy Mike,” the world’s first hydrogen bomb, in the Marshall Islands. This marked a massive leap in nuclear weapons power and escalated the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union.