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Yalta Conference
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin met during this conference at the end of World War II to discuss post-war circumstances. The main topic of conversation was the future of Germany. The three leaders discussed ways of dividing German power to prevent another power surge. -
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The Cold War
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Death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt
President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) was the 32nd Presdient of the United States and the only president to serve 12 years. During the Cold War, FDR worked closely with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin as allies against Nazi Germany and Japan during World War II. -
Harry S. Truman becomes President of U.S.
Harry S. Truman became the 33rd President of the United States following the death of FDR. During the Cold War, Truman ordered Japan to surrender. After Japan declined, Truman ordered atomic bombs be dropped on Japan, in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Soon after, Japan surrendered. During his presidency, he created the Truman Doctrine, which will later be discussed. -
U.S. bombs Hiroshima
After refusal to surrender, U.S.A bombs Japan. Soon after this attack, Japan surrendered. This was the first use of nuclear weapons. The actual number of fatalities is uncertain, but the number is estimated at 150,000. People are still affected today due to radiation from the bombs. -
Winston Churchill delivers "Iron Curtain" Speech
This speech delivered by Winston Churchill marks the onset of the Cold War. During his speech, Churchill discusses the division between the Western powers and areas controlled by the Soviet Union. The "iron curtain" refers to seperation between the powers. The most notable line of seperation is marked by the Berlin Wall. -
Truman Doctrine
This doctrine would provide military, political, and economic support to all democratic nations. Truman was concerned that the Soviet powers would influence too much foreign policy and wanted to provide aid to countries who were fighting against communist control. -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed
NATO was established in order to form a defensive pact between member states in response to an attack from external parties. The original states were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom, and United States. -
Korean War
This war between North Korea and South Korea was the first war between two nuclear powers. It began when North Korea forces invaded South Korea borders. North Korea launched the attack after receiving support from Joseph Stalin. The U.S. initally stayed out of the conflict, but soon provided aid to South Korea through the help of the United Nations. -
Joseph Stalin dies
Joseph Stalin served for nearly 30 years as Leader of the Soviet Union. His death was caused by natural causes. After his death, a process of de-Stalinization began. -
Nikita Khrushchev becomes leader of Soviet Communist Party
Khrushchev was responsible for the de-Stalinization operation following Stalin's death. He firmly believed in Communism as the superior form of power. Khrushchev also backed the progress of the Soviet space program. He was peacefully removed from office in 1964. -
Warsaw Pact founded
The Warsaw Pact was formed to counter the progress of NATO. The Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), Hungary, Poland, and Romania all came together to form a communist defense treaty. The head of the pact was the Soviet Union, who initiated the project. -
Space Race
The launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union marked the beginning of the space age and the U.S./U.S.S.R space race. The launch sparked a new interest in technological and scientifical advancement between the two parties. -
John F. Kennedy elected President of the U.S.
John F. Kennedy became the youngest man to be elected President of the United States. He was the 35th President of the U.S. He initiated project Apollo as part of the space race. John F. Kennedy served three years before being assassinated. -
Construction of Berlin Wall
The construction of the Berlin Wall came in part due to conflict between East Communist Berlin and West Berlin. In order to retain control, a wall was built to keep people from fleeing to West Berlin. -
Lyndon B. Johnson succeeds to presidency
Lyndon B. Johnson became the 36th President following Kennedy's death. Johnson was mainly responsible for his creation of the "Great Society". It included laws that upheld civil rights, Medicare, education, and war on poverty. During the Cold War, Johnson escalated U.S. involvement with Vietnam. -
John F. Kennedy assassinated
John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas during a political trip. The assassination left many Americans with more questions than answers. Poll's taken showed that a majority of American's believed the act was part of a conspiracy or cover-up, rather than a solo act. The event left America devastated. John F. Kennedy was the first President to die at such a young age. -
Richard Nixon elected President of the U.S.
Richard Nixon became the 37th President of the United States. He was responsible for ending U.S. involvement in Vietnam and China. He also became the first president to resign from office due to the Watergate scandal. -
Apollo 11 Moon Landing
A goal set by John F. Kennedy, Apollo 11 successfully landed on the moon and returned safely back to Earth. This event strengthened America's lead in the space race. -
Gerald Ford becomes 38th President of the U.S.
Gerald Ford became president following the resignation of Nixon. He pushed for detente, ease of tension, with the Soviet Union. -
Jimmy Carter becomes 39th President of the U.S.
Jimmy Carter helped achieve amity between Israel and Egypt through the Camp David agreement. He also created the Department of Education. Carter only served one term. -
Ronald Reagan becomes 40th President of the U.S.
President Reagan sought to improve relations with the Soviet Union. His presidency aimed to restore prosperity and peace through strength. -
George H. W. Bush becomes 41st President of the U.S.
George H. W. Bush aimed to bring traditional values back into the U.S. During his presidency, the Cold War ended and the Berlin Wall fell. Bush only served one term. -
German Reunification
The end of separation between East and West Germany, and Berlin. The end of the "Iron Curtain." -
Destruction of Berlin Wall
The head of the East German Communist Party made an announcement stating that citizens of East Germany were free to cross the border whenever they pleased. That night hundreds brought hammers and other tools to chip away at the wall. The wall still remains a strong symbol of the Cold War. -
Warsaw Pact Disestablished
This established the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. -
I was born!
On this day, I was born into the world! At this time, Yugoslavia was beginning a war of its own and my family took refuge in Germany for 6 years. We returned to Croatia when I was 6 years old. We moved to America two years later!
