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Yalta Conference
The "big three" allied leaders meet to make post war plans. These plans included dividing Germany into seperate zones of occupation. -
The United Nations is founded
The United Nations represented 51 countries all striving for world peace. The charter was passed in San Francisco, California. -
Scientists test the first atomic bomb
American scientists successfully test the first atomic bomb in New Mexico. -
The first atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima
America drops an atomic bomb on the Japenese city Hiroshima. The instant devestation scared Japan out of war and issued in the nuclear era. -
Russia declares war on Japan
This plus the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan helped end the war quickly. -
Japan surrenders, ending WWII
With the help of Russia joining the war and America's use of atomic bombs, there is finally peace. -
World War II ends
WWII ending initiated the cold war. The cold war was a war that was not fought like normal wars; rather it circled around fear and power. -
Chinese civil war resumes
This war was waged between communists and nationalists. -
Winston Churchill warns of the descent of an Iron Curtain across Europe
This barrier represented the divide between communism and capitalism. -
Truman doctrine
Harry Truman provided aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent them from falling into soviet controll. -
Communists takeover in Czechoslovakia
This represents the extention of soviet influence. This takeover was more evidence of Communisms influence. -
The Soviet Union declares the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to be the legitimate government of all of Korea
Despite the name this news was very scary for Americans. This furthered the soviet influence. -
NATO is founded.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is founded by Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States, in order to resist Communist expansion. -
Russia tests its first atomic bomb
This event evened the playing field between the two powers as they now both have atomic bombs. -
The People's Republic of China is established
Communist Mao Zedong takes control of China and establishes the People's Republic of China -
Joe McCarthy begins Communist witch hunt
The fear of communist spies scared many Americans including Joe McCarthy. His witch hunt lasted years causing more harm than good. -
The Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China sign a pact of mutual defense
These two powers represented communism and their alliance scared many Americans. -
Korean War begins
Stalin supports north Korea who invaded South Korea. The UN and mainly the United States defend South Korea. -
A-bombs developed by Britain
Britain becomes the third country to have nuclear weapons. -
The korean war ends
This war ended with no real winner with both North and South korea reverting to the ways things were before the war. -
KGB established
This counterpart to the CIA struck fear in American's as America seemed less developed than they thought. -
CIA helps overthrow unfriendly regimes in Iran and Guatemala
This was a big power play against communism. -
Warsaw Pact formed
This was essentially Russia's responce to NATO. It was basically communist NATO. -
The vietnam war begins
This war began with many capitalist countries fighting in it and ended with just America. -
Vostok rocket launched 1st ICBM
This marked the begining of the space race between the soviets and the U.S -
Explorer I launched
This was America's retort to the Soviets recent astological developements. -
Cuba taken over by Fidel Castro
This was a major step forward for the expanion of communism in the modern world. -
U.S. spy plane was shot down over Soviet territory
This event showed the insecurity between the U.S and the Soviets. -
John F. Kennedy elected President of USA
This charismatic leader helped advance America through the cold war. -
Cuba openly aligns itself with the Soviet Union and their policies
This was scary for U.S.A because Cuba was so close to America that they felt almost defenseless. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
This failed invasion of Cuba showed Americas fear of communism -
Construction of Berlin Wall begins
This divide of Germany became literal with the construction of the wall. -
Apollo 11 lands on the moon
This made America the leader in the space race -
Cease fire in Vietnam between North Vietnam and United States
This ended one of the saddest wars in America's storied history. -
The Vietnam war officially ends
North Vietnam defeats South Vietnam which falls to Communist forces -
U.S. and China establish diplomatic relations
Before this point the two powers refused to acknowledge each other. After Nixon's meeting with China in 1972 the two barely talked. This point in 1979 marked a change in the two powers future. -
Soviet forces invade Afghanistan
This was fearsome for U.S because the expansion of communism would mark our exstinction. -
Reagan and Gorbachev agree to remove all medium and short-range nuclear missiles
This took some of the stress and fears away from civilians in the range of these fire arms. -
Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan
The expansion of the Soviet Union was haulted. -
Berlin Wall is demolished
East Germany allows unrestricted migration to West Germany -
Communist governments fall in Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Rumania
This marked the fall of communism in the modern world. -
Germany reunited
The reunion of Germany was the final stake in the Soviet Union. -
End of Soviet Union and the Cold War Ends
This marked the end of the cold war and the end of an era.
