Cold War Timeline

  • Truman Doctrine

    After Soviet-backed Communists threatened the governments of Greece and Turkey, President Truman announced the Truman Doctrine. The Truman Doctrine was a pledge to provide economic and military aid to oppose the spread of Communism. The U.S. congress agreed to send hundreds of millions of dollas to aid both countries.
  • The Marshall Plan

    This plan provided $13 billion for the rebuilding of Europe. Also, this plan helped Western Europe make a rapid recovery from the war, as well as helping it preserve its political stability.
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    Berlin Airlift

    A massive effort to supply West Berlin by air. It was a success, leading to the Soviets called off the Berlin blockade.
  • North Korea attacks South Korea

    North Korea attacked South Korea in an attempt to unite the countries as a single Communist government.The U.S. asked the U.N. if they could use use force to stop the invasion.
  • Deterrence

    Nuclear weapons became key to each sides defense strategy. This was called deterrence, or the developmment of or maintenance of military power.
  • Warsaw Pact

    The Communist nations of Earuope's alliance. This alliance was created in response to the creation of NATO.
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    Vietnam War

    Vietnam was divided into two halves. One half was communist and the other was anti-communist.
  • NASA is established

    NASA was established in response to the Soviet Union's successful launch of Sputnik. NASA eventually returned the U.S. to the forefront of space research.
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    Cuban Missile Crisis

    A confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over the installation of Soviet nuclear-missiles in Cuba. Soviet leaders removed these missiles aftrer a two week period when the U.S. agreed to remove its missiles from Turkey and promised not to attack Cuba.
  • Detente

    One result of Nixon's efforts were the start of the SALT 1 negotiations. This agreement limited the number of nuclear weapons held by each country.