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Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was held to discuss and decide what was to happen with post-war Europe. The major players in this meeting were Allied leaders Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin. The focus of the conference was to divide Germany appropriately, establish the U.N, and come to agreement over the future of Poland. (PHOTO) -
First Atomic Bomb Dropped
The United States uses first atomic bomb in Hiroshima. This was weapon of this calibur to ever be used in battle. The bomb was named "little boy" and killed more than 80 thousand people. (PHOTO) -
Second Atomic Bomb Dropped
The United States drop their second atomic bomb on Nakasaki, Japan. This killed over 70 thousand people an this bomb was nicknamed the "Fat Man". -
Japan Surrenders
Reeling from the the two atomic attacks and now facing a war declaration with Russia, Japan finally concedes. Emperor Hirohito's announces Japan's acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and the entire world celebrates. While this marked the end of WW2, this is arguably where the Cold War begins as the display of atomic power would set the stage for the arms race to come. -
Nuclear Arms Race Begins
Soviets develop atomic bomb. The United States wanted to ensure they held military superiority, but the Soviet Union was equally determined to gain it. Despite not being briefed about the weapons existing until the postdam conderences, Stalin was still well into production of nuclear arms shortly after. Both sides amassed enormous arsenals of nuclear weapons and the rest of the world watched in fear. -
Winston Churchill and the "Iron Curtain"
This famous speech was delivered by Winston Chruchill at Westminister College in Missouri. He stated that there was a "curtain" between the West and East. The countries that fell on the East side of the "curtain" were under the control of Moscow and were denied freedom. Countries that were on the West side were given free enterprise. He favored the West , and blamed this separtation on the USSR. The implications of this was the alliance of the United States. and the United Kingdom. (PHOTO) -
Truman Doctrine and Containment
The Truman Doctrine was created by President Truman. He sought 400 million dollars from Congress to help Greece and turkey to fight communism. Truman's goal was Containment of communism within its present territories. He sought to do this by using diplomatic, economic, and even military actions. Truman used this doctrine to aid people resisting communism. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was created by and named for Secretary of State George C. Marshall. It was also known as the European Recovery Program and gave European nations American aid to rebuild their economy. The Soviets refused to accept the aid or to support the plan. This contributed to a weakening the of communist reach and increased trade among nations. -
Berlin Blockade Begins
Berlin was the hapless center of the now famous "Iron Curtain", Berlin was controled by the Soviet Union. The USSR built a blockade ensuring that nobody could leave or come in. This marked one of the first international crises of the Cold War and it was also the first with casualties. This led the west to deploy tactics such as the Berlin Airlift,in which US allies were dropping supplies from airplanes to the blockaded area. (PHOTO) -
NATO is Founded
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) founded. NATO is comprised of of Canada and the United States as well as 26 countries in Europe. NATO allies have a unfied agreement to defend one another should any member be attacked. -
Berlin Blockade Ends
After 320 days, the Soviet Union finall gave in to the western pressure. They removed the blockade and Berlin was once again able to trade by ships. -
President Truman Approves Developement of Hydrogen Bomb
Americans and the scientists behind teh Manhattan Project were reluctant to make a larger nuclear bomb. However, after recieving news that the Soviets had tested their first successful atom bomb Truman said that it would not be long before the Soviets come up with their own hydrogen bomb. Given this looming threat, the President allows developement of the hydrogen bomb. -
Korean War
The US and the USSR were unable to agree on policies for Korea after WW2, which led to the division of Korea in to North and South Korea. In 1950, North Korea sent 100,000 troops into South Korea. North Korea was communist and South Korea wished to remain free of that. Given their stance on communism, the US interviened. China moved to support the North and 3 years of fighting would ensue with no final resolution. (PHOTO) -
Vietnam War
One of many "proxy wars", the Vietnam War closely mirrored the Korean War. North Vietnam was communist while South Vietnam was established as anti-communist. Again, the U.S stepped in to defend the South. Despite sending money, weapons, and troops the end result was an American withdrawal and the takeover by the North Vietnamese communist government and South Vietnam was dissolved. (PHOTO) -
Launch of Sputnik
The Soviet Union's satellite, Sputnik, was launched on October 4th 1957. This set the United States back in the space race and gave the impression that the U.S was falling behind in missile technology. Fearing a weakening of politcal stature in the world, Congress passed the National Defense Education Act (NDEA). (Later this became NASA.) -
John F. Kennedy Elected President of the U.S.
John F. Kennedy wins a hard-fought Presidential campaign and takes his place as the youngest man to ever take the presidential office in the United States. His oppenents pointed to his youth and lack of experience as costly mistake for the future. (PHOTO) -
Bay of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a failed attempt by CIA-sponsored and trained anti-Castro forces. This failed attack bolstered Castro and led him to declare open intentions to support the Soviets. This precluded the Cuban Missle Crisis. (PHOTO) -
Cuban Missle Crisis
The Soviets had deployed nuclear missiles in Cuba and the United States reacted to this news with missiles ready to fire upon Moscow. After nearly starting WW3, the final result was the removal of the Soviet Union's missles in Cuba, withdrawl of the United State's missles in Turkey, and an agreement was established protecting Cuban from American invasion. -
Ronald Reagan Elected President
Ronald Reagan elected the 40th president of the United States. He served two terms and dedicated them to raising the spirits of the depressed Cold War victims. He described the Soviet Union as an "evil empire" and spent his first term forgoing a massive military buildup in an arms race with the USSR. He eventually orchestrated the INF treaty, reducing nuclear arms on both sides of the war. -
"Tear Down This Wall"
After long civil unrest, the East German government announced that all of its citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. Crowds of people crossed over and a bolstered public tore parts of the wall down. (PHOTO) -
Fall of Soviet Union
The Soviet Union dissolved into fifteen countries marking an end to the long Cold War with the Soviets. This also marked the end of the spreading of global communism. Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev resigned from his office, and gave up power and the Soviet nuclear missiles to incoming Russian President Boris Yeltsin. (PHOTO)
