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Period: to
Cold War 1947-1946
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Truman Doctrine Announced
President Truman pledged to support countries resisting communism, especially Greece and Turkey. This marked the start of America’s containment policy. -
Marshall Plan Proposed
Secretary of State George Marshall introduced a plan to provide economic aid to rebuild European countries. It aimed to prevent the spread of communism by stabilizing economies. -
Cominform Established by the USSR
The Soviet Union created the Communist Information Bureau to coordinate communist parties across Europe. This showed Stalin’s intent to tighten control over Eastern Bloc nations. -
Czechoslovak Coup
Communists seized control of the Czechoslovak government, ending democratic rule. This shocked the West and increased tensions. -
Marshall Plan Enacted
President Truman signed the Economic Recovery Act, officially launching the Marshall Plan. It was a massive effort to rebuild Western Europe and prevent communist influence. -
Berlin Blockade Begins
The USSR blocked all ground routes to West Berlin, hoping to force the Allies out. This led to the Western Allies organizing the Berlin Airlift. -
NATO Formed
Twelve nations, including the U.S., Canada, and Western European countries, formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for collective defense against the Soviet threat. It formalized the division between East and West. -
Federal republic of Germany established
Western Allies officially created West Germany from their occupation zones, establishing a democratic state. This increased Cold War tensions as the USSR soon created East Germany in response. -
Soviet union tests atomic bomb
The USSR successfully tested its first atomic bomb in Kazakhstan, ending U.S. nuclear monopoly. This started the nuclear arms race between the superpowers. -
Start of the Korean war
North Korean troops invaded South Korea, starting the Korean War. The U.S. and UN forces intervened to support South Korea, while China later backed the North. -
UN condemns north korea
The UN Security Council condemned North Korea's invasion and called for members to assist South Korea. This marked a major international military response to communist aggression. -
General MacArthur Dismissed
President Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur of command for publicly disagreeing with U.S. policy on the Korean War. This reinforced civilian control over the military. -
Armistice talks begin in korea
Negotiations to end the Korean War began in Kaesong. Talks would continue for two years without a final peace treaty. -
Mutual security act passed
The U.S. passed a law to provide military and economic aid to allies resisting communism. This expanded America’s global Cold War commitments. -
British test atomic bomb
Britain successfully tested its first atomic bomb in Australia, becoming the third nuclear power. This strengthened Western alliances. -
U.S. Tests First Hydrogen Bomb
The U.S. detonated its first hydrogen bomb on Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific. This marked a huge leap in nuclear weapon power. -
NSA established
The U.S. formed the National Security Agency (NSA) to handle codebreaking and surveillance. It became a key player in Cold War intelligence. -
Stalin dies
Soviet leader Joseph Stalin died, leading to a power struggle and a slight easing in Cold War tensions. His death opened the door to some reforms. -
Korean war armistice signed
An armistice ended active fighting in Korea, though the war was never officially ended. The peninsula remained divided at the 38th parallel. -
Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" Speech
President Eisenhower addressed the UN to promote peaceful nuclear energy. It aimed to reduce fear of nuclear war and improve U.S. image. -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu Begins
Vietnamese forces attacked the French stronghold at Dien Bien Phu, leading to a major defeat for the French and the end of their colonial rule. -
CIA Helps Overthrow Arbenz in Guatemala
The CIA backed a coup to remove President Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala, fearing communist influence. This increased U.S. involvement in Latin America. -
SEATO formed
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization was created to stop the spread of communism in Asia. It was modeled after NATO. -
Warsaw Pact Established
The Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies formed a military alliance in response to NATO. It formalized the division of Europe. -
Austrian State Treaty
The U.S., USSR, UK, and France agreed to withdraw from Austria, which declared neutrality. It was a rare Cold War diplomatic success. -
Geneva Summit
Leaders from the U.S., UK, USSR, and France met to ease tensions. Although no major agreements were reached, it opened communication channels. -
Khrushchev’s Secret Speech
Nikita Khrushchev denounced Stalin’s crimes in a secret speech, shocking the communist world. It began a process of de-Stalinization. -
Suez Crisis
Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, leading Britain, France, and Israel to invade. The U.S. and USSR opposed the invasion, showing Cold War rivalries had limits. -
Hungarian Uprising Crushed
Soviet tanks entered Budapest to stop a popular anti-communist uprising. Thousands died, showing the USSR would use force to hold Eastern Europe. -
Eisenhower Doctrine Announced
President Eisenhower announced U.S. support for Middle Eastern countries resisting communism. This expanded U.S. Cold War policy to the Middle East. -
Sputnik Launched by USSR
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite. This shocked the U.S. and began the space race. -
Nuclear Test Moratorium Proposed
The U.S. and USSR began talks about halting nuclear weapons testing. Though no deal was reached, it signaled growing concern over nuclear arms. -
Mao Launches Great Leap Forward
Mao Zedong began a massive campaign to modernize China's economy. It strained relations with the USSR and ended in disaster. -
NASA Founded
The U.S. established NASA to compete with Soviet space advancements. It marked a major investment in science and technology. -
Khrushchev Issues Berlin Ultimatum
Khrushchev demanded that the West leave Berlin within six months. This increased Cold War tensions and led to further Berlin crises. -
Cuban Revolution Succeeds
Fidel Castro overthrew the U.S.-backed dictator Batista. Cuba soon aligned with the USSR, alarming the U.S. -
Khrushchev Visits the U.S.
Khrushchev toured the U.S., aiming to ease tensions. It was the first visit by a Soviet leader to America. -
U.S. Deploys ICBMs
The U.S. began installing intercontinental ballistic missiles, increasing its nuclear capabilities. This marked an escalation in the arms race. -
U-2 Spy Plane Shot Down
The USSR shot down a U.S. spy plane, capturing pilot Gary Powers. This embarrassed the U.S. and worsened tensions. -
Paris Summit Collapses
The U-2 incident caused Khrushchev to storm out of a planned summit with Eisenhower. Hopes for diplomacy fell apart. -
Congo Gains Independence
The Congo became independent from Belgium, sparking a crisis involving U.S. and Soviet influence. It became another Cold War battleground. -
Yuri Gagarin Orbits Earth
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. The USSR claimed a major victory in the space race. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
U.S.-backed Cuban exiles attempted to overthrow Castro but failed. It was a major embarrassment for the U.S. -
Berlin Wall Constructed
East Germany built the Berlin Wall to stop defections to the West. It became a powerful symbol of the Cold War. -
U.S. Increases Troops in Vietnam
The U.S. significantly increased its military advisors in South Vietnam. This marked a deeper commitment to the conflict. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba led to a tense standoff. It nearly caused nuclear war but ended with a peaceful agreement. -
China-India Border War
China and India clashed over disputed borders. This further distanced China from both the USSR and the West. -
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Signed
The U.S., UK, and USSR signed a treaty banning above-ground nuclear tests. It was a small but significant step toward arms control. -
Hotline Established Between U.S. and USSR
A direct phone line was set up between Washington and Moscow to prevent misunderstandings. It was a response to the Cuban Missile Crisis. -
JFK Assassinated
President Kennedy was killed in Dallas, Texas. His death shocked the world and brought Lyndon Johnson into power during a tense time. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Alleged attacks on U.S. ships led Congress to give Johnson broad war powers. This escalated U.S. involvement in Vietnam. -
Khrushchev Removed from Power
Soviet leaders ousted Khrushchev and replaced him with Brezhnev. It ended an era of relative liberalization. -
China Tests Atomic Bomb
China successfully detonated its first nuclear bomb. This made it the fifth nuclear power and changed Cold War dynamics. -
Operation Rolling Thunder Begins
A massive bombing campaign began against North Vietnam. It aimed to weaken the enemy but caused major destruction. -
U.S. Combat Troops Sent to Vietnam
First official combat troops arrived in South Vietnam. The war became a full-scale U.S. military effort. -
Indonesia’s Anti-Communist Purge
After a failed coup, the Indonesian army led a brutal crackdown on communists. Up to a million were killed. -
Cultural Revolution Begins in China
Mao launched the Cultural Revolution to reassert communist ideology. It caused chaos and weakened China’s global image. -
France Withdraws from NATO Command
France under de Gaulle pulled out of NATO's military structure. It was a major shakeup in the Western alliance. -
U.S. Bombs Hanoi and Haiphong
American bombers targeted key North Vietnamese cities. The war escalated, drawing more global criticism.