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Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was a meeting between Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. This meeting was held to discuss what Europe would do after World War II was over. -
United States first used atomic bomb in war
On August 6, 1945, the US launched the atomic bomb for the first time as an attack on Japan. Hiroshima was the city that was destroyed by the first bomb. Around 80,000 people were killed instantly by the explosion and radiation. -
Russia enters war against Japan
On August 8, 1945, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. The Soviets invaded Manchuria. -
Japanese Surrender, ending World War II
On August 14, 1945, the Japanese forces finally surrenedered, being the last to surrender of the Axis powers. This surrender finally ended World War II. -
Winston Churchill delivers "Iron Curtain" Speech
Winston Churchill gave his famous "Iron Curtain" speech on March 5, 1946. In this speech, he explained what he believed was the wrong doings of the Soviet Union. -
President Truman announces Truman Doctrine
This speech to Congress given by Harry Truman, is seen by many as the declaration of the Cold War. In this speech, Truman said he would contain threats from the Soviet Union to Greece and Turkey. -
Marshall Plan is Announced
The Marshall Plan was developed to help rebuild Western Europe. When the plan was put into action, the US gave Europe 13 billion dollars to rebuild. That would be 130 billion in today's economy. -
Communist Takeover in Czechoslovakia
On February 25, 1948, President Eduard Benes gave in to communists demands and allowed for Czechoslovakia to be ruled under a communist government. -
Berlin blockade Begins
The Berlin blockade was the Soviet Union's way of trying to keep the other countries out of thier part of Berlin. -
Berlin blockade Ends
On May 12, 1949, the Soviet Union lifted it's Berlin blockade when US and Britain forces began to airdrop supplies to the sturggling people of West Berlin. -
NATO Treaty Ratified
On July 25, 1949, President Truman signed the treaty for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for the United States. NATO is a military organization that has lasted even to today. Article 5 of this treaty said that if one of the states was under attack, than the other countries had to come help defend it. -
Soviets Explode first Atomic Bomb
On this day, the Soviet Union detonated their own first atomic bomb as a test. A couple days later on September 3, 1949, a US spy plane flew over the coast of Siberia and found remains of radioactivity from the bomb. -
Mao Zedong takes control of China
Mao Zedong was a communist who, announced at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference that the country would be then ruled under a communist government. China remains as a communist country today. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw pact was created by the Soviet Union as a reaction to the NATO treaty. The Warsaw pact invovled the Soviet Union and several other Soviet countries.