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Cold War
The state of political hostility that existed between the Soviet bloc countries and the US-led Western powers from 1945 to 1990 -
Harry Truman Announces the Truman Doctrine
Harry Truman announced the Truman Doctrine in March of 1947 as a declaration of the Cold War. In this, he requested $400 million in assistance for Greece and Turkey to forestall Communist domination of the two nations. -
George Marshall announces the Marshall Plan
General George C. Marshall announced the Marshall Plan in June of 1957. He announced this in order to express the need for an economic aid plan to help nations in need after World War II. -
Rio Pact
The United States met 19 Latin-American countries and created a security zone with them around the hemisphere. The countries included Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. This asserted that any attack on all of those included in the pact would be considered an attack on all of them, not just one. -
Berlin Airlift begins
The Berlin Airlift began in 1948 when British pilots delivered food and supplies to Berlin by plane after the city became isolated by a Soviet Blockade. -
Soviet Union blockades roads between Berlin and the West
The Soviet Union blockaded roads between Berlin and West Berlin in June of 1948. This was also known as the Berlin Blockade. It turned out to be a bad diplomatic move for the Soviets because the United States emerged from the confrontation with a better purpose and more confidence. -
The term "Cold War" is used for the first time
The term "Cold War" was used for the first time in a speech by Bernard Baruch in 1948 to describe the relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is founded
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, was founded in 1949 as an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and Europe countries. -
Berlin Airlift Ends
The Berlin Airlift ended in May of 1949 when the Berlin Blockade ended after 11 months. The blockade had been broken by a massive airlift of vital supplies to West Berlin. -
Russia Tests its First Atomic Bomb
The USSR successfully detonated its first atomic bomb, named "First Lightning". It was tested at Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan. The USSR had built a demo town to test the vicinity and the effects of nuclear radiation of the bomb. The atomic bomb had destroyed the demo town and incinerated the animals. -
Harry Truman orders the development of a Hydrogen Bomb
Harry S. Truman announced that the United States would develop a Hydrogen Bomb. In his speech, he explained that it was his responsibility as commander in chief to see that the country needs to be able to defend itself against any possible aggression. -
North Korea invades South Korea
North Korea invaded South Korea in June of 1950. 75,000 soldiers from North Korea's army crossed the 38th parallel into South Korea. This marked the beginning of the Korean War. -
Harry Truman Sends Troops to South Korea
Harry Truman announced that he would be sending US air and naval forces to South Korea to aid the democratic nation in the Korean War. This was an attempt to help South Korea defend itself from Communist North Korea. -
Federal Civil Defense Administration established
The Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA) was established in January of 1951. The FCDA was made to administer the national civil defense program and to coordinate military, industrial, and civilian mobilizations. -
General Douglas MacArthur advocates use of atomic bombs in Korean War
General Douglas MacArthur advocated the use of atomic bombs in Korea during the Korean War. After he had publicly differed from president Harry Truman, he was replaced with General Matthew Ridgway, who was given "qualified authority" to use the bombs if he felt he had to. -
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg found guilty of espionage to Soviets
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of espionage in one of the most sensational trials in American history. They were convicted for their role of passing atomic bomb information to the Soviets during and after World War II. They were sentenced to death. -
Winston Churchill announces that Britain has an atom bomb
Winston Churchill announced that Britain had an atom bomb in 1952 after a successful test at the Monte Bello Islands. -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, also name the McCarran-Walter Act, upheld the national origins quota system established by the Immigration Act of 1942. This reinforced the controversial system of immigrant selection. -
United States National Security Agency Founded
President Harry Truman authorized the creation of the National Security Agency in a letter in June of 1952. It was formally established through a revision of the National Security Council. -
Joseph Stalin Dies
Joseph Stalin died on March 5, 1953, in Kuntsevo Dacha from a cerebral hemorrhage. This put Nikita Khrushchev in charge of the Soviet Union. -
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed
After being convicted of atomic bomb espionage to the Soviet Union in 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were finally executed. -
Korean War ends
The Korean War ended when the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed. The agreement created the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to separate North and South Korea and allowed the return of prisoners. -
Vietnam Split at 17th parallel
Vietnam was temporarily split at the 17th parallel after the Geneva Agreements were signed. Vietnam would be reunited two years later after the election of a new president. -
United States tests hydrogen bomb in the Marshall Islands
The United States established the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to monitor the peacetime development of atomic science and technology. The US also expanded their nuclear research and development of programs. Then, they tested their hydrogen bombs in the Marshall Islands. -
It is agreed that West Germany should Join NATO
Germany had been a divided nation since 1945, so it was a big step for them to join NATO in 1954. This action marked the final step of West Germany's integration into the Western European defense system. -
Warsaw Pact is formed
The Warsaw Pact, also known as the Warsaw Treaty Organization, was founded in Warsaw, Poland. This was a pact between the Soviet Union and several Eastern Countries as a counterbalance to the NATO. -
China Agrees to Provide North Vietnam with Economic Aid
China had been providing economic aid to Communists in Vietnam since the war against the French and agreed to provide North Vietnam with additional economic support in 1955 to prosecute the war against South Vietnam and the US forces. -
China introduces Conscription
China introduces a conscription system. This was a mandatory military service that had not been implemented since 1949. -
Egypt Gains Control of Suez Canal
After World War II, Egypt pressed for the evacuation of British troops from the Suez Canal. In July of 1956, Egypt had nationalized the canal and hoped to charge tolls that would pay for the construction of a dam on the Nile River. -
The Soviet Union Abolishes the Cominform
The Soviet Union abolished the Cominform after the Soviet rapprochement with Yugoslavia and the process of De-Stalinization. -
Operation Musketeer
British and French planes had bombed Egyptian airfields in an invasion of the Suez Canal zone to capture the Suez Canal. -
Soviet Union announces its Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
The Soviet Union announces that it has successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that was capable of being fired "into any part of the world". -
Sputnik Launched into Orbit
The Soviet Union launched the earth's first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, into space. It was so successful that it shocked experts and citizens in the United States. -
Operation Grapple
Britain carried out its first hydrogen bomb test over the Pacific ocean. It took 52 seconds to fall, and once it hit the ocean and detonated, it rendered Britain a nuclear superpower for the first time. -
Explorer I Launched
The United States launched its first successful satellite, Explorer I. This was in response to the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik I. -
NASA Began Mercury Project Using Atlas Rocket
NASA started Project Mercury in 1958, and complete the project in 1963. This was the first man-in-space program in the United States. The project's goals were to orbit a manned spacecraft around Earth, investigate man's ability to function in space and recover both man and spacecraft safely. -
Nikita Khrushchev Demands Withdrawal of Troops from Berlin
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev delivered a speech in which he demanded that the Western powers of the United States, Great Britain, and France pull their forces out of West Berlin within six months. This was the start of the Berlin Crisis. -
Fidel Castro's March to Victory
When Cuban Dictator Fulgencio Batista fled Havana, Fidel Castro needed to be the new Batista of Havana. Since Fidel knew he would lose the race to be Batista, he turned his weaknesses into strengths and turned his travel into a victory parade, or caravana. -
The Kitchen Debate
The Kitchen Debate was a heated debate about capitalism and communism between Nikita Khrushchev and Richard Nixon at the opening ceremony of the American National Exhibition. -
China and the United Nations
The Member States of the United Nations vote on who to allow into the United Nations. The member states agreed to not admit China into the United Nations. -
American U-2 Spy Plane Shot Over the Soviet Union
An American U-2 spy plane was shot down while conducting espionage over the Soviet Union. The spy plane was part of the CIA and was a sophisticated technological marvel. -
United States Ends all Aid to Cuba
The United States stopped aiding Cuba once Fidel Castro took over the government. It also slashed the import quota for Cuban sugar and imposed a near full-trade embargo. -
John F. Kennedy is Elected President of the United States
John F. Kennedy won the closely contested election and defeated Vice President Richard Nixon and Lyndon. B Johnson. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion of cuba
In April of 1961, 1,400 Cuban exiles launched the Bay of Pigs invasion on the South Coast of Cuba. -
Berlin Wall Construction Begins
Cold War tensions were running high for Berlin again, so many East Germans were fleeing to Democratic West Germany through West Berlin. This caused the Berlin Wall to start being built. -
United States Promises to Support South Vietnam Against Communist Aggression
The United States was afraid of Communism taking over the world, so they promised to support South Vietnam against North Vietnam. If the US did not do this, North Vietnam would have gained control of South Vietnam, which could have led to communism taking over the world.
