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Coldwar Timeline 1947-1966
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Truman Doctrine Announced
President Harry Truman announced the U.S. would provide political, military, and economic aid to countries threatened by communism, beginning with Greece and Turkey. This marked the start of America’s Cold War policy of containment to stop the spread of Soviet influence. -
Marshall Plan Proposed
A major U.S. aid program to help rebuild Europe and prevent the spread of communism. -
Cominform Created
The Soviet Union created Cominform to strengthen communist control in Eastern Europe. -
Czechoslovakia Falls to Communism
A communist coup in Czechoslovakia shocked the West and helped gain support for the Marshall Plan. -
Marshall Plan Passed
The U.S. officially passed the plan, giving over $12 billion to help European countries recover. -
Berlin Blockade Begins
The Soviet Union blocked all roads and railways into West Berlin, trying to force the Allies out. -
NATO Formed
NATO was formed by the U.S., Canada, and several Western European countries to protect each other from the threat of Soviet expansion. It marked a major step in uniting Western nations against communism during the Cold War. -
Berlin Airlift Ends
The Soviet Union lifted the blockade after 11 months of Allied airlifts. -
USSR Tests First Atomic Bomb
The Soviet Union shocked the world by testing its first nuclear weapon, ending U.S. monopoly. -
Start of Korean War
North Korea invaded South Korea, starting a major conflict between communist and capitalist forces. -
UN Forces Enter Korea
The United Nations formed a military coalition, mainly led by the U.S., to support South Korea. -
China Enters Korean War
China joined the war to support North Korea, making the conflict more dangerous. -
General MacArthur Removed
President Truman fired General MacArthur for wanting to expand the war into China. -
Korean War Stalemate Begins
The war reached a stalemate near the 38th parallel, leading to long peace talks. -
Mutual Security Act
U.S. passed law giving military aid to allies fighting communism. -
Stalin Proposes Peace Talks
Stalin offered German reunification, but the West rejected it, suspecting a trap. -
UK Tests Atomic Bomb
Britain became the third nation with nuclear weapons. -
U.S. Tests First Hydrogen Bomb
The U.S. detonated a more powerful bomb, starting the hydrogen arms race. -
Eisenhower Becomes President
Dwight D. Eisenhower takes office with a firm anti-communist stance. -
Stalin Dies
Joseph Stalin's death led to power shifts and new Soviet policies. -
Korean Armistice Signed
Both sides agreed to stop fighting, dividing Korea at the 38th parallel. -
Dien Bien Phu Falls
France lost Vietnam to communists, leading to U.S. involvement. -
Geneva Accords
Vietnam was split into North and South after peace talks. -
U.S. Begins Helping South Vietnam
U.S. started sending aid to South Vietnam to fight communism. -
Khrushchev Becomes Premier
Nikita Khrushchev rose to power in the Soviet Union. -
West Germany Joins NATO
Western powers allowed West Germany to join NATO, angering the USSR. -
Warsaw Pact Formed
Soviet Union created a military alliance with Eastern Bloc nations. -
Khrushchev’s “Secret Speech”
Khrushchev criticized Stalin’s rule, beginning a period called “de-Stalinization.” -
Hungarian Revolution
Hungarians protested Soviet control, but the USSR crushed the uprising. -
Suez Crisis
Britain, France, and Israel attacked Egypt after it nationalized the Suez Canal, causing tension with the USSR and U.S. -
Eisenhower Doctrine Announced
The U.S. promised to help Middle Eastern countries resist communism. -
Sputnik Launched
The USSR launched the first satellite, starting the Space Race. -
Gaither Report
U.S. report said the USSR might be ahead in missiles, increasing Cold War fears -
NASA Founded
The U.S. created NASA to compete in the space race. -
U.S. Deploys Missiles to Turkey
U.S. placed missiles in Turkey, raising Soviet security concerns. -
Berlin Crisis Begins
Khrushchev demanded the U.S. leave West Berlin, starting a standoff. -
Cuban Revolution
Fidel Castro took control of Cuba, eventually aligning with the USSR. -
Kitchen Debate
Nixon and Khrushchev debated capitalism vs. communism at a U.S. expo in Moscow. -
Khrushchev Visits U.S.
First visit by a Soviet leader to the U.S., signaling a brief thaw -
U-2 Incident
U.S. spy plane was shot down over the USSR, ending peace talks. -
JFK Elected President
John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon in a close election. -
Kennedy-Nixon Debate
First televised debates influenced public opinion and election outcome. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Failed U.S. attempt to overthrow Castro using Cuban exiles -
JFK’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” Speech
Kennedy showed support for West Berlin in a famous speech. -
Berlin Wall Built
East Germany built the wall to stop East Berliners from fleeing to the West. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The U.S. and USSR nearly went to war over Soviet missiles in Cuba. -
JFK Naval Blockade of Cuba
Kennedy announced a blockade to stop Soviet ships. -
Crisis Ends Peacefully
USSR agreed to remove missiles in exchange for U.S. promises. -
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Signed
U.S., UK, and USSR agreed to stop testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere. -
Hotline Established
U.S. and Soviet Union set up direct phone link to avoid nuclear war. -
JFK Assassinated
JFK was killed in Dallas; LBJ took over as president. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
U.S. claimed North Vietnam attacked its ships, leading to more U.S. involvement. -
Khrushchev Removed from Power
Brezhnev took control of the Soviet Union. -
China Tests Atomic Bomb
China became the fifth nuclear power country. -
Operation Rolling Thunder Begins
U.S. started heavy bombing campaign in North Vietnam. -
U.S. Sends Combat Troops to Vietnam
First American troops landed in Vietnam, marking major escalation. -
Indonesia’s Anti-Communist Purge
Military coup led to mass killings of communists in Indonesia. -
Soviets Land Luna 9 on Moon
USSR became first to land spacecraft safely on the Moon. -
Cultural Revolution Starts in China
Mao launched campaign to keep communist ideas alive. -
France Withdraws from NATO Military Command
France distanced itself from U.S. influence in NATO.