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FDR Dies
During his fourth term in office, the 32nd U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, died from a stroke while on vacation in Warm Springs, Georgia. FDR served through the majority of the Great Depression and WWII. He was succeeded by his Vice President, Harry S. Truman. -
VE Day
A week after Hitler's death, Germany surrendered to the Allied powers, ending WWII in Europe. The defeat of Germany was celebrated in Allied countries, and gained the name "VE Day" (meaning Victory in Europe Day). -
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U.S. Drops Atomic Bombs on Japan
As a result of the United States' secret nuclear weapons program, the Manhattan Project, the United States released an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima on August 6. This was the first atomic bomb to ever be deployed on another country. Three days later, the United States released a second bomb on the city of Nagasaki. The attacks killed well over 100,000 Japanese citizens. Japan surrendered to the Allied Powers less than a week later. -
WWII Ends
Four months after the defeat of Germany, the world's most devastating international conflict, WWII, ended when Japan surrendered to the Allies aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Japan's surrender was the final step in ending the six year war. -
United Nations Founded
The United Nations is an organization designed to preserve world peace. It was initially planned towards the end of WWII, and came into effect shortly after the end of the war. The United Nations was spearheaded by the head Allied Powers, and initially comprised over 50 independent nations. -
NATO Founded
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was an alignment between the United States and eleven other western powers to counter the spread of Communism and protect free nations. The treaty ensured military backing from all involved parties if any member were to be attacked. -
Senator McCarthy's Initial Red Scare
Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy introduced his fabricated "Red Scare" accusations at a meeting of the Ohio County Republican Women's Club. During the height of the Cold War, McCarthy claimed to possess a list with dozens of names of American citizens who had Communistic ties. McCarthy's alleged accusations lasted for several years until his scheming was exposed. -
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Korean War
The Korean War was a conflict between Northern and Southern Korea. The war started when Communist-ruled North Korea attacked South Korea. This gained international attention. China backed North Korea, while the United Nations and its members supported South Korea, fearing the spread of Communism.
