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The Cold War Begins
Although the war in Europe had ended, growing tensions between the allies were about to lead to another conflict. When the conflict worsens the Cold War begins. -
Marshall Plan
U.S. secretary of state George Marshall provided $13 billion for rebuilding Europe. This massive program of economic aid prevented Europeans from turning to communism. In addition, not only did it help Western Europe make a rapid recovery from the war, but it also helped preserve political stability. -
Truman Doctrine
In early 1947, Soviet-backed Communists were threatening the governments of Greece and Turkey. Therefore, president Truman used this opportunity to announce what became known as the Truman Doctrine. The Truman Doctrine was a pledge to provide economic and military aid to oppose the spread of communism. -
Berlin Blockade (Berlin Airlift)
Soviets blocked off all routes into West Berlin, hoping this measures would force the West to live Berlin but Western leaders refused to give in. Therefore, they organized the Berlin airlift, a massive effort to supply West Berlin by air. The Berlin airlift was a success and the Soviets called off the blockade of Berlin in May 1949. -
NATO
The United States, Canada, and most Western European countries joined together in a military alliance. This alliance, called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, was designed in order to counter Soviet power in Europe. -
Warsaw Pact
The Soviet Union and the Communist nations of Eastern Europe formed their own alliance. This alliance was known as the Warsaw Pact. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban missile crisis is a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over the installation of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. Soviet leaders later on removed the missiles when the United States agreed to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey and promised not to attack Cuba. -
SALT 1
Strategic Arms Limitations Talks, or SALT 1, led to agreements limiting the number of nuclear weapons held by each side. It also led to the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, which prevented the development of weapons designed to shoot down nuclear missiles. -
SALT 2
Both sides then began a new round of talks, which were called SALT 2. These talks resulted in an arms control treaty in 1979, although it was never ratified by the U.S. senate. -
The Berlin Wall
Berlin was divided into West Berlin and East Berlin in the year 1949. Nevertheless, the Berlin Wall falls 40 years later in the year 1989.
