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President Harry S. Truman declared U.S. support for countries resisting communism, marking the start of the U.S. policy of containment. -
Secretary of State George Marshall proposed economic aid to rebuild European economies, aiming to prevent the spread of communism. -
The Communist Information Bureau was created to coordinate actions between Communist parties under Soviet direction. -
Communist Party seized control in Czechoslovakia, consolidating Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. -
President Truman signed the Economic Recovery Act, officially launching the Marshall Plan. -
The Soviet Union blocked Western Allies' access to West Berlin, leading to the Berlin Airlift. -
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established as a collective defense pact among Western nations. -
The USSR successfully tested its first atomic bomb, ending the U.S. monopoly on nuclear weapons. -
Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the PRC, aligning China with the Soviet bloc. -
North Korean forces invaded South Korea, prompting U.S. and UN intervention. This marked the first armed conflict of the Cold War, setting a precedent for U.S. involvement in containing communism. -
General MacArthur led a successful amphibious assault at Inchon, turning the tide in favor of UN forces during the Korean War. -
Description: Chinese troops crossed the Yalu River to assist North Korea, escalating the conflict and intensifying Cold War tensions. -
Description: President Truman relieved General MacArthur of his command in Korea due to disagreements over war policy, emphasizing civilian control over the military. -
The Treaty of San Francisco officially ended World War II with Japan, reestablishing Japan's sovereignty and positioning it as a U.S. ally in Asia. -
Description: President Truman signed the Mutual Security Act, providing military and economic aid to allies to combat the spread of communism. -
The United States detonated its first hydrogen bomb, significantly advancing its nuclear capabilities and intensifying the arms race. -
The National Security Agency was created to coordinate intelligence efforts, reflecting the growing importance of information in Cold War strategy. -
Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected President, bringing a strong anti-communist stance and a focus on nuclear deterrence to U.S. foreign policy. -
Joseph Stalin's death led to a power struggle in the USSR and a temporary thaw in Cold War tensions. -
An armistice ended active combat in the Korean War, establishing the Demilitarized Zone but not a formal peace treaty. -
President Eisenhower proposed sharing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, aiming to reduce nuclear tensions. -
The CIA orchestrated a coup in Guatemala, reflecting U.S. efforts to counter perceived communist threats in Latin America. -
The Geneva Accords temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel, setting the stage for future conflict in the region. -
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization was established to prevent communism from gaining ground in the region. -
The Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries formed a military alliance in response to NATO, solidifying the division of Europe. -
The Austrian State Treaty ended occupation and declared Austria neutral, serving as a model for Cold War diplomacy. -
Leaders from the U.S., USSR, UK, and France met to discuss Cold War tensions, marking a brief period of improved relations. -
Nikita Khrushchev denounced Stalin's cult of personality, initiating a period of de-Stalinization and impacting global communist movements. -
Description: A nationwide revolt against Soviet-imposed policies was brutally suppressed, highlighting the USSR's grip on Eastern Europe. -
Egypt's nationalization of the Suez Canal led to a military intervention by the UK, France, and Israel, with the U.S. and USSR opposing the action, showcasing Cold War complexities. -
President Eisenhower pledged U.S. support to Middle Eastern countries resisting communism, extending containment policy. -
The USSR launched the first artificial satellite, igniting the space race and demonstrating Soviet technological prowess. -
The U.S. deployed troops to Lebanon to support the pro-Western government amid fears of a communist takeover, exemplifying the Eisenhower Doctrine's application in the Middle East. -
The U.S. created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in response to the Soviet Union's advancements in space, marking a significant escalation in the space race. -
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev issued an ultimatum demanding the withdrawal of Western forces from West Berlin, escalating tensions and leading to a protracted crisis over the city's status. -
Fidel Castro's forces overthrew Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, leading to the establishment of a communist government allied with the Soviet Union, significantly impacting U.S.-Cuba relations. -
The U.S. built Camp Century, a nuclear-powered research facility beneath Greenland's ice, which was later revealed to be part of a secret project to deploy nuclear missiles close to the Soviet Union. -
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev toured the United States, including a summit with President Eisenhower, aiming to ease Cold War tensions through personal diplomacy. -
France conducted its first successful nuclear test in the Sahara Desert, becoming the fourth country to possess nuclear weapons and altering the balance of power within NAT -
An American U-2 spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers was shot down over Soviet airspace, leading to a major diplomatic crisis and the cancellation of a planned summit between the U.S. and USSR. -
Ideological and political differences between China and the Soviet Union became public, fracturing the communist bloc and altering global Cold War dynamics. -
A failed U.S.-backed invasion by Cuban exiles aimed to overthrow Fidel Castro's government, strengthening Castro's position and pushing Cuba closer to the Soviet Union. -
President John F. Kennedy met with Premier Khrushchev in Vienna to discuss various issues, including Berlin and nuclear arms, but the talks heightened tensions rather than easing them. -
East Germany, supported by the Soviet Union, erected the Berlin Wall to prevent East Germans from fleeing to the West, becoming a powerful symbol of Cold War division. -
The United States escalated its military and economic support to South Vietnam, marking a significant step toward deeper involvement in the Vietnam War. -
In response to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the U.S. and USSR agreed to establish a direct communication link, known as the "Hotline," to prevent future crises. -
Description: The discovery of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba led to a tense 13-day standoff, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war before a negotiated withdrawal of the missiles. -
The U.S. and USSR agreed to expand cultural exchanges, including exhibitions and performances, as a means to improve mutual understanding during the Cold War. -
The U.S., USSR, and UK signed a treaty banning nuclear tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater, aiming to reduce radioactive fallout and ease tensions. -
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas shocked the world and led to concerns about the continuity of U.S. Cold War policies under new leadership. -
South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for life after the Rivonia Trial. He spent 27 years in prison. -
The U.S. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a landmark law that banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
Alleged attacks on U.S. naval vessels by North Vietnamese forces led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, granting President Johnson authority to escalate U.S. involvement in Vietnam. -
Civil rights activists marching from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama were violently attacked by police. Led to the Voting Rights Act. -
This marked the beginning of major U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War, leading to years of conflict and domestic protest in the U.S. -
India and Pakistan fought their second war over Kashmir. Ended in a UN-backed ceasefire but tension remained.