-
Harry Truman Becomes President
Following the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman is sworn into office and serves until 1952. -
Potsdam Conference
The Allies met again to discuss the fate of Europe after the war. The meeting was more tense and less productive than at Yalta, as neither the USSR was at odds with the other Allies. -
The U.S. Goes Nuclear
Near the end of World War II, the United States dropped two atomic bombs in Japan: one in Hiroshima and the other in Nagasaki. -
World War II Ends
Following America's use of two nuclear bombs in Japan, the Japanese surrendered in September of 1945, ending World War II. -
Kennan's Long Telegram
George Kennan sent a telegram to Washington from Moscow saying that Russians were hell-bent on destroying America's way of life. He characterized Russia as the greatest threat the U.S. has ever faced. The telegram was later published in magazines in 1947. -
Churchill Gives the "Iron Curtain" Speech
Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, described the Soviet influence in Eastern Europe as an "iron curtain" that separated the continent. -
Greek Civil War
Greece is in the middle of a civil war between the Greek government and Greek communists, and both America and Britain backed the Greek government so yet another country would not fall to Communism. -
National Security Act
With the passing of the National Security Act, the U.S. set up national security as we now know it. This act established the CIA, Department of Defense, and National Security Council. -
Marshall Plan is Passed
Following Czechoslovakia's fall to Communism, Congress passed the Marshall Plan, which ended up giving $3.5 billion in aid to European economies to limit the spread of Communism into Western Europe. -
Czechslovakia Falls to Communism
A coup in Czechoslovakia resulted in a Communist regime taking over the country. -
The Soviets Blockade Berlin
In order to cut off West Berlin and give the USSR complete control of the city, the USSR formed a ground blockade to West Berlin that prevented any supplies from reaching the city. The Americans counteracted the blockade with airlifts that supplied the city with plenty of food and supplies. -
NATO is Created
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is formed. -
The Soviets Lift the Blockade
After their blockade proved futile with America supplying Berlin from above, the Soviets lifted the blockade, which gave President Truman and America a huge win in the Cold War. -
USSR Develops Its Own Nukes
The USSR detonated its first atomic bomb, which caused Truman to order the acceleration of the development of the hydrogen bomb built in the U.S. -
McCarthyism
U.S. senator Joseph McCarthy claimed that as many as 205 U.S. State Department workers were secretly Communists and betraying America. McCarthy was later discredited, but his claims still garnered widespread support. -
North Korea Crosses the 38th Parallel
The North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th parallel that divided the United States controlled South Korea and USSR controlled North Korea. The North Korean army pushed the American and South Korean forces back into South Korea until the UN reinforced the southern army. -
China Gets Involved in Korea
After the North Korean troops were pushed back to the Yalu River that separated North Korea from China, the massive Chinese army pushed the U.S. and UN forces back into South Korea. -
Eisenhower is Elected
Dwight. D. Eisenhower won the 1952 election by a landslide and took over a job that saw the Korean War coming to a close and the Cold War just beginning. -
Ceasefire in Korea
After millions of deaths between the Chinese, Koreans, Americans, and UN troops, an armistice was signed, and the border between North and South Korea was redrawn at the 38th parallel. -
Warsaw Pact
The USSR formed the Warsaw Pact as a countermeasure to NATO to unite the Soviet Union with the Communist countries of Eastern Europe.
