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Yalta Conference
Through February 4th-11th, 1945 the leaders of the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union met for a second meeting. Harry Truman, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin discussed issues about Germany's surrender and plans for post-war. -
The Charter of the United Nations
On June 26th,1945, the charter of the United Nations was signed at the United Nations Conference on International Organization. Also at the charter, the Statue of International Court of Justice was a part of it too. -
The First Atomic Bomb is tested
On July 16, 1945, the United States tests the first Atomic Bomb at the Trinity Bomb site in New Mexico. The atomic bomb will become an important weapon used in The Cold War against the Soviet Union. -
The Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference was a conference held in Berlin from July 17th,1945 to August 2nd,1945. Leaders that attended the conference were President Harry Truman (U.S.), Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Great Britain), and Premier Joesph Stalin (Soviet Union). Issues that were addressed at the conference were punishments for Germany war criminals, Germany's economy, boundaries for land, and reparations. -
The Atomic Bomb is dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During World War II, the United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th, 1945. The explosion killed about 80,000 people, and many died later of radiation exposure. -
Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech
On March 5th, 1946 Great Britain Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave a speech on criticizing the Soviet Union's policies. His speech was also about how "An iron curtain has descended upon the continent". -
Truman Doctrine
On March 12th,1947, President Harry Truman announced the Truman Doctrine to Congress. The Truman Doctrine pledged to send aid and supplies to Greece and Turkey. -
The Marshall Plan
On June 5th, 1947, Secretary of State George C. Marshall gave a speech about the Marshall Plan at Harvard University. The Marshall Plan gave $13 billion worth of aid, supplies and economic recovery to Europe. -
The Berlin Blockade
On June 24th, 1948, the Soviet Union blocked all roads and railroads to and from West Berlin. When the Soviet Union blocked these transportation routes, the United States decided to bring aid and supplies to Berlin by air. -
NATO
On April 4th,1949 the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded. The countries involved in this organization included the United States, Great Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Iceland, Canada, and Portugal. This organization provided a self defense against the Soviet Union, and it increased involvement for the United States in Europe. -
Communist Revolutionary in China
On October 1st, 1949, Communist Chinese leader Mao Zedong announced the formation of the People's Republic of China. This announcement ended the Civil War between the Chinese Communist Party and the Nationalist Party that started after WWII. -
The Korean War
On June 25th, 1950, North Korean soldiers attacked South Korea. When the United States heard that this was happening, they sent military forces and aid to South Korea. Fighting between North Korea and The United States/South Korea would last for three years and end on July 27th, 1953. -
The Hydrogen Bomb is tested
On November 1st, 1952, the United States tested the first thermonuclear bomb called the Hydrogen bomb on Eniwetok. The Hydrogen Bomb gave an advantage to the United States in nuclear warfare against the Soviet Union. The Hydrogen Bomb is 1,000 times more powerful than other nuclear weapons. -
SEATO
On September 8th, 1954, The SEATO or Southeast Asia Treaty Organization was formed. President Dwight D. Eisenhower formed an alliance to keep out communism of free territories of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, or Southeast Asia in general. -
Warsaw Pact
On May 14th, 1955, the Warsaw Pact was formed. The Soviet Union signed this pact with seven other countries to form a defense organization that put the Soviet Union in charge of the armed forces of the other countries. -
Sputnik
On October 4th, 1957 the Soviet Union launched a spacecraft called Sputnik. Once Sputnik was launched it started the Space Age. -
The Bay of Pigs
On April 17th, 1961, Cuban refugees attempted to remove Cuba's leader Fidel Castro from the Cuba communist government. The invasion was a complete failure. -
The Berlin Wall is built
On August 13th, 1961, East German soldiers began building the Berlin Wall. They layed down barbed wire and bricks to separate the Soviet Union East Germany, from West Germany. -
The Vietnam War
On December 14th, 1961, President Kennedy announced he will increase aid in South Vietnam. With this increase in aid, more troops will be sent to Vietnam. -
The Cuban Missle Crisis
On October 16th, 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis began. President Kennedy was told there was going to to be a huge missile crisis at hand in Cuba. The United States found out that there were Soviet Union Missile bases in Cuba. This rivalry and crisis between the United States and the Soviet Union would eventually end on October 28th.
