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A timeline of the Cold War from 1947 to 1966
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The U.S. initiated a comprehensive economic aid program to assist war-torn Europe, aiming to prevent the spread of communism and foster post-war recovery. -
President Truman's speech declared the United States' commitment to supporting countries threatened by communism, marking a significant shift in American foreign policy. -
The Central Intelligence Agency was established to gather intelligence and conduct covert operations in response to growing Cold War tensions. -
The State of Israel was officially proclaimed, leading to conflicts with neighboring Arab states and intensifying the Cold War dynamics in the Middle East. -
In response to the introduction of a new German currency by Western Allies, the Soviet Union blockaded all land access to West Berlin, leading to the Berlin Airlift. -
The United States and its allies organized a massive airlift operation to provide food, fuel, and supplies to the citizens of West Berlin, effectively circumventing the Soviet blockade. -
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established as a defensive alliance among Western European countries and the United States, aimed at countering Soviet aggression. -
The Soviet Union successfully tested its first atomic bomb, ending the American monopoly on nuclear weapons and escalating the arms race. -
Mao Zedong's communist forces defeated the nationalist Kuomintang, leading to the establishment of the People's Republic of China and heightening fears of communist expansion. -
Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed that there were widespread communist infiltrations in the U.S. government, leading to a period of intense anti-communist investigations and political repression. -
North Korea invaded South Korea, triggering a conflict that involved the United States and its allies in a military intervention against communist aggression. -
The Korean War ended in a stalemate with the signing of an armistice, which established a demilitarized zone and temporarily divided Korea along the 38th parallel. -
Accused of espionage, the Rosenberg couple are convicted of passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union during World War II. They are sentenced to death and executed in 1953. -
The United States conducts a series of nuclear tests at the Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, marking the first tests to focus on the development of thermonuclear weapons. -
The Korean War, which began in 1950, comes to a halt as an armistice is signed between North Korea and South Korea. The conflict ends in a stalemate, with the two sides agreeing to a demilitarized zone between them. -
Japan and the Republic of China (Taiwan) sign a peace treaty, officially ending the state of war between the two countries. Taiwan gains sovereignty over the disputed islands of the Senkaku/Diaoyu. -
The United States and the United Kingdom orchestrate a coup in Iran, overthrowing Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and reinstating the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, due to concerns about nationalization of the Iranian oil industry. -
The United States detonates the first hydrogen bomb, codenamed "Mike," during a test at the Eniwetok Atoll. This marks a significant advancement in nuclear weapons technology. -
Soviet leader Joseph Stalin dies after three decades in power. His death ushers in a period of political uncertainty and a power struggle within the Soviet Union. -
The Korean War officially ends with the signing of an armistice agreement between North Korea, China, and the United Nations Command. The war results in the division of Korea into North and South. -
World War II hero and former Supreme Allied Commander, Dwight D. Eisenhower, wins the presidential election, defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson. He will serve two terms in office. -
Senator Joseph McCarthy's anticommunist crusade reaches its peak as he conducts highly publicized hearings investigating alleged communist infiltration in the U.S. government, contributing to his eventual downfall. -
In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. The ruling paves the way for the desegregation of schools across the United States. -
The Geneva Conference concludes with the signing of an agreement that ends the First Indochina War and temporarily divided Vietnam into North and South. The accord also grants independence to Laos and Cambodia. -
Leaders from 29 newly independent Asian and African countries gather in Bandung, Indonesia, to discuss cooperation, decolonization, and the promotion of neutralism in the context of the Cold War. -
The Soviet Union and several Eastern European countries establish a mutual defense alliance known as the Warsaw Pact in response to West Germany's integration into NATO. -
In response to the arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person, African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama, launch a successful boycott of the city's bus system, sparking the civil rights movement. -
President Eisenhower signs the Federal-Aid Highway Act, authorizing the construction of a vast network of highways across the United States. The system aims to improve transportation infrastructure and facilitate defense mobility. -
A spontaneous revolt against Soviet domination erupts in Hungary, with demands for political reforms and withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact. The uprising is eventually crushed by Soviet forces. -
Following the nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Israel, France, and the United Kingdom launch a military intervention. International pressure and the threat of Soviet intervention lead to a withdrawal of the invading forces. -
The Treaty of Rome is signed, establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and laying the foundation for the formation of the European Union (EU) in later years. The treaty aims to promote economic integration among European countries. -
Nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, are escorted by federal troops as they integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The event highlights the ongoing struggle for desegregation in the United States. -
The Soviet Union successfully launches the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into space. This event marks the beginning of the Space Age and triggers the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States. -
Tensions escalate between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan as the Chinese Communist forces bombard the islands of Kinmen and Matsu, prompting the United States to intervene and deter further hostilities. -
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is established in the United States, consolidating various space exploration efforts and research programs under one agency. -
Fidel Castro's revolutionary forces overthrow Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, leading to the establishment of a socialist government in Cuba and strained relations with the United States. -
Following a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, escapes into exile in India, where he establishes a government-in-exile and continues to advocate for Tibetan autonomy. -
The world comes to the brink of nuclear war as the United States discovers Soviet missile installations in Cuba. A tense standoff ensues, but is eventually resolved through negotiations, with the removal of missiles from Cuba and a secret U.S. commitment to remove missiles from Turkey. -
Twelve countries sign the Antarctic Treaty, agreeing to peaceful cooperation and scientific research in Antarctica while banning military activity and territorial claims in the region. -
Fidel Castro's forces overthrow the Cuban government, establishing a communist regime and prompting concerns about Soviet influence in the Western Hemisphere. -
An American U-2 spy plane is shot down by the Soviet Union, leading to increased tensions between the two superpowers. -
The leaders of the United States, Soviet Union, and other countries gather to discuss nuclear disarmament, but the talks collapse due to the U-2 Incident. -
A CIA-backed invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles fails to overthrow Castro's government, causing embarrassment for the United States. -
President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Khrushchev meet, but their discussions on Berlin and disarmament yield no significant agreements. -
East Germany starts building the Berlin Wall to prevent East Berliners from fleeing to West Berlin, symbolizing the division of Europe during the Cold War. -
The United States increases its military involvement in South Vietnam, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. -
The United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom sign the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, prohibiting nuclear tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater. -
The United States discovers Soviet missile sites in Cuba, leading to a tense standoff and narrowly avoiding nuclear war through diplomatic negotiations. -
The United States and Soviet Union establish a direct hotline between the White House and Kremlin to improve communication and reduce the risk of accidental nuclear war. -
The treaty, signed in 1962, is ratified by the United States Senate, banning nuclear tests in the atmosphere, underwater, and in outer space. -
President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas, leading to a period of mourning and a transition of power to Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. -
President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act into law, prohibiting racial segregation and discrimination in public facilities and employment. -
An alleged attack on U.S. warships by North Vietnamese forces prompts the U.S. Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing the use of military force in Vietnam. -
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev is removed from power, being replaced by Leonid Brezhnev, marking a shift in Soviet leadership and policies. -
The United States launches a sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam, intensifying its military involvement in the Vietnam War. -
President Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act into law, aiming to eliminate racial discrimination in voting practices. -
Widespread civil unrest erupts in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, highlighting racial tensions and inequalities in the United States. -
The Soviet Union successfully lands the Luna 9 spacecraft on the Moon, becoming the first country to achieve a soft landing and transmit photographs from the lunar surface. -
Mao Zedong launches China's Cultural Revolution, a decade-long sociopolitical movement aiming to eliminate capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society. -
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that criminal suspects must be informed of their rights before being interrogated, establishing the "Miranda rights" that protect individuals during police custody.