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World War II ends
After World War II, the USSR and the United States were nicknamed "the superpowers," and they had previously worked together to fight Japan in the war. The two nations had very different political values, as the USSR was comminist and the U.S. was capitalist. This political difference caused tension. -
Iron Curtain Speech by Churchill
Churchill's Iron Curtain speech was one of the first indicators of the Cold War. Churchill and President Truman built a friendship, and were close allies. He also spoke on the "iron curtain" setting on Europe. Churchill warned the world of the USSR's plan for expansion and their communist ideals. -
Truman Doctrine
President Harry Truman created the Truman Doctrine, which stated that the United States would help any nation where they're democracy was being challenged or attacked. This influenced the Cold War because it was a basis of the U.S.'s involvemnt around the world. -
Marshall Plan Created
The Marshall Plan was developed to build the broken post-WWII Europe, so that the communist USSR could not easily overtake them. This was one of the early ways America aimed to stop the spread of communism. -
NATO is formed
After communist attacks in Europe, President Truman wanted to aid countries where the Soviets were attacking. He formed The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and many other countries joined. Their pupose was to provide miliatry aid to countries endangered or attacked by communism. -
Warsaw Pact is formed
In retaliation to the formation of NATO, the USSR made a treaty with Eastern European countries. These countries were the Soviet's satellites, and acted as a form of support and protection of NATO. This pact made the Cold War more convoluted with it's alliences and organizations. -
The "Space Race" begins- Sputnik is launched
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik, which was the first satellite in space. The Soviet's successful launch began the Space Race between the USSR and the U.S. It also indicated that military and technological advances were being made. This began the competition between both countries during the Cold War. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Fidel Castro was the current dictator over Cuba, and he had relations with the Soviet Union. Because America is so close to Cuba, John F. Kennedy decided to create a covert attack on Cuba's airfields. However, Castro knew about this plan and prepared for it. The Americans lost greatly in this short battle. This event caused even more tension between America and its neighbor, Cuba. Cuba was at a risk of turning communist, like the Soviet Union. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
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Berlin Wall is built
Germany was split in two. East Germany was communist, and they build a barbed cement wall to sepreate themselves from West Germany. The wall stood until the late 80s. There were many people from the East that attempted escape to the West, but they were killed. Communist East Germany was vicious and cruel, and the wall is one of the most important symbols of the Cold War -
Cuban Missile Crisis
This was a thirteen day military stand-off between America and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union had supplied Cuba with nuclear weapons. The two countries were on the brink of the first nuclear war. However, Kennedy and the Cuban leader agreed that if Cuba removed their nuclear weapons, then America would not attack them. This again shows the intensity and danger of a nuclear war between the Soviet Union and The U.S. -
First Man on the Moon
This was considered the end of the Space Race, and the United States won. This was an important event in the Cold War because it again showed the competition between the USSR and U.S. in military and science. -
SALT
The Soviet Union and America were having an arms race, which meant they were building nuclear weapons at a rapid pace. This became dangerous. Nixon finialized SALT, and both countries agreed to limit their nuclear weapons for safety. Otherwise, a harsh and deadly war could break out. This signaled that the Cold War was nearing its end. -
The Berlin Wall falls
The spokesman of the East Germany Communist Party announced that Eastern Europe could cross the border. People immediately began crossing the border as soon as they could to get to safety and to find relatives. The fall of the Berlin wall was a big indicator of the end of the Cold War, and the annimosity and seperattion between East and West Germany. -
The end of the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union falls. 11 of the Soviet's republics declared their independence. The USSR was out of money, lacked allies, and the strength of the union fell. Reform filled the land, and communism became obsolete. This was the end of the Cold War.
