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Yalta Conference**
A meeting between FDR, Stalin, and Churchill at Yalta. Russia ultimately agreed to declare war on Japan, and Churchill promised the USSR concession in Manchuria.
Big Impact: The Yalta conference marked the conclusion of WWII however the beginning of future tensions with Stalin causing the Cold War. -
U.S. uses first atomic bomb on Japan**
The atomic bomb dropping of "little boy" on Hiroshima, Japan was the final stage of WWII, and the turn around for ending the war with an ally win.
Big impact: The atomic bomb dropping marked the beginning of the widespread creation of nuclear arms in more countries which built up fear in the US; the atomic bomb was the catalyst to the tensions of the cold war. -
Winston Churchill delivers "iron curtain" speech.
A speech delivered by Churchill that used the statement the "iron curtan" as symbolism for the Cold War division between the Soviet-dominated East and the U.S.-dominated West. Churchill blamed the at the time USSR for this predicament. -
Truman Doctrine
A statement made by the US, that it would support any nation threatened by the dangers of communism; specifically Greece and Turkey who at the time were threatened by the Soviets "spheres of influence". This increased tensions between the two nations and heightened the cold war. -
US announces Marshall plan
A plan proposed by George C. Marshall to provide economic assistance to all European nations that would join in drafting a program for recovery; aided in recovery of european nations after WWII, kept with the same cold war mentalitiy to stop the spread of communism . -
Communists take over Czechoslovakia
The spheres of influence for communism spread to Czechoslovakia and Hungary by the Soviets. Increased fear and tensions for Americans during the cold war, urged more foreign intervention. -
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
US and Britain attempt to provide bring food and supplies to Ally's in Berlin during the cold war; Soviets atttempted to starve the Ally's initially. -
NATO established.
AKA. the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance formed to to stop another World War from occuring. Countries include: US, England, France, Canada, Western European countries. In response to the growing military tension between the Soviets during the cold war. -
Soviets and develop and test their A-bomb**
Soviets create their first Atomic bomb, increased fears in America during the cold war of the idea of an all out nuclear war.
Big Impact: The cold war revolved around two concepts: "The red scare" and "an all out nuclear war" , The all out nuclear war has been a major concern ever since the realization of Americans of the detrimental side effects of an atomic bomb on people. The soviets development of their version of the atomic bomb only heightened cold war development. -
Communists under Mao Zedong take control of China
Mao Zedong announces that the new Chinese government will be “under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.” After beating rival Chiang.
Highlighted cold war tensions of communism. -
Wisconsin sen. McCarthy begins communist witch hunt**
Aka. McCarthyism: the communist witch hunt was born out of cold war Soviet tensions. The fear that communism would eventually take over the world due to the soviets spheres of influence eventually caused the infamous witch hunt.
Big Impact: The Cold war, was the birth of the red scare, or the "anti communist movement." americans became more fearful of the spheres of influence the Soviets imposed and began an all out witch hunt, which ultimately was the mentality of Americans throughout the war. -
U.S. sends "advisors " to Vietnam.
U.S. sends "advisors" aka. military tactical units, to observe in Vietnam. The much opposed Vietnam war was caused by the fear of communism spreading throughout the entire country, once again born out of Cold War anti-communism philosophy. -
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg tried and executed for espionage
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were self proclaimed "American communists" who were executed for conspiracy to commit espionage during a time of war. The execution of supposed treason was the first of cold war treason crimes within American soil, and intensified the toll of the cold war. -
Korean War is fought
The korean war was betwen the North and South which were partioned as the Soviets controlling the North and the Americans controlling the South; The korean war was another example of soviet influence on the north and increased war damage during the cold war. -
Warsaw Pact formed
treaty signed in 1945 that formed an alliance between the USSR and other countries. The warsaw pact was a failiure, and yet increased possible world war speculations during the cold war. -
Hungarian rebellion ends by Soviets
A series of uprisings against the Soviets; ended violently by the Soviets and illustrated the lack of power America has on Eastern Europe. Also expressed cold war limitations as a world power. -
Sputnik launch: start of space race
The sputnik launch, was the first launch of a manmade sattelite by the Soviets. This increased competition in America to quickly explore the vastness of space; this increased rivalrly and tension between the two countries during the Cold war. -
Khruschev demands NATO withraw troops from Berlin
A way to decrease tensions between America and the soviets during the cold war, Kruschev negotiates to withraw his troops from Berlin as long as US withraws as well. -
Fidel Castro takes over Cuba
After overthrowing the previous leader, Batista. Fidel Castro became supreme dictator and established close diplomatic affairs, which would eventually lead up to the Cold war: Cuban Missile crisis. -
U-2 incident: American spy plane gets shot down by Soviets
An incident that highlighted American tensions within the cold war, and increased hostility against the soviets. A suspected espionage plane flies over Soviet airspace and gets destroyed. -
John F. Kennedy elected.
John F. Kennedy gets elected and is the president for essential events such as the Cuban Missile crisis and the failure of The bay pigs invasion.
A cold war President which attempted to help America out of the war. -
Bay of Pigs invasion
An unsuccesful CIA operative, to overthrow the Castro dictatorship.
an event that occured during the Cold war and proved American futility at the time. -
Berlin Wall built
A wall built by the soviets seperating Democratic influence of the west from the East which the soviets controlled; this caused contempt for Stalin and increased tensions between US and soviets during cold war. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
An event that highlighted the cold war due to suspected Soviet bombs that were being carried by the Cubans, America won out in the end from beginning a nuclear war. -
President Kennedy gets assasinated.
President Kennedy gets shot by Oswald in Dallas, after parading for an upcoming presidential election. End of a "cold war president" and a "cold war warrior" .
