Cold War Timeline 1947-1966

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    Cold war 1947-1966

  • Truman Doctrine

    Truman Doctrine
    President Truman announces the Truman Doctrine. Which is the U.S. policy of sending aid to any nation trying to prevent a Communist takeover.
  • U.S. Aids others

    U.S. Aids others
    The U.S. extends $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent them from falling into the Soviet sphere.
  • Czechoslovak coup d'état

    Czechoslovak coup d'état
    The Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948 was a pivotal event in the early Cold War that marked the full takeover of Czechoslovakia by the Communist Party, backed by the Soviet Union.
  • Marshall Plan

    Marshall Plan
    President Truman signs the Marshall Plan, authorizing an economic aid program to rebuild Western Europe.
  • Berlin Blockade

    Berlin Blockade
    Soviet action that aimed to cut off land access to West Berlin. The Berlin Blockade begins as the USSR.
  • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

    North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
    Signed in Washington D.C. on April 4, 1949, by the United States, Canada, and 10 Western European nations. The treaty's purpose was to create a collective defense system. This system was used for when there is an attack against member would be considered and attack against all.
  • USSR Bomb Testing

    USSR Bomb Testing
    The USSR tests their first atomic bomb.This ends the U.S. monopoly on all nuclear weapons.
  • People's Republic of China

    People's Republic of China
    Mao Zedong proclaims the People's Republic of China. This aligns the China with the Soviet Union.
  • Start of Korean War

    Start of Korean War
    Heavily armed North Korean troops with Soviet equipment. Quickly capture the Soul and it only goes downhill from there.
  • Truman's orders

    Truman's orders
    President Truman has ordered U.S. forces to assist South Korea under the UN banner. (UN banner was from general assembly)
  • China Joins the Fun

    China Joins the Fun
    China troops enter the Korean war, supporting North Korea against UN forces.
  • Truman's Decision

    Truman's Decision
    President Truman had relieved General Douglas MacArthur of his command in the Korean war.
  • Treaty of San Francisco

    Treaty of San Francisco
    This treaty was put in place to bring peace between the U.S. and Japan. This crucial treaty was signed on this date. (This treaty is named after San Fran because it was signed there.
  • Libya's Independence

    Libya's Independence
    Libya gains Independence through the UN. This was a big moment in time because, this was the first country to achieve Independence through the UN.
  • Red Scare Growth

    Red Scare Growth
    A period of intense fear of communism and socialist ideology in the United States. This led to a widespread suspicion and persecution of individuals perceived as disloyalty.
  • Mutual Security Act

    Mutual Security Act
    The U.S. senate ratifies the Mutual Security Act provided military aid to allies
  • Hydrogen Bomb testing

    Hydrogen Bomb testing
    The Hydrogen Bomb also know as the Thermonuclear weapon makes a massive explosion. This hydrogen Bomb escalating the arms race.
  • Joseph Stalin Dies

    Joseph Stalin Dies
    Stalin Dies due to a Cerebral Hemorrhage. This makes the USSR struggle with power.
  • Korean War Armistice

    Korean War Armistice
    With this being signed its now ending active combat during the Korean war.
  • Secret Speech

    Secret Speech
    Nikita Khrushchev delivers his "Secret Speech", denouncing Stalin's policies. This was announced in a session with Communist Party Congress. In simple terms Nikita exposed Stalin.
  • The Naming of the Cold War

    The Naming of the Cold War
    The term "Cold War" is coined by Bernard Baruch during a speech in South Carolina.
  • Powers Meet

    Powers Meet
    President of Soviet Union, Khrushchev visits the Untied States, meeting president Eisenhower
  • The Hungarian Revolution start

    The Hungarian Revolution start
    In Budapest, when university students appealed to the civil populace to join them in the Hungarian Parliament Building to protest against the USSR's geopolitical domination of Hungary through the Stalinist government.
  • Treaty of Rome

    Treaty of Rome
    The Treaty of Rome is signed, establishing the European Economic Community (EEC)
  • Sputnik I

    Sputnik I
    The USSR launches the Sputnik I, was the first artificial satellite, this initiated the Space Race. A sphere with radio antennas.
  • Berlin Ultimatum

    Berlin Ultimatum
    Khrushchev issues the Berlin Ultimatum, demanding Western withdrawal from Berlin. This stemmed from a combination of factors rooting from the cold war and post WW2 status of Berlin.
  • Closer ties to the USSR

    Closer ties to the USSR
    Military coup in Iraq overthrows the monarchy, leading to Iraq becoming close with the Soviet Union. This was the also marked the start of the "First Republic of Iraq".
  • Second Taiwan Strait Crisis

    Second Taiwan Strait Crisis
    The Second Taiwan Strait Crisis started up and China shells islands held by Taiwan. In breif summary, CHina aimed to pressure Taiwan and test the U.S. support for the island nation. Taiwan, was backed by the U.S. (U.S. sends military aids, aircraft, naval support, and resupplying the island)
  • New power of Cuba

    New power of Cuba
    Fidel Castro comes to power in Cuba after overthrowing Batista.
  • The Kitchen Debate

    The Kitchen Debate
    A famous discussion between U.S. Vice President Richard Nixion and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev during a visit to the American National Exhibition in Moscow in 1959. The debate occurred while touring a model American Kitchen. The debate focused on the relative merits of the two systems, with Nixon highlighting American consumer culture and the availability of home appliances, while Khrushchev criticized the focus on consumer goods and the perceived lack of technological progress in the US.
  • U-2 spy plane gone

    U-2 spy plane gone
    The USSR shoots down a U.S. spy plane named U-2, capturing pilot Gary Powers.
  • Fall of The Paris Summit

    Fall of The Paris Summit
    Due to the U-2 incident, where a US spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union, sparking a crisis and destroying the atmosphere of cooperation between the US and USSR. This further increased cold war tensions, and failed to achieve any significant agreements.
  • The presidential Debate

    The presidential Debate
    The 1960 presidential debate between JFK and Richard Nixon was the first-ever televised presidential debate that marked a turning point in American politics. Held on September 26 1960, it revealed the power of television in shaping public opinion. Kennedy appeared calm, confident, and charismatic, while Nixon, recovering from the flu looked tired and uneasy. Radio listeners thought Nixon won, but TV viewers overwhelmingly favored Kennedy. Television helped boost Kennedy's rise to victory.
  • Berlin Wall

    Berlin Wall
    The Berlin wall was constructed dividing East and West Berlin. The wall was built to keep East Germans from fleeing to West Berlin.
  • Tsar Bomba

    Tsar Bomba
    The USSR detonates the Tsar Bomba, the most powerful nuclear weapon ever tested.
  • Bay of Pigs Invasion

    Bay of Pigs Invasion
    A failed attempt by the CIA and Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro, involved a military landing at the Bay of Pigs on the southwestern coast of Cuba.
  • European Atomic Energy Community

    European Atomic Energy Community
    Aimed to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and establish a common market for nuclear materials and technology within the European Union. This movement became operational In July 1962
  • Cuban Missile Crisis

    Cuban Missile Crisis
    A 13-day standoff that brought the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war. The crisis stemmed from the Soviets' deployment of nuclear missiles in Cuba.
  • Sino-Indian War

    Sino-Indian War
    A border conflict erupted between China and India. This war was partly a result of the Cold War's ideological divide, with China aligning with the soviet Union and India aligning with the US. The conflict had a significant impact on both countries and their relationship.
  • Ich bin ein Berliner

    Ich bin ein Berliner
    President Kennedy presents his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech in West Berlin. This speech was a famous anit-communist speech.
  • Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

    Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
    This treaty was an international agreement that prohibits nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and under water.
  • John F. Kennedy Assassinated

    John F. Kennedy Assassinated
    President JFK was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
  • Civil Rights Act

    Civil Rights Act
    The U.S. enacts the Civil Rights Act, impacting domestic and international perceptions. This outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
  • Gulf of Tonkin Incident

    Gulf of Tonkin Incident
    A series of events in August that led to increased U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Specifically, the incident involved reported attacks on U.S. naval destroyers, the USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy, by North Vietnamese forces in the Gulf of Tonkin.
  • Soviet replacement

    Soviet replacement
    Leonid Brezhnez replaces Khrushchev because of his domestic policy features and perception that he has mishandled the Cuban Missile Crisis.
  • Gearing Up Towards Vietnam

    Gearing Up Towards Vietnam
    The U.S, deploys combat troops to Vietnam, making as significant escalation in tension
  • U.S. & Dominican Republic

    U.S. & Dominican Republic
    U.S. forces intervene in the Dominican Republic to prevent a communist takeover. The U.S. sent over 22,000 troops to DR to intervene in a civil war that had broken out after the overthrow of the country's elected president. This sparked from the fear that conflict could lead to a communist takeover similar to Cuba, president Lyndon B.Johnson.
  • First combat In Vietnam

    First combat In Vietnam
    The first U.S. ground combat operations commence in Vietnam.
  • France Withdrawal from NATO

    France Withdrawal from NATO
    Due to a combination of factors related to French national sovereignty, perceived American dominance within NATO, and concerns about French Military independence.
  • U.S. Bombs North Vietnam

    U.S. Bombs North Vietnam
    The U.S. bombed oil facilities to disrupt North Vietnamese military and economy.
  • Containment Policy

    Containment Policy
    he US continued to pursue a policy of containment, aimed at preventing the spread of communism, particularly in Asia.