-
End of World War II
World War II comes to an end in the year 1945. This year includes the Yalta Conference in February, the official end of the war in Europe in May, and the infamous U.S. atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, in August. Europe is dividing amongst the superpowers during the Postdam Conference, as well. Quintard, T. Jr. United States History Timeline: Cold War. Retrieved from: http://faculty.washington.edu/qtaylor/a_us_history/cold_war_timeline.htm -
Second Red Scare (1947-1957)
This time period represents the spreading fear of the establishment of communist governments through a series of events such as the Rosenburg trial, the victory of communist forces in the Chinese Civil War, the creation of the “Iron Curtain,” the rise of Soviet nuclear weapons capabilities, and the Korean War. U.S. saw communism as a threat to democracy. Second Red Scare. Retrieved from: http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Second_Red_Scare?rec=1586 -
Berlin Airlift/Blockade
This event began with the blockage of Allied-controlled roads and railways by the Soviet Union in Berlin. The United States and United Kingdom were forced to airlift food and fuel to Berlin from Allied airbases in western Germany. The crisis ended on May 12, 1949, when Soviet forces lifted the blockade on land access to western Berlin. (2013). Milestones: 1945-1952. Retrieved from: https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/berlin-airlift -
Korean War
Even though Soviet and Japanese forces surrendered after the end of World War II, communist North Korea was still in conflict with South Korea. The U.S. fought for South Korea under the guise of the United Nations while Chinese troops defended North Korea. It took three years of this first "hot war" for North and South Korea to come to a cease-fire agreement. (2016) This Day in History. Retrieved from: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/korean-war-begins -
Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968)
In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled the "separate but equal" doctrine to be unconstitutional. This triggered nonviolent direct actions and civil disobedience organized by African Americans and their allies. Progress was made from these efforts in the form of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Forner, E. and Garraty, J.A. (1991). Civil Rights Movement. Retrieved from: http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was an agreement made in Warsaw that included the Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria. These countries signed the pact in order to protect each other and uphold an allyship in case any member were attacked by an outside force. This agreement lasted through 1991. (2009). The Warsaw Pact is Formed. Retrieved from: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-warsaw-pact-is-formed -
Space Race - Launch of Sputnik
The firt space satellite called "Sputnik" is launched by the Soviet Union, an event that begins a fierce competition with the U.S. to develop programs in space exploration and research alongside the arms race. Space was now seen as the next frontier to conquer. (2016) The Space Race. Retrieved from: http://www.history.com/topics/space-race/pictures/space-race/russia-50-year-anniversary-of-the-first-satellite-sputnik -
Election of 1960
John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon campaigned for president in one of the closest elections in history. This election brought in a new era of campaigning with a televised debate which proved that appearance and charisma matters to the American public. Kennedy won the electoral college by a 303-219 margin, ushering in a new generation of Democratic politics. (2014). The Election of 1960. Retrieved from: http://www.ushistory.org/us/56a.asp -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
This was America's failed attempt to overthrow the Castro regime in Cuba by sending American-trained Cubans to fight Castro's troops. The invaders were greatly outnumbered and defeated in less than 24 hours. (2009). Bay of Pigs Invasion. Retrieved from: http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/bay-of-pigs-invasion -
East Germany Builds Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was constructed by East Germany in attempts to restrict citizens from leaving East Berlin. This wall became a symbol of the Cold War and tensions between the U.S.-Soviet Bloc. (2009). East Germany Begins Construction on the Berlin Wall. Retrieved from: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/east-germany-begins-construction-of-the-berlin-wall -
Cuban Missile Crisis
U.S. found out that the Soviet Union had nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba--the backyard of America. President Kennedy made a televised announcement to inform the public of the threat and to threaten to use military action as a response to this nuclear presence. To prevent a global nuclear war, Soviet and U.S. leaders agreed to remove all military presence and weaponry from Cuba. (2010). Cuban Missile Crisis. Retrieved from: http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cuban-missile-crisis -
LBJ's Great Society
LBJ's "Great Society" was the greatest legislative reform since the New Deal. It included the completion of the JFK's Civil Rights Act and acts which aimed to address poverty, housing, healthcare, education, immigration, voting, environmental protection, and more. Under this legislation, programs such as Americorps, Head Start, and Medicare were established. (2016). Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society." In U.S. History Online Textbook. Retrieved from: http://www.ushistory.org/us/56e.asp -
Tet Offensive
This event was a strike made by about 70,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces against the U.S. and South Vietnamese troops during the grueling Vietnam War. News coverage of this event sparked public outcry and disdain for the U.S. involvement in this war. The U.S. finally began to slowly withdraw forces after this attack. (2009). Tet Offensive. Retrieved from: http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/tet-offensive -
Election of 1968
This presidential election was a chaotic as the time period that was the Cold War. Democrat Hubert Humphrey ran against Republican Richard Nixon with the backddrop of two more devastating assassinations: Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy. The Amerian public was already outraged by LBJ's Vietnam War, so this added to the discontent with the current Democractic government and led to Nixon's victory. Election of 1968. Retrieved from: http://www.pbs.org/johngardner/chapters/5a.html -
Watergate
Five burglars at the Democratic National Convention headquarters at a building called "Watergate" were arrested. These burglars were connected to Nixon's administration, the FBI, and the CIA, revealing interconnected layers of scandel and corruption in the U.S. government. Nixon went to trial with the likelihood of impeachment, but instead he resigned. Perlstein, R. (2015). Watergate scandal. Retrieved from: http://www.britannica.com/event/Watergate-Scandal -
Berlin Wall Demolished
On this day, the East German Communist Party declared that citizens may freely cross the border between East and West Germany. Citizens were thrilled with this new at took to the streets with tools to literally take down this symbolic wall of conflict. As a major symbl of the Cold War, this deconstruciton of the wall signified the nearing end of this global tension. (2016). Berlin Wall. Retrieved from: http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall -
Soviet Union is Dismantled
Representatives from the Soviet republics (Ukraine, the Russian Federation, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) met on this day to declare their independence from the USSR and creation of a Commonwealth of Independent States. This dissolution caused Gorbachev to resign. The Cold War had finally come to an end. (2016). Fall of the Soviet Union. Retrieved from: http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/fall-of-soviet-union
