-
Period: to
Post-War
-
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference divided Germany into four zones of occupation after the war. The Soviet Union was not pleased with the distribution, especially aimed at the US. As a result, tensions between the two grew. -
Potsdam Conference
Potsdam determined the steps for the Nuremberg Trials, zones of occupation in Berlin, and boundaries for Poland. Stalin was not pleased with the decisions, which furthered tensions with the US. -
Bomb dropped on Hiroshima
President Truman's decision to drop the bomb on Hiroshima, then later Nagasaki, ushered in the nuclear age. This new technology was a primary focus during the Cold War, as the nuclear arms race intensified matters. -
Stalin speaks agains capitalism and imperialism
Soviet leader Josef Stalin spoke regarding capitalism and imperialism's affect on the future global situation. He declared they would lead to future war, an obvious claim against the US. -
Soviets leave Iran
After their departure, Iran would experience serious political and foreign woes. These issues even effect the country today. -
Clifford-Elsey Report released
This report, delivered to Truman, outlined Soviet violations of previous agreements with the US. These violations contributed to tensions. -
Truman Doctrine announced
In an effort of containment, Truman released this doctrine for the lands of Turkey and Greece. It would carry through the Cold War as a preventative method for stopping the spread of communism using economic and military support. -
Marshall Plan announced
Secretary of State George Marshall announced the plan for economic support of Europe following the war. It eventually resulted in over $12 billion in support to Europe. -
Stalin issues orders for Berlin
In an effort to starve out the other Allies from Berlin, Stalin ordered the blockade of all exit routes from the city. Britain, France, and the US responded with the Berlin Airlift. -
NATO formed
The United States and most non-Communist European nations joined together in this organization to prevent the spread of Communism. It still exists today. -
Soviets launch first nuclear bomb
Known as "Joe 1", the bomb made the Soviet Union the second nuclear power in the world. This excited the Red Scare in the US, and furthered tensions between the two. -
North Korea invades South
After years of tension, North Korean invaded South Korea, sparking global action. The United Nations took action soon after. -
Truman signs Mutual Security Act
This declared that the US would provide assistance to any "free peoples" in need of assistance. -
Britain joins atomic game
The Brits officially become the third atomic nation with their successful test of Opperation Hurricane. -
Khruchshev succeeds Stalin
After Stalin's death, there was significant struggle for his place of power. Nikita Khruchshev ultimately succeeded him, and he soon after executed his main rival. -
Geneva Summit occurs
The "Big Four" (Eisenhower, Eden, Bulgalin, Faure) attend the summit to discuss world peace. The nation's foreign ministers and Nikita Khruchshev were in attentance as well. -
Castro comes to power in Cuba
Fidel Castro rose to power, reflective of the more guerilla leaders springing up across Latin America. The communist roots of these fights were a symbol of communism infiltrating the west. -
Kitchen Debate takes place
Richard Nixon and Nikita Khruchshev meet in Moscow to discuss and debate the nuclear and military situation between the two. It took place in a model American kitchen at a museum in Russia. -
China and Russia split
After years of alliance, the two communist nations split their alliance after China determined their brand of communism superior. This formed a third side in the Cold War. -
Berlin Wall built
The Soviet Union constructed the wall dividing Berlin after the US and others refused to leave Berlin. It stood until 1989. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Unbenounced to the US, the Soviet Union had been building missile launch sites in Cuba. This ignited a short crisis, dealt with by President Kennedy. -
USSR-US Hotline established
The phones went directly between the president of the US and the leader of the USSR. It established direct communication, and was a symbol of the thaw of the Cold War. -
Richard Nixon becomes President of the United States
-
The U.S begins bombing Communist sanctuaries in Cambodia.
The targets of these attacks were sanctuaries and Base Areas of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and forces of the Viet Cong, which utilized them for resupply, training, and resting between campaigns across the border in the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). -
The U.S. accomplishes the first manned moon landing
Apollo 11. Manned by Neil Armstrong, "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins. -
"Vietnamization" begins
U.S. troops withdrawal from Vietnam and the burden of combat being placed on the South Vietnamese. -
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
An international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament. Ratified by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and the United Stated and more. -
Lon Nol takes power in Cambodia.
He led a military coup against Prince Norodom Sihanouk in 1970 and became the self-proclaimed President of the newly created Khmer Republic, ruling until 1975. -
Bangladesh gains independence from Pakistan.
-
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks Begin
(SALT) two rounds of bilateral talks and corresponding international treaties involving the United States and the Soviet Union on the issue of armament control. -
Richard Nixon announces the beginning of a massive bombing campaign in North Vietnam
-
Paris Peace Accords
The Paris Peace Accords of 1973 intended to establish peace in Vietnam and an end to the Vietnam War, ended direct U.S. military involvement, and temporarily stopped the fighting between North and South Vietnam. -
Period: to
U.S. supported coup overthrows Chilean government.
-
Period: to
Yom Kippur War
The war fought by the coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria against Israel -
Khmer Rouge take power in Cambodia
Genocide ensues, later referred to as "The Killing Fields". -
North Vietnam wins the war in South Vietnam.
The South Vietnam regime falls with the surrender of Saigon and the two countries are united under a Communist government. -
Period: to
The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project takes place
conducted in July 1975, was the first joint U.S.–Soviet space flight, and the last flight of an Apollo spacecraft. Its primary purpose was as a symbol of the policy of détente that the two superpowers were pursuing at the time, and marked the end of the Space Race between them that began in 1957. -
Pathet Lao takes power in Laos.
Communist political movement and organization -
Death of Mao Zedong
-
Boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics
The United States and its Allies join the Boycott of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow -
Iran hostage crisis ends
-
Gulf of Sidra Incident
Libyan planes attack U.S. jets in the Gulf of Sidra, which Libya has illegally annexed. Two Libyan jets are shot down; no American losses are suffered. -
Argentina invades the Falkland Islands,
This starts the Falklands War. -
Spain joins NATO.
-
U.S. forces invade the Caribbean island of Grenada
In an attempt to overthrow the Marxist military government, expel Cuban troops, and abort the construction of a Soviet-funded airstrip. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin Wall happened nearly as suddenly as its rise. There had been signs that the Communist bloc was weakening, but the East German Communist leaders insisted that East Germany just needed a moderate change rather than a drastic revolution. East German citizens did not agree. As Communism began to falter in Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia in 1988 and 1989, new exodus points were opened to East Germans who wanted to flee to the West. -
George Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev agree to the reunification of Germany in 1994
-
Dissolution of the USSR
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formally dissolved on 26 December 1991 by declaration of the Soviet of the Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. This declaration acknowledged the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union following the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States. On the previous day, 25 December 1991, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev had resigned, declaring his office extinct, and handed over the Soviet nuclear missile launching