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The Big Three, including Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt, came to major agreements to re-establish the nations conquered and destroyed by Germany. Marks beginning of the Cold War.
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The US drops atomic bomb (‘Little Boy’) on Hiroshima, killing 80,000 people
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Germany surrenders to the Russian army indicating a victory in Europe
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Conference where the Big Three agreed to partition Germany into four zones of occupation
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The United States drops (‘Fat Man’) atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing 70,000 people
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The Japanese surrender indicating the end of World War II
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This document written by President Harry Truman, essentially declared that the United States would provide military and economic support in order to protect other nations from communism.
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This plan helped Europeans stay hopeful by providing them with the support of the United States.
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Russia, cut all road and rail links that we’re accessible to the French, Americans and the Britains, those living in western Berlin had no access to food supplies, leading them to face starvation. Later the US and the UK provided airplanes with food, known as Berlin Airlift.
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The North Atlantic Treaty organization or NATO for sure was an alliance between the nations, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Canada, and the United States. It insured military support to another member if they were attacked. This was the first time that the United States officially became involved with military security with other nations during peacetime.
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North Korea invaded South Korea with 70,000 troops, this was essentially the first battle of the Cold War.
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Joseph Stalin was the communist leader of the Soviet Union also known as Russia, who died at the age of 74 leaving Nikita Khrushchev in charge
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The United States strongly believed that if one Asian country were to fall to communism the rest of the world would as well. Since communist North Vietnam and anti-communist South Vietnam were at war, the United States’ beliefs pulled them into this war.
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British and French troops invaded Egypt to regain control of the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal had been nationalize by the Egyptian leader Nasser. It was a highly criticized attack and the British and French for forced to withdraw.
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The Soviet union launch Sputnik, it was the first satellite that was launched into space and orbited the earth. Causing the United States to frantically set up a project and begin investing into their space program and NASA was born. The US was able to launch their own satellite into space called Explore. The Soviets made faster progress, and were able to send the first man to orbit space.
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An American U-2 spy plane was shot down by the Soviet Union. Americans use these spy planes to take photographs of the Soviets, when the Soviets found out tension grew even higher in the relationship between Russia in the United States failed to improve, instead it worsened
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Cuban rebels landed on the southern coast of Cuba known as the Bay of Pigs in attempt to overthrow the government. This invasion was planned out by the United States, CIA in order to push Fidel Castro out of power and destroy communist influence in Cuba. However, the United States was not successful.
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Standoff between the Soviet Union and the United States over the Soviet installation of nuclear weapons on Cuba. This was a major threat to the United States because there was a bomb only 90 miles away from American shores.
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President John F. Kennedy was murdered while visiting Dallas. American Marine, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested, but there has always been doubts about him being the only killer, some believe there may have been communist or CIA complicity.
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This treaty was essentially made to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapon technology, and to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Countries including France, China, the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom took part in this treaty.
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The Khmer Rouge invaded Cambodia. Anyone who supported the former government, intellectuals, and professors were murdered.
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A group of Iranian students and militants stormed the American Embassy and took 53 American hostages to show their support for the Iranian revolution.
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Many countries including the USA boycotted the summer Olympics taking place in Moscow, Russia. This was a protest due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Many countries including Great Britain participated under the Olympic flag as opposed to their national flag.
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An explosion at Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine remains the worst nuclear disaster in history, with 4,000 deaths.
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The 12 foot Berlin wall was built between East and West Berlin, with the Soviets controlling East Berlin many people tried escaping the communism, 171 people died. Eventually, the borders between the cities opened which indicated the end of the division between the East and West Berlin . Also indicated the fall of the Soviets, ending their regime.
