-
Hiroshima bombing
The nuclear bombing of Hiroshima by the US is often taken to hearken the dawn of the so-called atomic age, and to have been a decisive event in the nuclear arms race that would characterise the Cold War. -
President Harry Truman announces policy of 'Truman Doctrine'
Harry Truman expressed his intention to thwart any expansion of Soviet ideals for fear of them creating a domino effect that would consmue the globe. -
Beginning of Communist party rule in China
Following the long Civil War between the Communist party other Chinese political powers, Mao Zedong succeeded in establishing the Communist government of China, which resultted in strained relations with the West, much like the USSR. -
US begins involvement in Korean War
Harry Truman resolved that the United States would assist South Korea in defending against from attacks North Korea, which was assisted by Chinese and Soviet forces. -
First US Nuclear Submarine Launches
The USS Nautilus launches as the first nuclear powered US submarine, a prodect, and an aggrevation in the Cold War. -
USSR begins the Space Race with Sputnik
The so-called space age began with the USSR launching Sputnik as an experiment to test orbital posibilities. It was later superceded with the US moonlanding. -
First successful Polaris missile test
Throughout the Cold War, there was a charactersist development on either side of Intercontinental ballistic missiles, each with a nuclear warhead. The first of these tested in the West, by the US was the Polaris, which was eventually superceded by c various updated missiles. There missiles were the variety of nuclear weapon that made any potential nuclear threat remotely feasible. -
Erection of Berlin Wall
The Berlin wall was erected by East German citizens, becoming a disturbingly tangible symbol of the ideological division between the capitalist and communist, or socialist, economies. -
Cuban Missile Crisis resolution
The Cuban Missile Crisis was perhaps the closest the Cold War came to initiating a potential World War III, but thankfully was resolved between President Kenedy and his cabinet and Nikita Krushchev, premier of the USSR. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Congress passes a resolution that permit President Johnson to exercise military force in Vietnam, which he does in accordance with the 'Truman Doctrine' of stalling communist growth. -
President Nixon Visits China
US President Richard Nixon vistis the Republic of China, establishing a relationship that would re-open a long standing trade relationship. Current critics believe this relationship to have resulted in current economic plight for the US. -
Soviet forces begin deployment to Afghanistan
After an Afghani revolution resulted in the formation of a government with close ties to the USSR. Limited US forces were deployed to assist in an insurrection. While the US was not directly involved with active man-power, the USSR did not pull out of Afghanistan until 1989. -
Gorbachev elected in USSR
Mikhail Gorbechev was elected General Secretary of the USSR Communist party. He attempted failed restucturings (perestroika) before his presidency, which saw the end of the Soviet Union. -
Beginning demolition of Berlin Wall
The destruction of the generation old division was a sign of hope at the time, and would later prove to indicative of the end of Sviet Socialism. -
USSR Dissolves
After a decades long arms race and ideological battle with the West, the Soviet Union dissolves with most newly reformed states abandoning socialism and communism.
