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House Un-American Activities Committee formed
It was created to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities on the part of private citizens, public employees, and those organizations suspected of having Communist ties. -
Yalta Conference
In Yalta, three leaders, President Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Churchill, and Soviet leader Stalin met to discuss war strategy for World War II and issues that would affect the postwar world. -
Potsdam Conference
In Potsdam, Germany, four big leaders, President Truman, Soviet Premier Stalin and Britain's Prime Ministers Churchill and Atlee, met to discuss post-World War II arrangements in Europe -
United Nations formation
An organization between countries who pledged to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security. -
Truman Doctrine
A policy set forth by the United States leader President Truman that stated that the U.S. would support Greece and Turkey with economic and military aid to prevent their falling to the Soviets. -
Berlin Airlift
The Berlin Airlift was the supply of vital necissities to West Berlin by air transport primarily under U.S. auspices. It continued for a year after it was started. -
Marshall Plan
Program edstablished by Truman's Secretary of State, George C. Marshall, that offered American financial aid for European economic recovery -
NATO Formation
North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed to help coordinate the military defenses of member nations against possible Soviet aggression. -
North Korea invasion of South Korea
On June 25, 1949, North Koreans attacked South Korea in the hopes of spreading communism. They attacked with tanks and other Soviet weapons. Within days the capital of South Korea was overtaken by North Korea. -
Era of McCarthyism Begins
Senator Joseph McCarthy pursued an anti-Communist crusade throughout America. It was an era of heightened fear of Communists and communism, and during that period, thousands of Americans were accused of being Communist. -
Rosenberg Execution
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were found guilty of relaying U.S. military secrets to the Soviets. They were the first U.S. citizens to be put to death for espionage. -
Armistice Signed Ending the Korean War
The armistice signed in Panmunjom, North Korea, was known as a cease-fire and finally halted the fighting in the Korean War. It also left the two Koreas divided at the 38th parallel. -
Warsaw Pact formation
A treaty between seven countries under Soviet control and the Soviet Union that was a military treaty which bound the countries to come together to the aid of the others, should any one of them be the attacked by foreign aggression. -
Sputnik 1 Launched
Sputnik 1 was launched by the Soviet Union and was the first Earth-orbiting artificial satellite. -
First Man in Space
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri A. Gagarin was the first man in space, making a 108-minute orbital flight in the Vostok 1 spacecraft. -
First American in Space
American astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr. was the first American in space. He blasted off in his Freedom 7 capsule. -
Creation of the Berlin Wall
On August 13, the government of East Germany decided to build the Berlin Wall in order to keep citizens from fleeing to West Germany. -
First Man on the Moon
American astronaut, Neil Armstrong, became the first human to step foot on the moon. He blasted off in the Apollo 11 Lunar Lander. He and his colleague, Buzz Aldrin, walked around for about three hours on the surface of the moon.
