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Soviet Troops takeover European Countries
Stalin's troops took over the Baltic States, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania. Refugees fled fearing that Communists were going to take over. -
Potsdam Agreement
It organized the reconstruction of Europe after Germany surrendered. New boundaries of Poland were agreed on and the capital of Germany were split into four zones. -
End of World War II
After the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japand officially surrendered to end WWII. -
Chinese Civil War Resumes
After WWII, Chinese Communists that are supported by Soviets begin fighting against Chinese Nationalist which are supported by US. -
Period: to
Chinese Civil War after WWII
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Joseph Stalin's speech
Joseph Stalin had said in his Election speech that capitalism and communism cannot work together and will cause future wars. -
The Bizone
American and British zones in Germany merged together to make what was known as the Bizone -
Truman Doctrine
President Harry S. Truman gave financial aid to Greece and Turkey to beef up their army and economies to keep them out of Soviet hands. -
Marshall Plan is Drafted
The Marshall Plan was a plan to reconstruct the Western European countries that were affected by WWII by giving economic and technical assistance. -
Communist Party takes control in Czecholavakia
The Communist party is in control because all non-communist ministers resigned. -
Marshall Plan is signed
President Harry S. Truman signs the Marshall Plan into effect. The U.S. gave 12.4 billion dollars to European countries under the plan. -
Deutsche Mark
A common currency was made for the French zone and Bizone in Berlin. -
Berlin Blockade Begins
Stalin orders for the roads, rivers and railway to be blocked to the parts of Berlin that are controlled by Western powers.It was meant to starve the people of West Berlin. He offered to drop the blockade if the allies dropped the new Deutsche Mark made for West Berlin. In response, the allies made the Berlin Airlift which had 200,000 flights in oone year to bring food and other supplies to starving people in Berlin. -
Period: to
Berlin Blockade
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NATO is formed
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is made in order to resist Communist expansion. It included Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. -
Berlin Blockade Ends
Soviets re-opened all the closed routes but the airlift continued all the way to September, in case the blockade happens again. -
Soviets test atomic bomb
The USSR tested its first atomic bomb making it the world's second nuclear power. -
First Containment of Communism
The Greek Civil War ends by the Communist party of Greece declaring an end to the uprising meaning it was the first successful containment of communism. -
Soviets and China Sign Pact
Soviets and China signa mutual pact of mutual defense. -
Korea War Begins
The war is begun by North Korea invading South Korea. -
Period: to
Korean War
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UN Forces come in
United Nations troops engage in the war for the first time. They fail to stop the North Korean troops advancing and fall backward -
UN troops cross border
UN troops cross the 38th parallel (known as the border between South Korea and North Korea) into North Korea after they re-captured Seoul, the South Korean capital. -
UN in control in North Korea
UN troops capture the North Korean capital Pyongyang. Then chinese troops, helping North Korea, catch them off guard by a suprise attack with 300,000 troops. However, China retreats after engagements. -
Chinese troops capture Seoul
Chinses troops capture Seoul after driving UN troops back into South Korea with an army of 500,000. -
UN recaptures Seoul
UN recaptures the South Korean capital during Operation Ripper and by the end of March, UN troops reach the border and make a line of defense. -
Mutual Security Act
President Harry S. Truman signs this act to announce, mainly to communist countries, that US will give aid to "free peoples". -
Marshall Plan Ends
The Marshall plan ends and European industrialization is way better than in 1948 -
UK Tests Bomb
The United Kingdom successfully tests their first atomic bomb, making them the third nuclear power in the world. -
US Tests Hydrogen Bomb
United States tested the first successful hydrogen bomb with the name of Ivy Mike -
New Prez
Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes president of the US -
Joseph Stalin Dies
Joseph Stalin dies of stroke at an age of 74 leaving a struggle of power on who was to suceed him. -
Uprising of 1953 in East Germany
When workers heard there was going to be a pay cut, 300 East Berlin contruction workers went to government buildings to protest. More and more came and on June 17th, 40,000 protesters were demanding the resignation of the East Germany Government. The government asked the Soviet military for help. There was an estimated amount of deaths from 55-500. -
Korean War Ends
An armistice agreement ends the Korean War. -
New Leader of Soviet Communist Party
Nikita Khrushchev becomes leader of soviet communist party. -
Allied Military Occupation Ends in West Germany
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West Germany joins NATO
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Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was created to be as a counterpart to NATO and in response to West Germany joining NATO. It included East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, and the Soviet Union. -
Geneva Summit
The Geneva Summit was a meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland. US President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Prime Minister Anthony Eden of Britain, Premier Nikolai A. Bulganin of the Soviet Union, and Prime Minister Edgar Faure of France. The subject was mostly about bringing the world to peace. -
Period: to
Vietnam War
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Nikita Khrushchev Delivers Speech
The speech announced the beginning of de- stalinization, to change what kept Stalin in power. -
Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution was a nationwide revolt againts the Hungarian government. Thousands of people organized into militias to fight against the Soviet military. It continued until November 10th. There were over 2,500 Hungarians and 700 Soviets killed. 200,000 refugees fled the country. -
The Suez Crisis
It was an invasion in Egypt by Israel, then followed by France and United Kingdom. The plan was to regain Western control of the Suez Canal and to remove the Egyptian president from power. They had gotten to most of their objectives but the canal was useless since the US and USSR did not approve. -
Eisenhower Doctrine
The Eisenhower Doctrine refers to a speech that commited the US to protect the countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran from communist influence. -
Sputnik is launched
The first artificial sattelite is launched succesfully by the soviets triggering the Space Race. It lasted 92 days and made 1,440 orbits around earth. -
Sputnik 2
Sputnik 2 was the second spacecraft shot into space by the Soviets but this time it contained the first living creature to go to space, a dog with the name of Laika. Unfortunately, it only lived for a few hours in space due to hot internal temperatures. This mission lasted 162 days and made 2,000 orbits -
Eisenhower's Report
President Eisenhower reviews the nation's defense readiness indicating that they are behind in missile capabilities and urges a campain to build fallout shelters for US citizens. -
Khrushchev's Challenge
Nikita Khrushchev challenges America to a shooting match with nuclear missiles to prove that he has more missiles. -
PGM-17 Thor
A ballistic missile is deployed to the UK within striking distance of Moscow. -
NASA is formed
NASA is formed to compete with the soviets in the space race. -
Fidel Castro becomes leader of Cuba
After the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro becomes the new leader of Cuba and refrains from declaring Cuba a communist country. -
Kitchen Debate
The Kitchen debate was a series of exchanges between US Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev in the American National Exhibition where everything was recorded. The exhibitions were agreed upon by US and Soviets to hold a exhibit in each others country to show how they live and which way is better. -
Explorer 6
It was shot into space by US so that it would be the first to photograph the earth -
U-2 incident
A US U-2 plane was shot down in Soviet airspace with the pilot jumping out and parachuting down safely but was captured. This was embarassing for the US. -
Sino-Soviet Split
It was when China and the Soviet Union seemed to not be allied anymore because China felt like it was being treated like a "junior partner" with the Soviets. Tensions were tight until 1989. -
John F Kennedy becomes prez
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First Man in Space
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space and first man to orbit the Earth when the Soviets successfully launched the Vostok-1 -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Eisenhower funded 13.1 million dollars to the CIA to overthrow the Cuban government. The main battle was in the Bay of Pigs and 3 days after it started, the Cuban counter offensive force had won and either killed or captured all of the troops. The failed invasion strengthened Fidel Castro's leadership and embarassed the US Foregn Policy. -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was built by the Soviets to seperate West Berlin and East Berlin. -
Tsar Bomba is Detonated
Tsar Bomba was and still is the biggest man made explosion of all time. It was detonated by the Soviets on a Soviet island. It was measured oof an explosion of 50 megaton tnt. -
Cuban Missile Crisis Conflict
It was a 13 day period of a confrontation between the US and Soviet Union that was the closest to a full scale nuclear war. In response to the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the ballistic missiles in the UK, Italy and Turkey, the Soviets placed their own missiles in Cuba which was 90 miles away from american land. -
Cuban Missile Crisis Resolution
The US made a blockade so no more missiles from the Soviet Union were to be shipped to Cuba. They announced that they would not let anymore weapons in until they completly dismantle and removevd from Cuba. After a long period of tension an agreement was made that the Soviets would remove the missiles from Cuba as long as the US doesnt attack Cuba without direct provocation. Also, secretly, US removed the missiles from Italy and Turkey as part of the agreement. -
Moscow- Washington Hotline
After the Cuban Missile Crisis, a hotline connecting Washington and Moscow seemed neccessary so the two world powewrs could communicate and negotiate. -
JFK Assasination
President John F. Kennedy was assasinated in Dallas by who it was believed to be Lee Harvey Oswald but he was murdered by Jack Ruby. Ruby died of cancer after succesfully apealing his death sentence and conviction and before his new trial date was set. It is also believed to be a conspiracy to kill the president. Lynden B Johnson, JFK's Vice President, becomes the President of the US. -
US and USSR cutback on Nuclear Materials
US President Lynden B Johnson and Nikita Khrushchev announce that they will cutback on nuclear materials -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
It was a controversial confrontation of two events between North Vietnamese and US ships. It was said that on Aug. 2, three North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked a US destroyer. So shots were fired back and the the three boats were damaged and four North Vietnamese soldiers were said to be killed with six more injured. There was said to be another attack on Aug. 4 by looking at the radar, but it remains controvercial and was said to be freak weather effects. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
President Lynden B Johnson sent armed forces to South Vietnam in response without having to declaring war because it supported the SouthEast Asia Collective Defense Treaty. -
New Communist Leader
Leonid Brezhnev succeeds Nikita Khrushchev as General Secretary of the Soviet Union. -
US invades Dominican Republic
US invades Dominican Republic so communists don't take control of it and make a "second Cuba"'. -
Battle of Ia Drang
This battle was the first major battle between the US Army and the North Vietnam Army. Both sides claimed victory and both suffered the same amount of death -
Tet Offensive Begins
It was military campaigns launched by North Vietnam against the US and South Vietnam army in South Vietnam with a series of suprise attacks on military and civilian commands through the region. -
Tet Offensive Ends
The suprise attacks stunned the US and South Vietnam Armies and lost control of a couple of cities and commands but they regrouped and regained control of the cities. Even though it was a victory for the US, the US government and public were thinking that it shouldve been an easy victory against the communists and didnt think they could put up such a fight. So negotiations were being made to end the war since there wasn't much support. -
Richard Nixon becomes US President
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Operation Menu
It was a covert US bombing campaign of Communist troops in Cambodia and Laos (countries close to Vietnam). It failed its objective and Vietnamese soldiers established a mini-tet offensive two months later. -
Apollo 11
Apollo 11 was the first space flight to land humans on the moon with Neil Armstrong being the first human to take steps on the moon. This space mission seemed to end the Space Race and fulfill the mission JFK proposed in 1961 -
Vietnamization
It was a policy to end US involvement in the Vietnam War by training South Vietnam troops in combat training and by steadily reducing the number of US combat troops. -
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty
The NPT is an international treaty whos mission is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and technology, to promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the disarment of nuclear weapons
The Soviet Union, UK, US and 40 other states ratified it. -
The Berlin Agreement
The four powers in control of Berlin agreed to begin re-establishing ties with the two Berlin sides by improving travel and communications and made improvements in the residential area in West Berlin. -
Nixon Visits China
President Richard Nixon was the first US president to visit the People's Republic of China (PRC) and ended 25 years of seperation. It was labeled by some people, the greatest summit meeting ever. It was because China agreed to peaceful relations with Taiwan, putting China with US against the Soviet Union in the Cold War, and to have a peacefu settlement in the Vietnam War. -
Paris Peace Accords
The Paris Peace Accords was a treaty to make peace in Vietnam and end the Vietnam War. It ended direct US military combat and temporarily stopped fighting between North and South Vietnam. -
Gerald Ford Becomes New Prez
Since Nixon resigned because of a scandal, and the Vice President, Gerald Ford, became the first president upon someone resigning. -
End of Vietnam War
After the South Vietnamese capital, Saigon, was captured by the North Vietnamese, the war was over and the South surrendered. The countries were merged together to be known as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. -
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
Conducted in the month of July, it was the first joint spaceflight with Soviets and Americans and the last Apollo mission. It marked the end of the space race and that the two super powers were trying to work with each other. -
Mao Zedong Dies
The leader of the Peoples Republic of China dies of possibly Parkinsons Disease or Lou Gehrigs Disease. -
Jimmy Carter Becomes Prez
Jimmy Carter is elected president after a close election with Gerald Ford -
Iran Hostage Crisis
It was a 444 day period of Iranian students of supporting the Iran Revolution holding more than 60 american diplomats in the American Embassy in Iran. They were doing that because of the US taking in the overthrown former leader for cancer treatment but Iran demanded for him to return and stand trials for the crimes he had done during his rule. -
US Boycotts the 1980 Olympics
US and 65 other nations boycotted the olympics due to the Soviet Union attacking Afghanistan. -
Iran Hostage Crisis Ends
The Iraqi Army invaded Iran beginning the Iran-Iraq War and those events led to the Iran government to start negotiating. The hostages were released to US custody after the Algiers Accords were signed. This happened minutes after the newly elected President Ronald Reagan was sworn into office. This event weakened ties between Iran and US -
Leonid Brezhnev Dies
The Soviet leader at that time dies of a heart attack and Yuri Andropov was made leader two days later although he only was leader for fifteen months till his death -
Civilian Plane shot down by Soviets
A Korean plane going from New York via Anchorage to South Korea was shot down by Soviet aircraft and all 269 passengers were killed. It was said to be an accident and the pilot thought it was on a spy mission. This resulted in more tension between US and USSR. -
Close Call
The USSR defense warning system reported that the US launched two intercontinental missiles but a soviet officer said that it was a false alarm and prevented a retaliatory attack based on an error to kill hundreds of millions of people and start nuclear war. -
1984 Olympics Boycott
The boycott was led by the Soviet Union with 13 Eastern Bloc countries not participating. It was believed that the Soviet Union boycotted for revenge since the US had led a boycott in 1980 but the Soviet Union said it was because of the "lack of security for the athletes". -
Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader of Soviet Union
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US bombs Libya
The 1986 bombings in Libya were retaliatory strikes for the bombs that were planted and killed 3 people and injured 229 people. The 2 of 3 people that were killed were American service men. In the Libya bombings there were 60 Libyan casualties but the main target was the leader of Libya. -
Iran-Contra Affair
This was a secret ooperation known as a political scandal that was publicly announced on this day. The scandal was Reagan adminstration giving weapons to Iran and in return hoped to get hostages released from Lebanon and to fund terrorist like Contras, which were rebels fighting against the government, in Nicaragua. -
Intermediate- Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
It was a treaty agreed and signed by US and Soviet leaders to eliminate nuclear and ground launched missiles with intermediate range between 300-3,400 miles. Some claim that this was the end of the Cold War. It was ratified on May 29, 1988 and put into effect on June 1 the same year. -
Incident in Soviet Waters
Two US Navy ships, USS Yorktown and USS Caron, were rammed by Soviet ships to push them out of Soviet waters even though they wre exercising the "innocent passage" law and were valid under the international law. This was considered the last incident in the Cold War. The Soviet Ministry of Defense issued a report of igonoring the warning signals by guard ships. On July 11, 1988, it was resolved by issuing a joint statement of avoiding dangerous military excersices -
Soviets beegin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan
Soviet soldiers are begun to be withdrawed from Afganistan. In the first 3 months, over 50 thousand troops left Afghanistan. On February 15, 1989, all troops are withdrawn from Afghanistan. -
George H. W. Bush is President
He becomes the 41st President of United States. -
End of Communism in Poland, Romania, and Hungary
As the Soviet Union decided to end military regulations in Eastern Bloc countries so a lot of them were regaining power from Communist control. Poland elected the first non-communist leader of the Eastern Bloc. On Oct. 18, Hungaries constitution is amended to allow a multiple party system to end communism. On Dec. 16, Romania rioters violently overthrew the leader by excecuting him. -
The End of the Berlin Wall
After 28 years of the Berlin Wall seperating East and West Berlin, it was announced that East Germans could cross over the wall and visit West Berlin and West Germany. -
Malta Summit
The Malta Summit was a meeting between the Soviet leader and US President. They both discussed the rapid changes happening in Europe, especially in the Eastern Bloc and Berlin. They both announced that this was the end of the Cold War. -
End of Communism in Lithuania and Czecholavakia
A new president of the free Czecholavakia is elected and on March 11, 1990 Lithuania re-declares independence from Soviet Union. -
German Reunification
It was when East and West Germany reunited to make the nation of Germany and East and West Berlin reunited to be Berlin. This day is now a holiday in Germany known as Day if German Unity. -
End of Cold War
With things like Eastern Bloc countries regaining independence from the Soviet Union and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact in July 1991, led to the end of the Cold War and the Soviet Union dissolution. On Christmas Day of this year, George H. W. Bush announced that the Cold War was over. The next day, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dissolved itself and on December 31, all Soviet institutions ceased operations. -
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