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Yalta Conference
The four Allied powers met to discuss the division of Germany after WWII. They spilt germany into four temporary zones, one zone per power- France, Britain, Soviet Union, and U.S. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/yalta-conf -
Iron Curtain Speech
Winston churchill addresses the division of Europe. Describes the communist/ani-communist divison as an "Iron Curtain" over Europe. The term "Iron Curtain" become popular during the cold war and war against communism. -
Truman Doctrine
Truman's plea to congress to assist Turkey and Greece, both countries were facing Soviet pressure, contrasted democracy with communism. -
Marshall Plan
The United States proposistion to help rebuild war torn Europe and carry out their containment policy. http://www.coldwar.org/articles/40s/marshall_plan.asp -
Formation of NATO
10 western countries came together to form a defensive military alliance, The North Atlantic Treaty Organization. http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/formation-of-nato-and-warsaw-pact -
Soviet's Build Atomic Weapon
The Soviet Union explodes its own atomic weapon. This knowlegde suprised the US and lead President Truman to order atomic testing in US. http://www.coldwar.org/articles/40s/soviet_atomic_bomb_test.asp -
H-Bomb
In 1950, president Truman approved work to begin on creating the H-bomb in order to gain an advantage over the Soviet Union in Nuclear waepons. Almost 2 years later the US tested their first H-bomb. http://www.coldwar.org/articles/40s/h_bomb.asp -
Formation of Warsaw Pact
Soviet Union, Eastern Germany, czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania form their own pro-communist security alliance, the Warsaw Pact. http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/formation-of-nato-and-warsaw-pact -
Space Race
A competition between the 2 superpowers, Soviet Union and US, in space technology and developments. This competiton lead to Kennedy's creation of the Apollo Program. http://www.coldwar.org/articles/60s/space_race.asp -
Sputnik
Soviet Union launches 1st satellite into space named "Sputnik". Start of the Space Race between U.S. and Soviet Union. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sputnik-launched -
U-2 Incident
U.S. CIA spy plane flys over Soviet Union. Soviets shoot down the U-2 plane and capture pilot, Francis Powers. This increased cold war tensions significantly. http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/u2-spy-incident -
Bay of Pigs
U.S. attempts to aid cubans in the re-revolution to rid of Castro. CIA trained exiled cubans to carry out the mission, and to convince more cubans to join their cause, The invasion was to take place along Cuba's Bay of Pigs. Cuban intelligence knew of U.S. plan and ambushed taking all operatives prisoner. Bay of Pigs ended up being a terrible failed military operation, resulting in negoations to free soliders from the cubans. Builds tensions between US and Cuba/Soviet Union. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
U.S. intelligence gained information of Cuba’s building of launch facilities for the Soviet Union’s nuclear missiles. The Closest the two superpowers came to nuclear war.
Made the public aware of tensions between Soviet Union and United states and the reality of a possible nuclear war. -
U.S Moon landing
U.S Apollo 11, first successful manned moon landing. Man walks on the moon. This put U.S. in the lead of the space race. http://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/topics/apollo/apollo-program/landing-missions/apollo11.cfm -
SALT I Treaty
U.S. and Soviet leaders meet and sign a 5 year agreement to limit the number of nuclear missiles in each party's arsenals. This event began to cool cold war tensions. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/salt
