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First Atomic bomb
The development of the first atomic bomb is signed into an agreement between the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt -
Landing on Guadalcanal
The United States Marines land on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands in the first American offensive of World War II. -
Jefferson Memorial
The Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. is dedicated on the 200th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson's birth by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. -
Death of President Roosevelt
President Roosevelt dies suddenly; Vice President Harry S. Truman assumes the presidency and role as commander in chief of World War II. -
Germany Surrenders
The unconditional surrender of Germany at Reims, France concludes the military engagements of World War II in Europe. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine is announced to the U.S. Congress. When passed it would grant $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey to battle Communist terrorism -
USSR Blockades
The Soviet Union begins its land blockade of the Allied sectors of Berlin, Germany. -
The Korean War
The Korean War begins its three-year conflict when troops of North Korea, backed with Soviet weaponry, invade South Korea. This act leads to U.S. involvement when two days later, the United States Air Force and Navy are ordered by President Truman to the peninsula. -
Transcontinental TV
The inauguration of trans-continental television occurs with the broadcast of President Truman's speech at the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference in San Francisco. -
Double Helix DNA
The description of a double helix DNA molecule is published by British physicist Francis Crick and American scientist James D. Watson. They, along with New Zealand born scientist Maurice Wilkins, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery in 1962.