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The "Red Scare" in the U.S. (1917-20)
Widespread fear of the potential rise of communism in the United States after the Russian Revolution. This caused many deportations of several hundred immigrants that had radical political views, it made the U.S on edge that there were communists in their country. -
Stalin's purges in the U.S.S.R. (1936–1938)
Joseph Stalin's campaign of political repression in the Soviet Union, which caused extreme persecution and oppression in the Soviet Union. Stalin was the one in charge when tensions started to raise between the two countries. Affected American in terms of foreign policy and politics because Stalin collected Western promises at the bombing in Japan. -
HUAC
This was created to investigate alleged disloyal and subversive actives on citizens, employees, and organizations that were suspected of having fascist of communist ties. Distrust from another country (people) aroused distrust in people in the U.S it affect the Americans society. -
Joseph Stalin
He was a Georgian revolutionary and the ruler of the Soviet Union, he was the leader during some time of the Cold War, relations with them weren't good. -
Period: to
1945-53
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The Yalta Conference (Feb 4, 1945 – Feb 11, 1945)
The Big three agreed at Yalta that after Germany's surrender the land would be divided into four post-war occupation zones; controlled by the U.S., British, French, and the Soviet military forces. (Politics) There were issues (European) of the fate of Poland, later would cause tensions. -
Harry Truman (April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953)
He became the 33rd president after the death of Roosevelt. Truman created the Truman plan and he adopted the anti-Soviet policy and became the Cold War. Added on with the American government to send supplies to the Eastern Berlin caused more tensions. -
Death of President Roosevelt
President Roosevelt dies due to a cerebral hemorrhage, this caused Harry S. Truman to step in and become the next president who would cause the Cold War. -
Division of Germany,
After the Potsdam conference, Germany was divided into the four occupied zones.However Stalin had a fear of Germany becoming strong and unified as opposed to America's policy to establish an economically strong state that would be able to trade effectively and freely with the West. -
Potsdam Conferences (Jul 17, 1945 – Aug 2, 1945)
The conference settled matters relating to Germany and Poland, where Potsdam negotiators approved of the formation of a Council of Foreign Ministers that acted on the behalf of America, Britain, France, and China, to from peace treaties with Germany's former allies.However the conference did fail to settle a lot of important issues and set a stage for the Cold War. -
Detonation of the First Atomic Bomb at Hiroshima
The worlds first deployed atomic bomb was dropped over the city of Hiroshima (Foreign policy). This kick-started the two world superpowers into a new confrontation due to the colossal power of the atomic bomb. -
Japan’s official surrender
Japan signed the official surrender aboard the USS Missouri, the surrendered ended the war of WWII. Though due to the bombs being launched, it added to the potential of pressuring the USSR into negotiation over Eastern Europe and Germany. -
Period: to
1946-47
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The "Iron Curtain" speech
A speech delivered by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Fulton. He stressed that it was a necessity for the U.S. and Britain to act as guardians of peace against the Soviet communism which lowered the Iron Curtain. -
Creation of the Truman Doctrine
Truman established that the U.S. would provide political, military and economic assistance to all democratic nations that were under the threat from an external or internal authoritarian forces. The doctrine provided a basis for the U.S. activism during the Cold War. -
Development of the Marshall Plan for Western Europe
Also known as the European Recovery Program, was a U.S. program that provided aid to the Western Europe following the devastation of WWII. This is marked as the start of the Cold War. -
Period: to
1948-52
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The Fall of China
The Mainland of China fell to communism, forcing the U.S. to suspend diplomatic ties with the PRC for a long time. The popular support for communists increased and U.S. officials in China reported a dictatorial suppression of dissent in Nationalist-controlled areas. -
Formation of NATO
It was an alliance created to deter Soviet expansionism, forbid revival of nationalist militarism in Europe through the NA presences on the continent and encouraging European political integration. NATO focused on dealing with potential threats emanating from the Soviet Union due to the collapse of the Soviet and non-states affecting international security, more threats appeared. -
Detonation of the first Soviet Atomic Bomb
The Soviet Union conducted it's first nuclear test, it was a direct copy of the bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki. Realizing the race of creating expensive and dangerous arms race, the U.S. put a plan to offer to turn all weapons to the UN, however it was rejected by the USSR and the race kept going. -
The Korean War (Jun 25, 1950 – Jul 27, 1953)
War between northern and southern Korea. The war was the first war the two superpowers fought a proxy war in a third country, and would become a reoccurring strategy in other wars in the Cold War. -
US development of Hydrogen bomb
The first thermonuclear weapon was detonated at Enewetak atoll in the Marshall Island. The bomb was created after being repeatedly provoked by the Soviet Union. -
Dwight Eisenhower (January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961)
He is the 34th President. Eisenhower sought to reach a nuclear test ban treaty with Soviet Union, but was derailed due to the 1960 U-2 incident in Paris. Eisenhower also negotiated to end the Korean War, resulting in a partition of Korea. -
The Berlin Crisis (Jun 4, 1961 – Nov 9, 1961)
The USSR launched an ultimatum demanding the withdraw of all armed forces from Berlin.This caused the U.S to sent aircraft lifts full of supply to the citizens of the city. After the blockade was lifted the crisis had already hardened the East/West division of Germany.