Cold War Timeline: Events that shaped mod America by Sarah Tovalino

Truman Doctrine (1947)

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On March 12, 1947, this policy was announced. This policy contained communism and led the U.S. to decades of global military involvement.

The Marshall plan (1948-1952)

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This was known as a massive U.S. economic aid program that was launched in 1948 and helped rebuild Europe. The plan provided over 13 billion in financial assistance to western European countries.

NATO Formation (1949)

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This was established on April 4, 1949, as a military assistance between the U.S., Canada, and ten Western European nations. This was created because of the threats they were facing from the Soviet Union.

Korean War (1950-1953)

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One of the first major conflicts of the Cold War. This was fought between North Korea and South Korea. This war started on June 15, 1950, and ended in 1953. This war increased U.S. defense spending.

McCarthyism & Red Scare (1950s)

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This period was marked by intense government investigations, blacklists, and widespread paranoia about communist propaganda spread in America. Senator Joseph McCarthy became the face of this movement.

Sputnik Launch (1957)

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The Soviet Union launched the world's first artificial satellite on October 4, 1957. This satellite was the size of a beach ball but had a massive impact. Sputnick symbolized the soviet union's growth in tech which made the U.S. nervous.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

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This took place in October 1962 and it was the closest nuclear war the world has ever come close too. Nuclear missiles had been placed in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. coast

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

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This war was one of the most controversial conflicts in U.S. history. This was fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. This war became deeply unpopular which sparked mass protests which had a major shift in how Americans viewed their government and military.

Detente & SALT Treaties (1970s)

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During this, the tensions between the United States and the soviet union were at an all-time high. By the 1970s, both sides calmed down, dropped the war, and avoided a catastrophic war. This time of calmed tensions, known as detente ket to major arm control agreements.

Fall of the Berlin Wall & Soviet Collapse (1989-1991)

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The fall of the Berlin Wall took place on November 9, 1989, and the soviet union fell in December of 1991 which marked the end of the cold war. The U.S. and the USSR had conflicted for nearly 50 years.