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Yalta Conference drafts Post-War plan (February 1945)

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Yalta Conference drafts Post-War plan (February 1945)

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The Yalta Conference was a meeting between the Allied powers near the end of WWII. It was attended by FDR, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin, who agreed that after the war, Germany would be divided into four different occupation zones controlled by the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. The Yalta Conference created the foundation for the post-war plans, including the division of Germany, which eventually resulted in the Cold War.

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Hiroshima and Nagasaki were atomic bombings that had a significant impact on WWII and led to Japan's surrender. The atomic bomb on Hiroshima was dropped by an American B-29 bomber plane, and immediately killed around 70,000-80,000 people, and led to 140,000 total deaths. The bomb on Nagasaki was dropped by the same type of plane and led to 74,000 total deaths. The bombings marked the beginning of the nuclear age and led to the soviet union accelerating its nuclear arms program, which further increased tensions.

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Winston Churchill´s Iron Curtain Speech (March 5, 1946)

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Winston Churchill´s Iron Curtain Speech (March 5, 1946)

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On March 5, 1946 Winston Churchill delivered his Iron Curtain speech that would mark the beginning of the Cold War. In this speech, he addressed the need for unity between democracies, specifically a special relationship between Britain and the United States. Churchill also spoke out against the Soviet Union.

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Truman Doctrine first applied in Greek Civil War (March 12, 1947)

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Truman Doctrine first applied in Greek Civil War (March 12, 1947)

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Marshall Plan in announced to rebuild Europe (June 1947)

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Marshall Plan in announced to rebuild Europe (June 1947)

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George C. Marshall created the Marshall Plan, which aimed to financially aid European countries and help them recover from World War II. By investing in these countries, the U.S created new markets while also isolating Soviet Russia.

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Berlin Blockade and Airlift Begins (June 1948)

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Berlin Blockade and Airlift Begins (June 1948)

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Began after the Soviet Union blocked all land routes to West Berlin in an attempt to force the Western Allies out. However, the Western Allies began airlifting supplies to West Berlin and reaching the city by air.

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12 founding countries established NATO: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Portugal. The organization's main purpose was to provide mutual defense (an attack against one nation was an attack against all 12 nations.) Served as a united front against the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

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Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site, Kazakhstan

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Russia tests its first atomic bomb (August 20, 1949)

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Russia tests its first atomic bomb (August 20, 1949)

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Russia testing the first atomic bomb marked the start of the nuclear arms race that occurred between the U.S and Soviet Union. Up until the test, the U.S had been the only country with nuclear weapons. This successful test ended the American monopoly on nuclear weapons and increased tensions between the two nations.

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Mao Zedong wins Chinese Civil War and creates the Peoples's Republic of China (October 1, 1949)

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Mao Zedong wins Chinese Civil War and creates the Peoples's Republic of China (October 1, 1949)

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The Chinese civil war was taking place between the communists and non communists. Japan invaded just as the non communists were about to defeat the communists. The Chinese communists and non-communists combined forces to defeat Japan, and after successfully defeating Japan, the Civil War resumed. The communist leader Mao Zedong's forces defeated the non communist forces. The American Red Scare, due to the spread of communism, felt as if billions had turned to communism overnight.

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McCarthyism and the Red Scare takes hold in the US (Feb, 1950)

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McCarthyism and the Red Scare takes hold in the US (Feb, 1950)

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The period of McCarthyism in the United States was a period of aggressive investigations and communist accusations of communism. Many people's accusations were false and lacked real evidence. McCarthyism was a result of the Red Scare, which was a period of fear of communism and a possible presence of it in America.

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Demilitarized Zone Cultural Arts Research Institute, Wolhyang-ri, Gosam-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

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A conflict between Communist North Korea (backed by China and the Soviet Union) and Non Communist South Korea (backed by the United Nations and the U.S.) Began with the North invading the South, and resulted in large casualties. However, the conflict ended in a stalemate with no clear winner, and no peace treaty was ever signed. Instead, a demilitarized zone was put into place between the two countries.

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H-Bomb Tested by USA on Bikini Atoll (March 1, 1945)

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H-Bomb Tested by USA on Bikini Atoll (March 1, 1945)

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The testing of the H-Bomb was a part of America's nuclear weapons program during the Cold War. The bomb was 1,000 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Nagasaki. The bomb was very destructive to the islands and contaminated the Atoll, making it uninhabitable. Due to its power, the bomb has never been used outside of testing.

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The KGB, the Committee for State Secretary, was established by the Soviet Union. The KGB was like a Soviet CIA and was in charge of foreign intelligence, domestic counterintelligence, technical intelligence, and protecting soviet leaders.

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CIA helps overthrow unfriendly governments Iran and Guatemala (March 1954)

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CIA helps overthrow unfriendly governments Iran and Guatemala (March 1954)

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Iran's prime minister and the president of Guatemala during the Cold War both threatened Western political and economic interests. Iran's oil industry threatened the profits of British and American oil companies, while land reforms in Guatemala affected the United Fruit Company, a powerful U.S company. The U.S overthrew these governments with the goal that the countries would stay aligned with Western interests rather than drifting towards soviet influences during the Cold War.

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The Warsaw Pact was a military alliance formed by the Soviet Union, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. The pact was established after West Germany joined NATO, causing the Soviet Union to feel threatened. The Warsaw Pact was an opposition to NATO during the Cold War.

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The Transfermium Wars was a race between the United States and the Soviet Union to discover new elements on the periodic table. The two main research locations were UC Berkley and Dubna. The countries believed that these lab created elements would be useful for their creation of weapons. This competition led to overlapping discoveries and disagreements over naming rights. This war was settled after the cold war was over.

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Rebellion put down in Hungary (November 1956)

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Rebellion put down in Hungary (November 1956)

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A Hungarian uprising occurred that began with citizens protesting the Soviet imposed policies and the Hungarian government. This uprising transformed into a full-scale revolt with citizens seeking freedom from Soviet control and for Soviet troops to be withdrawn. In November of 1956, the Soviet Union invaded Hungary, brutally crushing the rebellion. This resulted in thousands dead and around 200,000 citizens fleeing Hungary, along with the Soviet Union remaining in control of the country.

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On August 21, 1957, the Soviet Union launched its first successful intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile launched had the power to deliver nuclear warheads to targets thousands of miles away, which was a significant accomplishment in the nuclear arms race.

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Sputnik launched into orbit (October 4, 1957)

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Sputnik launched into orbit (October 4, 1957)

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The launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, marked the beginning of the space race. That satellite transmitted sounds that were picked up by radios across the world. This Soviet success proved the Soviet's capability in terms of tech and shocked the United States.

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Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba (January 1959)

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Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba (January 1959)

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On January 1, 1959, Fidel Castro and his forces overthrew the government of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, beginning the Cuban Revolution and causing Batista to flee the country. Shortly after, Castro gained control of Havana and transformed the country into a Communist state. Cuba had previously been an ally of America (imperialism), which benefited U.S business interests. This caused fear in the U.S due to Cuba's proximity to the United States, many feared that it would cause a domino effect of communism.

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U2 spy plane shot down over the USSR (May 1960)

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U2 spy plane shot down over the USSR (May 1960)

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Francis Gary Powers, a U.S pilot, flew one of America's top secret U2 spy planes. These planes were used to fly over Russia and take pictures. The aircraft flown by powers was shot down over Russia. Powers survived, and was captured, put on trial, and publlically convicted. Eventually, in a prisoner swap, the U.S was able to return Powers home, however, America looked bad because they had been caught spying on Russia.

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Failed Bay of Pigs invasion (April 1961)

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Failed Bay of Pigs invasion (April 1961)

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The United States was against Fidel Castro due to his communist beliefs. Because of this, the U.S rounded up Cuban exiles that were against Castro and trained/equipped them in Nicaragua. These forces were dropped off in Cuba to fight and were crushed by Cuba. This failed attempt at overthrowing the Cuban government made the United States look weaker. It also led to Cuba turning to Russia and becoming allies.

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Construction of Berlin Wall begins (August 17, 1961)

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Construction of Berlin Wall begins (August 17, 1961)

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On August 17, 1961, the construction of the Berlin wall began. This wall turned the border between East and West Germany into a heavily guarded border. The USSR claimed it was to keep the West out, however, its main purpose was to keep East Germans within the borders of East Germany. East Germans were often killed when they attempted to escape over the tall, heavily guarded wall with barbed wire and machine guns.

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The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day confrontation that took place between the Soviet Union and the United States. Once the Soviet Union and Cuba became allies, Cuba allowed the Soviet Union to store their nuclear weapons in Cuba. The crisis began after U.S spy planes discovered these missiles in Cuba, under 100 miles off the shore of the United States. This led Robert F Kennady to implement a Naval Blockade to prevent shipments of military supplies from Russia to Cuba. After tense negotiations, the Soviet Union agreed to remove the missiles, if in turn the U.S removed their missiles from Turkey and Italy. This crisis was the closest we have ever been to thermal nuclear annihilation.

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The United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The treaty banned nuclear testing in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater. Testing was allowed to take place underground as long as radioactive fallout did not cross national borders. This treaty was seen as a step towards nuclear disarment and descelating cold war tensions.

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Gulf of Tonkin incident and resolution (August 1964)

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Gulf of Tonkin incident and resolution (August 1964)

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The United States believes that North Vietnam launched torpedos at a U.S destroyer. President Lyndon B. Johnson presented the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to Congress, allowing him to send U.S troops to Vietnam. This resolution is what escalated U.S involvement in the Vietnam War.

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US Marines sent to Dominican Republic to Fight Communism (April 1965)

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US Marines sent to Dominican Republic to Fight Communism (April 1965)

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The United States sent troops to the Dominican Republic as part of a military operation that took place during a military intervention in the Dominican Republic. The conflict started after supporters of the former president of the Dominican Republic attempted to overthrow the current government. This intervention was justified by the U.S due to the communist influences of the people who wanted to overthrow the government. The U.S secured Santo Domingo and supported the loyalists, however, it was a controversial, heavily criticized intervention that Lyndon B. Johnson later regretted.

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US announcement to dispatch 200,000 US troops to Vietnam (July 1965)

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US announcement to dispatch 200,000 US troops to Vietnam (July 1965)

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In July of 1965, Lyndon B. Johnson announced an escalation of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. He increased the number of military forces in Vietnam and doubled the monthly draft from 17,000 to 35,000. Johnson justified this decision by saying that the U.S needed to show communists that they could not win by force.

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B-52s Bomb N. Vietnam in operation Rolling Thunder (1966)

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B-52s Bomb N. Vietnam in operation Rolling Thunder (1966)

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The United States continuously bombed North Vietnam in an attempt to pressure North Vietnam into negotiations. The U.S used B-52 bombers as a part of this campaign.

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Red Army crush Czechoslovakian revolt (August 1968) 

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Red Army crush Czechoslovakian revolt (August 1968) 

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Czechoslovakia, which during the Cold War was behind the iron curtain, was a puppet of the Soviet Union. Czech civilians began to revolt against the communist government, however, the Soviet Union invaded and crushed the Czech revolt against communism.

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Apollo 11 lands on the moon (July 20, 1969)

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Apollo 11 lands on the moon (July 20, 1969)

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Apollo 11 was the first successful mission to land humans on the moon. It was a NASA mission piloted by Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong. This was a pivotal event in the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and asserted U.S dominance in space.

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New York Times Building, West 41st Street, New York, NY

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Publication of the Pentagon Papers (1971)

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Publication of the Pentagon Papers (1971)

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The Pentagon Papers were papers leaked by the New York Times, due to the distribution of leaked information from journalist Daniel Ellsberg. The papers contained information on a classified study that detailed America's involvement in Vietnam, exposing secrets of several presidential administrations, including secret bombing campaigns, Misleading public statements, ignored peace proposals, and the true number of U.S deaths and expenses that had been downplayed.

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Great Wall of China, Huairou District, China

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President Nixon visits China (February 1973)

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President Nixon visits China (February 1973)

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Nixon met with the leader of China during the Cold War, marking the beginning of the U.S.'s trade with China. Previously, the United States viewed China as an enemy, not actively trading with the communist country. This began the establishment of trade and an economic relationship between China and the U.S. Nixon also attempted to drive a wedge between Russia and China.

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During the Cold War, a tense nuclear arms race occurred between the United States and the Soviet Union. SALT I was a negotiation between the two nations that put a limit on the production of nuclear arms. The negotiation put a limit on missile defense systems and the number of nuclear weapons each side could deploy. The negotiation aimed to control the tensions between the two nations.

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US supported coup overthrows Chilean government (September 1973)

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US supported coup overthrows Chilean government (September 1973)

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A military coup, backed by the United States, overthrew a democratically elected government in Chile. The president of Chile was a Marxist, strongly opposed by the United States. The coup was led by Augusto Pinochet, a career military officer of the Chilean army. His military seized power by bombing the presidential palace in Chile, and under his control, many Chileans were imprisoned, tortured, and killed. The coup was a U.S attempt to control socialism in Latin America.

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South Vietnam falls to Communist North Vietnam (April 17, 1975) 

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South Vietnam falls to Communist North Vietnam (April 17, 1975) 

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South Vietnam's fall to North Vietnam marked the end of the Vietnam War and South Vietnam's defeat, resulting in the reunification of the country under communist rule. In March, North Vietnam launched its final offensive and quickly advanced through South Vietnam. By the end of April, the North successfully surrounded Saigon, the capital of the South. This led to the largest helicopter evacuation in history, with thousands of U.S personnel and South Vietnamese citizens fleeing.

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Soviet and Cuban forces help to install Communist government in Angola (1976)

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Soviet and Cuban forces help to install Communist government in Angola (1976)

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In 1976, the Soviet Union and Cuba greatly supported the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola. The People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (PMLA) was a communist aligned sector during the civil war that took place in Angola. The Soviet Union provided the PMLA with weapons, advisors, all while supplying them financially. Cuba sent thousands of combat troops to help the PMLA fight against their rival groups that were being aided by the U.S and South Africa. Soviet and Cuban aid to the MPLA led the MPLA to victory and played a large role in the establishment of a communist government in Angola.

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Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC

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US and China officially establish diplomatic relations and trade & Panda Diplomacy (January 1979)

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US and China officially establish diplomatic relations and trade & Panda Diplomacy (January 1979)

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Once U.S trade had been established with China during the Cold War, China began to loan out Pandas, native to China, to zoos in the U.S. China used these Pandas, desired by the U.S, to hold leverage over the country, and also loaned these animals to zoos in Russia.

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Maurice Bishop International Airport, Maurice Bishop Memorial Highway, Grenada

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US troops invade and overthrow regime in Grenada (October 1983)

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US troops invade and overthrow regime in Grenada (October 1983)

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The US invaded Grenada intending to overthrow the Revolutionary Military Council, a communist aligned government that took over after the Prime Minister, Maurice Bishop, was executed. The invasion was a success for the United States, overthrowing the Revolutionary Military Council within days. The invasion was not received well internationally, and left the United Nations, along with the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, believing that it was a breach of independence in Grenada.

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US Boycotts summer Olympics in Moscow (June-August 1980)

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US Boycotts summer Olympics in Moscow (June-August 1980)

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In response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan that occurred the winter before the summer Olympics of 1980, the United States led a boycott against the Moscow Olympics. Jimmy Carter announced the boycott in the spring after the invasion/before the Olympics, and the United States encouraged other nations to join the boycott. Eventually, sixty-five countries joined the boycott and refused to compete in the games, resulting in the largest Olympic boycott in history. However, due to the lack of participation from many countries, the Soviet Union dominated the games and racked up a very high medal count.

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The Sino-Vietnamese War began when China launched an invasion of Vietnam. The invasion was a result of Vietnam's previous occupation of Cambodia, which overthrew the Cambodian administration (Communist party led by Pol Pot began mass murders), which China backed. China primarily targeted northern Vietnam, and many conflicts took place along the China-Vietnam border. Despite receiving strong resistance from Vietnamese troops, China eventually accomplished the mission and withdrew its troops a month later. The war shows conflicts between communist nations.

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Shah of Iran overthrown; Iran Hostage Crisis begins (November 1979)

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Shah of Iran overthrown; Iran Hostage Crisis begins (November 1979)

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Iran, rich in oil, was a long-time ally of the United States. In 1979, the Shah of Iran, also backed by the U.S, was overthrown by college-aged religious fundamentalists, and a religious government was established. The Shah was in the U.S at the time. The religious fundamentalists stormed the U.S. Embassy, taking approximately 60 hostages, and demanded that the Shah be returned to Iran. The U.S struggled to get the hostages back, making the United States appear weak. Since the conflict, the U.S and Iran have been enemies.

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US Hockey defeats USSR at Winter Olympics (February 22, 1980)

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US Hockey defeats USSR at Winter Olympics (February 22, 1980)

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The United States and the USSR competed against each other for a portion of the medal rounds of the Winter Olympics that took place in Lake Placid, New York, in 1980. The USSR had won gold four consecutive times and was heavily favored going into the round. However, the U.S (the underdogs) had a close 4-3 victory, and even went on to win gold. The game became a representation of American resistance throughout the Cold War.

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Reagan proposes SDI or "Star Wars" (1983)

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Reagan proposes SDI or "Star Wars" (1983)

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President Reagan proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative, which proposed a new plan to defend against nuclear threats. This plan was designed to switch the United States' defense against nuclear threats from just retaliating against a country that attacked the U.S, to creating a system that could detect nuclear threats, and shoot them down/destroy them before they reached the U.S. The plan was costly, however, it wasn't necessarily a guarantee that it would successfully destroy every threat.

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Eastern Bloc boycotts LA Summer Olympics (July-August 1984)

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Eastern Bloc boycotts LA Summer Olympics (July-August 1984)

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After the United States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, which kept tensions high between the two nations, it was their turn to host the Summer Olympics of 1984. The USSR initially indicated that they would be attending the games, and even went as far as to attend meetings with the committee organizing the LA Olympics. However, the spring before the games, the USSR announced the boycott, claiming that they would not be attending due to safety concerns. Many viewed it as a retaliation against the US boycott of the Moscow summer Olympics. As a result of the boycott, the nations grew even further divided, with allies of the U.S viewing the boycott as a political move and not a concern for athlete safety.

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Gorbachev begins "glasnost" and perestroika" in efforts to reform the USSR (1985)

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Gorbachev begins "glasnost" and perestroika" in efforts to reform the USSR (1985)

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In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the General Secretary of the USSR. At the time, the Soviet Union was facing economic stagnation, social rigidity, and social unrest. This caused Mikhail Gorbachev to introduce glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring). This policy aimed to reform the USSR's economy and political system. Glasnost encouraged freedom of speech (which had been suppressed in the Soviet Union), reduced censorship, and even promoted honesty within the government. The goal of Perestroika was to revitalize the economy by allowing limited private enterprise. These policies ultimately failed due to the many deep-rooted issues within the Soviet Union, leading to its collapse. However, Gorbachev's leadership played a large part in ending the Cold War, and he was even awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

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Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan (January 1989)

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Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan (January 1989)

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The final Soviet troops withdrew, crossing into Uzbekistan from Afghanistan, marking the end of the Soviet-Afghan War. This was a result of Gorbachev's efforts to improve Soviet relations with the West and reduce military engagements. The withdrawal of troops resulted in an Afghan civil war.

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Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania oust communist governments (1989)

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Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania oust communist governments (1989)

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The Revolutions of 1989, a series of anti-communist uprisings that led to the collapse of communist governments in Eastern European nations. The movements were sparked by the economic struggles and political oppression that citizens of these communist nations faced. An example is the Solidarity movement that pushed for democratic reforms took place in Poland and resulted in partially free elections. And, in Hungary, the border fence shared with Austria was dismantled, letting East Germans flee to the West, and eventually leading to multi-party democracy.

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On June 3-4 of 1989, the Chinese government cruelly suppressed pro democracy protests taking place in Beijing. These protests began just a few months before in April 1989. They were led by students, scholars, and workers who desired political reforms, freedom of speech, and an elimination of corruption; the protests spread to other cities in China. As a result, the Chinese government declared martial law and deployed military troops to clear out the square in Beijing where the protests took place. Military troops and tanks opened fire on the unarmed protestors, causing hundreds to thousands of deaths. This caused worldwide shock, and all around disapproval, and even trade bans/restrictions against China.

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The fall of the Berlin Wall occurred due to mounting political pressure, mass protests, and a shift and dynamics towards the end of the Cold War. Confused East German officials, overwhelmed by the public's demand for freedom, wrongly declared that the border separating East and West Berlin would open at once. As a result, swarms of people gathered at checkpoints, guards who were just as confused eventually let people pass through. Not long after, citizens of both sides began to tear at the wall. The Berlin falling led to German reunification and marked the collapse of communist governments across Eastern Europe.

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Russian Federation Government House, Krasnopresnenskaya Naberezhnaya, Moscow, Russia

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Boris Yeltsin elected as President of Russia (May 1990)

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Boris Yeltsin elected as President of Russia (May 1990)

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On May 29, 1990, Boris Yeltsin was elected president of Russia, which at the time was the largest republic in the Soviet Union. Yeltsin had previously been a communist however, he renounced his membership and became a proponent of a democratic government, opposing Mikhail Gorbachev and the communist party. His leadership played a part in Russia's eventual independence.

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On October 3, 1990, Germany was officially reunited, marking the end of the 45-year division. The reunification began after the fall of the Berlin Wall and was finalized through the Unification Treaty that was signed on August 31, 1990. After Germany was officially reunified, Berlin became the official capital of united Germany, Germany recognized its borders with Poland, and Soviet troops withdrew by 1994.

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USSR dissolved -15 republics gain independence, including Russia (August 1991)

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USSR dissolved -15 republics gain independence, including Russia (August 1991)

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The Soviet Union was officially dissolved on December 26, 1991, which marked the end of the Cold War and the split of one of the largest political organizations. The fall of the USSR led to 15 independent republics being formed. The fall of the USSR resulted in Russia transitioning to a market economy, former Soviet republics establishing independent governments, the U.S becoming the world's main superpower, and Russia inheriting the Soviet Union's nuclear arsenal.

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Thesis: During the Cold War, there was no active fighting; rather than military action, the war was defined by scientific rivalry, mistrust due to nuclear weapons, and the hostility present throughout various negotiations.