Timeline: Cold War Timeline | Timetoast

Jan 1, 1945

Truman Becomes President

Harry S. Truman becomes the 33rd President of the United States.
Period: Jan 1, 1945 to Jan 1, 1980

Cold War Timespan
Jul 1, 1945

Potsdam Program

Truman meets with Stalin about atomic bomb testing and strategies.
Aug 6, 1945

A-Bomb: Hiroshima

Truman announces the use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
Aug 9, 1945

A-Bomb: Nagasaki
Mar 12, 1947

Truman Doctrine gave Turkey & Greece aid after economic problems during post WW2.

Gave aid to Greece and Turkey after the economic devastation of WW2.
Jun 1, 1947

Marshall Plan created to help rebuild Europe.

Created by Secretary of State George Marshall to help with the rebuilding of Europe.
Jun 26, 1948

Berlin Airlift sent to bring supplies to Berlin after Soviet blockade.

U.S. airlifts supplies to Berlin after Soviet forces create a blockade around the Allied controlled section of Berlin in order to be supplied with food and fuel. Giving the Soviets control over the entire city.
Aug 24, 1949

N.A.T.O. signed by 12 nations
Jan 1, 1950

Loyalty Program created to weed out Soviet spies transmitting info to U.S.S.R.
Jan 31, 1950

Hydrogen Bomb created
Jun 25, 1950

Korean War Begins
Jan 1, 1953

Eisenhower becomes president
Jul 1, 1953

Eisenhower approves "New Look" Cold War policy.
Jul 27, 1953

Armistice signed ending Korean War
Aug 1, 1953

U.S. informed that Soviets have tested a hydrogen bomb.
Jan 21, 1954

U.S.S. Nautilus, first nuclear submarine, launched.
Mar 1, 1954

Atomic Energy Commision detonates hydrogen bomb on Bikini Atoll.
May 14, 1954

Warsaw Pact created.
Jul 21, 1954

Geneva Accords signed.
Aug 24, 1954

Communist party banned in U.S.
Nov 24, 1954

Eisenhower approves building of thirty U-2 recon planes.
Jul 21, 1955

Eisenhower submits "Open Skies" proposal to U.S.S.R.
Jun 1, 1956

U-2 spy flights begin over Soviet Union.
Jul 1, 1957

Inspection system created to ban nuclear tests.
Sep 19, 1957

First underground nuclear explosion at Nevada proving grounds.
May 1, 1960

U-2 recon plane shot down over U.S.S.R.
Jul 20, 1960

First launch of the Polaris missile.
Jan 1, 1961

Kennedy becomes president.
Mar 1, 1961

Kennedy creates peace corps. for support of other countries.
Apr 17, 1961

Bay of Pigs Invasion
Apr 20, 1961

Bay of Pigs Invasion ends.
May 25, 1961

Goals to reach the moon before Soviets.
May 31, 1961

Meeting in Paris to open peace with French.
Jun 2, 1961

Meeting in Paris ends.
Jun 3, 1961

Kennedy meets with Nikita Khrushchev.
Jul 25, 1961

Military buildup in Germany to threaten Soviets.
Aug 13, 1961

Berlin Wall is built.
Oct 16, 1962

Cuban Missile Crisis erupts.
Oct 28, 1962

Cuban Missile Crisis resolved.
Jun 10, 1963

Kennedy announces Peace Strategy.
Oct 7, 1963

Kennedy ratifies Nuclear Test Ban.
Nov 22, 1963

Kennedy is assassinated.
Nov 22, 1963

Lyndon B. Johnson becomes president after Kennedy's assassination.
May 22, 1964

Johnson delivers the "Great Society" speech.
Aug 1, 1964

Johnson announces attack on U.S. destroyers by N. Vietnamese torpedos.
Jan 1, 1965

U.S. first enters Vietnam.
Apr 28, 1965

Dominican Republic Crisis
Jul 28, 1965

Johnson increases troops in Vietnam (75,000 to 125,000).
Oct 21, 1967

March of the Pentagon
Jan 1, 1969

Nixon becomes president.
Mar 17, 1969

Cambodian bombings begin.
Jun 8, 1969

Nixon withdraws troops from South Vietnam.
Nov 3, 1969

"Silent Majority"
Nov 24, 1969

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signed.
Sep 3, 1971

Trade and travel agreement between Berlin & Germany.
May 20, 1972

Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
Jun 1, 1972

Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (lasted till)
Jan 27, 1973

Treaty signed to end Vietnam War
Nov 7, 1973

War Powers Act
Jan 1, 1974

Gerald Ford becomes president.
Aug 9, 1974

Nixon resigned
Jan 1, 1975

SALT agrrement to limit nuclear weapons.
Jan 1, 1975

Helsinki Accords
Apr 12, 1975

Ford evacuates U.S. mission in Cambodia
Jan 1, 1978

Jimmy Carter becomes president.
Sep 1, 1978

Camp David Accords
Jun 1, 1979

Strategic Arms Limitation 2