Yalta Conference (1945)
- The Yalta Conference included the allied leaders Stalin, Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill, each representing their country, to discuss the ending of World War II, and the handling of post-war Europe. However, many problems that needed to be sorted out at this conference included the occupation of Germany, the two conflicting governments in Poland, self-government in Eastern Europe, Soviet involvement with Japan, the formation of the UN (United Nations), and US aids after the war. Such solutions to these problems were extremely difficult to choose, as each would end up giving one of the allies an advantage. In this conference, the dividing of Germany and it's capital were decided, including the occupation of who got what part. This event was crucial to the Cold War, as it laid the groundwork for expectations in post-war Europe, which led to the conflict between the USSR and the US. Further Information about this Event (Pictures Below)
Potsdam Conference (1945)
- Allied conference held in the Berlin suburb of Potsdam after Germany's surrender in World War II. Harry Truman, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill met to discuss European peace settlements, the handling of defeated Germany, the boundaries of Poland, the occupation of Austria, the Soviet Union's role in eastern Europe, reparations to damaged countries, and the war against Japan. However, the key difference between Potsdam and Yalta is the decision of the influence on the European countries, such as which ones would be neutral, or occupied by the French, US, Great Britain, or Russia. The four occupation zones of Germany discussed at the Yalta Conference were set up, each to be handled by the commander-in-chief of the Soviet, British, US, or French army of occupation. Stalin refused to let the Western powers interfere with his control of eastern Europe, and held onto his portion of Germany. The US responded with the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. Gained much support from nations suffering under Communism. Further Information about this Event (Pictures Below)
Truman Doctrine (1947)
- With the Communist revolt in Greece and Turkey, Great Britain had been providing financial aid and military support, but asked for help from the US. President Truman responded by making the statement that the US would help any nation resisting Communism. This included a $400 million authorization of support money for both Greece and Turkey to help in their fight of resisting Communism, both successfully defending their government. Further Information about this Event (Pictures Below)
Berlin Blockade/Berlin Airlift (1948)
- This was one of the first big crises of the Cold War. Both Germany and Berlin had been divided into four parts, one for each of the Allies. The Allies decided they wanted to make a new currency in Germany, but the Soviets don't agree and won't accept those "dollars" in their portion. The Soviets then escalate to refuse the Allies entry into Berlin and close it off so nothing and nobody can get in or out. The Allies then combine efforts to airlift supplies to their parts of Berlin for eleven months, totaling about five thousand tons of supplies (which included candy, presents, food, clothing, toiletries, etc.). This act makes the USSR look like the bad guys, and the US as heroes, and is seen as a victory for the US. Embarrassed, the USSR lifts the blockade. This leads to the creation of two German countries; West Germany (Allies minus USSR), and East Germany (USSR). This results in the building of the Berlin Wall by the USSR. Further Information about this Event (Pictures Below)
NATO is formed (1949)
- NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), is the mutual defense league, which means that an attack on one is seen as an attack on the whole group. When it first started, it included the US, France, Great Britain, Canada, and ten others. The formation of this group helped to ensure peace within Europe, because if any one of the members were attacked, it would most likely start a large-scale war, which no one wanted, therefor preventing major conflict. The USSR responds to this formation by creating their own group, the Warsaw Pact, in 1955. This formation increases the differences between the USSR and the US. Further Information about this Event (Pictures Below)
Korean War (1950)
- After WWII, when Korea had been taken over by Japan, it was divided into two parts by the Allies, with the USSR having the North part, and the US the South, being divided at the 38th Parallel. The Allies decide that when 1948 came around, they would hold elections in Korea to pick their government type. However, when that year came, the Soviets refuse to hold elections in the North. By this time, most of the South of Korea begins to think of themselves as democratic, and the North begins to think of themselves as Communist. After several small conflicts between the two, the North invades the South in 1950, beginning the war. The UN (United Nations) responds by the Security Council authorizing troops to go and defend South Korea. General MacArthur is put in charge of the forces to defend them. About 90% of the money and forces came from the US, and it is never officially declared a war. Instead, it is referred to as a "police action." The UN forces push the North Koreans to the edge of China to stop them from spreading Communism farther into the south (Perfect example of Containment). China warns that if the fighting gets too close to their borders, they and the Soviet Union will get involved in the conflict, which ends up happening. The UN forces are then pushed back to the 38th Parallel, and an armistice is called in 1953. The 38th Parallel is then officially declared the line to divide North and South Korea, and is referred to as the "DMZ" (Demilitarized Zone). The US once again responds by declaring this a victory. The Korean War is often referred to as the "Forgotten War," because it was never officially declared a war, yet 54,000 Americans were killed. This was also the first time in American history that white and black soldiers fought side by side. Further Information about this Event (Pictures Below)
Cold War in Asia (1947)
- With Japan now having a new government after WWII (Parliamentary Democracy), the emperor is now a figurehead, or ceremonial leader, with no real power. This also meant the military had limited power, and had to rely on the US for protection. Japan agreed to give up claims on Korea and the pacific, and lets the US stay on military bases on islands in the pacific, making the US and Japan strong allies, and keeping Communism out of Japan. In China, when the Japanese had invaded in WWII, there had been a civil war going on between the Nationalists and the Communists. The US supported the Nationalists during the fight by giving them money ($400 million). However, many of the Chinese citizens began to lose faith in Nationalism once there was inflation throughout the country, and corruption in the government, thus making many people turn to Communism. George Marshall, ambassador to China, was sent to try and make peace between the two parties, but to no avail. By 1949, all of mainland China was Communist, led by Mao Zedong. Driven out of China, the Nationalist government leaders fled to Taiwan, still proclaiming that they are the real government, and the US continues to support them, refusing to recognize the Communist government for thirty years. By 1950, the Chinese and the Soviets are allies through the "Sino-Soviet Pact." The events in Asia are a setback for the US, as they were unable to contain Communism from spreading into China. Further Information about this Event (Pictures Below)
Berlin Wall (1961)
- When the Allies wanted to make a new currency in Germany, the USSR refused to accept it. The Soviets then proceeded to close off Berlin so nothing could get in or out. The closing of Berlin led to the joint effort of the Berlin Airlift by the US, France, and Great Britain. Seeing West Berlin as a "safety island," many people from East Berlin (the Soviet side), began to move to the West. The USSR saw this as a loss of control, and began to build the wall to stop people from leaving. The wall made it very difficult for people to leave the side of Berlin they were already in, by adding a series of checkpoints. The Berlin Wall was a very controversial topic in the world, with President Kennedy declaring that "West Berlin is an island of Democracy in a sea of Communism." The Berlin Wall also killed many people, the first being Ida Seikmann in 1961, when she jumped out of a third-story building in an attempt to get to West Berlin. In 1968, with the start of the fall of Communism, citizens on both sides of the wall tore it down, reopening the streets that had been separated. The fall of the Berlin Wall is a symbol of the decline of Communism, and a mark of the ending of the Cold War. Further Information about this Event (Pictures Below)
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
- With the arms race between the US and the Soviets, both were rapidly attempting to create the biggest and baddest weapons to "have the bigger gun" than the other (massive retaliation). The US was already capable of launching missiles all the way to Russia without a pilot (using the ICBM), but Russia was only capable of launching missiles as far as other nations in Europe. However, Khrushchev had the idea to place missile-launch sites on Cuba to make it possible to bomb the US. Fidel Castro, the leader of Cuba, agreed, after the defeat of the Bay of Pigs invasion. This was a huge dilemma to the US, as it's homeland had never been this seriously threatened. This was the closest the world has ever come to a nuclear war, in which no one would survive, no matter where you lived. However, this notion also kept people alive. Mutually assured destruction (MAD), meant that everyone would be dead if things eventually came to a nuclear war. Obviously, no one wanted that, and that kept the USSR and the US from launching their missiles. Tension began to build on both sides, as neither country wanted to back down and stop their missile program. Finally, on October 28, Khrushchev agreed to dismantle the launch cites and return them to the Soviet Union. A victory for the US, as the Soviet Union had to back down, and the US was successful in defending their country and preventing major war. Further Information about this Event (Pictures Below)
Vietnam War (1965)
- Starting out as a small issue in the 1960 election, many were not concerned about Vietnam. However, once Eisenhower brought up the idea of the "domino effect" in South East Asia, military aid was increased to protect South East Asia from Communism. However, when North Vietnamese (NV) gun boats fired on US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin (supported by the USSR), President Johnson issues the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, giving him the power to take all necessary measures to protect US interests in Vietnam without approval from Congress. With this new power, Johnson sends more troops in the form of air support (Operation Rolling Thunder), and many more foot soldiers. At one point, footage of a particularly bad point in the war reaches the public, turning them against the war. Although never officially declared a war, like the Korean War, about 2.7 million Americans served, with about 58 thousand dead. The war was eventually lost. Further Information about this Event (Pictures Below)