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World War ll Ends
The end of WWII in Europe. German surrenders, known as victory-in-Europe day (or V-E day). This concluded the war in Europe. -
Bombing Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945, the United States used a massive, atomic weapon against Hiroshima, Japan. The atomic bomb, which is the equivalent of 20,000 tons of TNT, flattened the city, killing tens of thousands of civilians. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/timeline/factfiles/nonflash/a6652262.shtml -
The Baby Boomer Generation
The Baby Boomer Generation started 1946 and peaked in the year 1957. This is the time when the WWll veterans began coming home from Europe. This is the largest generation of Americans born in U.S. history. -
Warsaw Pact
The Soviet Union and seven of its European satellites sign a treaty to establish the Warsaw Pact, a mutual defense organization the puts the Soviets in command of the armed forced of the member states. -
Sputnik
The "space race" began after the launch of Sputnik I. The Soviet Union had gained an advance in the technological race which made them more appealing to gain relations with third world nations in Africa and Asia. This posed a threat to the U.S. and Eisenhower responded by increasing the funding to space exploration, leading to the launch of Explorer I on January 31 of 1958. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviet-union-launches-sputnik-i -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was the struggle between nationalist forces attempting to unify the country of Vietnam under a communist government and the United States trying to prevent the spread of communism. -
Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro becomes the prime minister of Cuba. Castro immediately established the first Communist government in Cuba. -
Election of 1960
John F. Kennedy becomes the youngest man ever to be elected president of the United States, narrowly beating Republican Vice President Richard Nixon. He was also the first Catholic to become president. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The United States is very against communism so on April 17, 1961 they decided to try and invade Cuba. They decided to make this attempt at the Bay of Pigs. This turns out to have been a failed mission. Castro stays in control of Cuba and keeps the country communist. -
Berlin Wall
On August 13, 1961 the Soviet Union builds a large wall that divides Berlin. They built this wall dividing the East side of Germany with the West side. People who happen to live on the East side are not allowed to go over to the West side. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
On October 14, 1962 the United States discovered that the Soviet Union had placed missiles in Cuba 90 miles away from the United States. John Kennedy held the presidency of the United States during this tense time. After thirteen days of negotiation Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles. -
Election of 1968
Eight years after being defeated by John F. Kennedy in the 1960 election, Richard Nixon defeats Hubert H. Humphrey and is elected president. -
Apollo 11
The United States puts the first man, Neil Armstrong, followed by Buzz Aldrin on the moon. This accomplishment showed the United State's technological advancements in the Cold War. http://history1900s.about.com/od/1960s/p/firstmanmoon.htm -
Berlin Wall is Demolished
The process of demolishing the Berlin Wall began. People came with sledgehammers and chisels to chip off souvenirs from the wall. There was television coveage around the world featuring the demolition. -
The End of the Cold War
The Soviet Union received a new president named Mikhail Gorbachev. He was a nice change to the past presidents the Soviet Union had. Over a course of time he signed treaties and policies to bring peace back and eventually end the Cold War.
