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Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was a gathering of the "Big 3", Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. It was held in order to discuss postwar plans even though the war had not yet ended. They agreed to head towards a peaceful world. Stalin also made a promise to help out in the war with Japan after Germany surrendered in exchange for two Japanese islands (Kuril, Sakhalin). He would also compromise to have a free and "unfettered" election in some Soviet occupied states. -
Potsdam Conference
This was the last conference held by the Big 3 During World War II. Talks at the conference put forth a Council of Foreign Ministers and a Central Allied Control Council. They reached agreements on Germany's economy, punishment for war criminals, land boundaries, and reparations. One of the major talks was for the push of Japans unconditional surrender. -
Truman Doctrine
The United States wanted to stop the spread of communism at all costs. Greece and Turkey were in danger of being overrun even with the economic and military support that the British were providing. So Truman asked congress for $400 million in order to aid the nations. This was a very controversial to most people. Saying that if we keep going on our global policing of communism our power will eventually be spread too thin. In the end the threat of communism in these countries decreased immensely. -
Berlin Airlift
The Soviet Union was holding West Berlin hostage in retaliation to the U.S. and the British trying to reunify other parts of Berlin. The Soviets cut off all food and water supply to West Berlin. Within 5 weeks the population of 2.1 million will starve. The Americans plan to break the blockade was to fly over the hostile zone and drop food, medicine, fuel, etc. They continued this for 327 days. Over 227,000 flights were issued. This effort would eventually lead to the lift of the blockade. -
N.A.T.O is Formed
The United States fear of Soviet aggression greatly increased after their plan to starve out West Berlin's Population. The U.S. needed assurance of fear in the enemy's eyes so they created NATO. NATO, or North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was an alliance of ten western European nations (Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain, United States, etc...). Each country proposed that an attack on one is an attack on all. -
Mccarthyism Starts
Senator Mcarthur was making allegations of alleged members of the Communist party working inside the United States Government.
Sparking the American people to not trust the government. -
Truman Fires Macarthur
Macarthur played a huge role in saving South Korea from communist forces. He pushed communist Korea north and wanted to push even further into China. Truman thought that if they tried to push north China would take it as a hostile act and step into the mix. Which is exactly what happened. Thousands of chinese forces crossed the border pushing American lines. Macarthur wanted to use nukes in order to wipe them out. Truman fired Macarthur shortly after the request. -
Eisenhower Elected President
Eisenhower was a total opposite of Truman. He focused on destroying the Communists instead of just containing them. -
Rosenbergs Executed
The Rosenbergs were thought to Soviet spies that were trying to steal nuclear secrets. They were convicted and sent to the electric chair. -
Cease Fire in Korean War
The Korean Armistice was signed by United States General, William Harrison. It stated that use of military was power was not allowed until a peaceful settlement was arranged. -
Geneva Conference
A gathering of representatives from the U.S., China, France, and Great Britain to try and resolve problems in Asia. Their main trouble was the French and Vietnamese conflict. The French were getting tired of trying to control Vietnam due to stress on money and peoples patients. If France did back out the possibility of losing Vietnam and most of Southeast Asia to the Communists was very high. France agreed to withdraw their troops in vietnam. Vietnam would be divided at the 17th parallel. -
Warsaw Pact is Formed
The Soviet Union felt threatened that West Germany would be a part of the NATO pact and be able to militarize again. So they responded with the Warsaw pact. The Warsaw Pact included the Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria. If any nation is attacked by an outside force all other nations would have to come to their aid. -
Sputnik Launched
USSR launches first ever satellite into space beginning the space race. -
Explorer 1 Launched
Americans launch their first satellite into space. -
Khrushchev Visits the U.S.
Eisenhower invited Khrushchev to the U.S. because he wanted to show him the democratic way of life. He also wanted to figure out who Khrushchev was as a leader. -
The U-2 Spy Plane Incident
The Soviets denied the the Americans request for an "open skies" policy. But the United States went ahead and flew spy planes over Soviet airspace anyways. The Soviets had been aware of the flights for a few years. Eisenhower eventually stopped the program but permitted one last flight. The last plane to fly was shot down by the Soviets and the pilot was held prisoner. The Soviets demanded an apology and for the flights to stop. Eisenhower stopped the flights but never apologized. -
Bay of Pigs
CIA trained thousands of Cuban exile to invade Cuba and start a revolt. When it came to the battle the exiles were left stranded without American support and quickly were defeated. -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was built to keep the population of East Berlin from migrating west. East Berlin was losing so many citizens that their economy was starting to fail. The wall split East and West Berlin. You were not allowed to cross the border without the permission of the Communist government. The Soviets plan to cage in the city worked and the percentage of migration was almost zero. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
The Soviets put nuclear missiles in cuba as an act of defense to the American nukes europe. Tensions were raised tremendously. After numerous threats from both sides the Soviets removed the missiles 13 days later. -
John F. Kennedy is Assinated
John F. Kennedy is killed during a parde
