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Cold War begins
The Cold War officially begins. -
Atomic Bomb
August 6th was the first time the United States used an atomic bomb in the war. -
Marshall Plan Announced
The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Program, channeled over $13 billion to finance the economic recovery of Europe between 1948 and 1951. The Marshall Plan successfully sparked economic recovery, meeting its objective of 'restoring the confidence of the European people in the economic future of their own countries and of Europe as a whole.' The plan is named for Secretary of State George C. Marshall, who announced it in a commencement speech at Harvard University. -
Soviets & Atomic Bomb
In order to measure the effects of the blast, the Soviet scientists constructed buildings, bridges, and other civilian structures in the vicinity of the bomb. They also placed animals in cages nearby so that they could test the effects of nuclear radiation on human-like mammals. The atomic explosion, which at 20 kilotons was roughly equal to "Trinity," the first U.S. atomic explosion, destroyed those structures and incinerated the animals. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was a mutual defense organization that put the Soviets in command of the armed forces of the member states. -
Sputnik
The world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a beach ball (58 cm.or 22.8 inches in diameter), weighed only 83.6 kg. or 183.9 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path. That launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. -
U.S. Spy Plane
An American U-2 spy plane is shot down while conducting espionage over the Soviet Union. -
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy is elected President of the United States. -
Bay of Pigs
The U.S. put a plan into effect with the ultimate goal being to overthrow Castro and then establish of a non-communist government friendly to the United States. This was a failed attempt. -
Berlin Wall
Construction begins on the Berlin Wall -
Kennedy Assassination
President Kennedy was assassinated while riding in his presidential motorcade with his wife in Dallas, Texas. -
Vietnam to Cambodia
President Richard Nixon extends the Vietnam War to Cambodia. In fact, the United States had already been bombing Cambodia for over a year. -
Richard Nixon
President Richard Nixon resigns just before being impeached. He was under scrutiny for his involvement with the Watergate Scandal. -
Berlin Wall comes down
The Wall was a symbol of oppression. The tearing down of the Wall became known as the end of the Cold War. -
The Cold War Ends
The Cold War finally ends due to the collaspe of the Soviet Union as well as many other reaasons.
