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World war 2 ends in Europe
Allies accept Germany's surrender around a week after Adolf Hilter committed suicide. Following the surrender, there is now a day in Europe known as VE Day. That stands for Victory in Europe Day which is celebrated on May 8th, 1945 due to the end of WW2 in Europe. -
U.S. drops atomic bomb
The world’s first deployed atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima, Japan.The explosion wiped out 90% of the city and killed 80,000 people. Three days later, another A-bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing around 40,000 people. -
Communists seize power in Poland
Democratic parties were outlawed, which allowed the Polish to create the Polish United Workers' Party. There was a new type of government, it was a pro-government Democratic Bloc including the Polish Workers' Party and its leftist allies. The first parliamentary elections allowed candidacy from the Polish People's Party. The elections resulted in the Communist candidates winning the majority of the votes leading to several opposition members choosing to leave the country. -
The Truman Doctrine announced
President Harry S. Truman created The Truman Doctrine. It claimed that the United States would provide political, military and economic support to any democratic nation under a threat from external or internal authoritarian forces. Usually the U.S. strays away from regional conflicts that aren't directly towards the U.S. The Truman Doctrine did the opposite of that, he wanted the U.S. to give assistance to those nations that need it. -
Soviet Union explodes its first atomic bomb
At a test site at Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, the Soviets gave the code name “First Lightning” to their bomb. Soviet scientists constructed buildings, bridges, and other structures to measure the effects of the blast. Along with the structures, they also placed animals in cages nearby to test it on human-like-mammals. The atomic explosion destroyed those structures and the animals. On November 22, 1955, the Soviet Union discharged its first hydrogen bomb. -
U.S. overthrows Iranian government
The Iranian military received support and funding from the United States government. With that help they overthrew the government of Premier Mohammed Mosaddeq. They reinstated the Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlevi. -
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization was created
The United States, the Philippines, France, New Zealand, Great Britain, Australia, Pakistand and Thailand formed the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). The purpose to creating this treaty organization was to prevent communism from spreading in the region. -
Soviets launch first man-made satellite
The launching of this tiny satellite shocked and frightened many Americans. The satellite orbited the earth, leaving Americans angry since the Soviets could have beaten of the United States who are technologically superior. Democrats blamed it on the Republican administration for allowing the U.S. to get behind the communists. The Republican administration, decided to speed up the U.S. space program so they could release the satellite and start the “space race” between U.S. and the Soviet Union. -
East Germany builds Berlin wall
Around 2.5 million East Germans fled from East to West Germany. Many of the refugees were skilled laborers, professionals, and intellectuals, so when they left, it really hurt the East German economy. East German soldiers originally but 30 miles of barbed wire through the heart of Berlin. The barbed wires were replaced by concrete. The Berlin Wall was near 15 feet high and 28 miles through Berlin. It had barbed wire on top and was guarded with watchtowers, machine gun emplacements, and mines. -
China explodes there first atomic bomb
China was working to develop an atomic bomb, it was rumored that Soviet technicians and scientists helped. That brought concern to the U.S and Southeast Asia since the test was two months after the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, a congressional resolution that gave President Lyndon B. Johnson the power to respond to communist aggression in Vietnam. It lead to the United States and the Soviet Union signing the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. -
U.S. sends their troops to the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic started to have issues once the long-time dictator Rafeal Trujilo was assassinated. Fear was brought upon the U.S. government when they heard "another Cuba" could be in the making in the Dominican Republic. More than 22,000 U.S. troops landed to help for the next few weeks, ending any fighting that was taking place and help create a government. -
President Richard Nixon visits China.
President Richard Nixon took upon himself to build relations with the communist in China. He took action by spending a week in Beijing and having numerous conversations with people. It was later seen to be used as a helpful hand in dealing with the Soviets. -
Communist forces beat South Vietnam
After an advancement in North Vietnamese, the South Vietnamese had collapsed. Everything started one North Vietnamese launched a large attack against the Cambodian border. After the North Vietnamese launched their new campaign, the South was in shock and they fought along the coast towards Saigon. -
Berlin Wall is demolished.
East Germany Communist rulers allowed the gates to be opened since their was numerous days filled with protest. When the wall was being taken down, East Berliners went through cheering, shouting, happy, and greeted by the West side. Having the wall come down, it meant no more digging under it, hiding in cars of people going from one side to the next, or trying to jump onto the side. -
The Soviet Union is abolished
Conservative Soviet officials failed ruling the Soviet Union after just three days. The result of that lead to some people leaving, including 15 of the Soviet Union's republications to make sure they get to keep their independence. Six days had passed and the Soviet Union officially ended and was replaced by a weak Commonwealth of Independent States.
