Cold War Timeline by Jimena Hernandez

1947: The Truman Doctrine

1061144_ — 2025-02-19 18:03:56 UTC

The Truman Doctrine was a policy that would prevent countries form becoming communist. The U.S. gave Turkey and Greece money to prevent communist take over. The policy was the first big move that lead to the Cold War. The idea that the U.S. had also got them involved into the Korean and Vietnam war. The policy also made the U.S. global leaders and influenced the idea of alliances like NATO.

1948: Marshall Plan

1061144_ — 2025-02-19 18:34:44 UTC

The Marshall plan was made to help Europe recover form WWll. The goal was to rebuild economies and stop the spread of communists. The U.S. gave the western European countries $13 billion to rebuild. The Soviet Union rejected the help but Western Europe accepted and grew stronger. The plan raised the trade between the U.S. and Europe. Played a big role in shaping international alliances.

1950: The Korean War

1061144_ — 2025-02-20 19:08:56 UTC

On June 25 North Korea invaded South Korea planing to unite them under communism. The United Nations sent troops to help South Korea. The troops pushed North Korea into Chinas border that when China joined the was to help North Korea. On July 27, 1953 a ceasefire, but no peace treaty was signed so the war was never technically over. The Korean War lead to more Cold War conflicts like the Vietnam War. To this day the U.S. still keeps troops in South Korea.

1950:The Red Scare & McCarthyism

1061144_ — 2025-02-20 19:56:03 UTC

The Red Scare was the fear that communism would take over the U.S. after WWll. Americans were worried that Soviet spies would try to undermine democracy. McCarthyism was an investigation. Named after Senator Joseph McCarthy. The investigation was into suspected communists in the government, Hollywood, and the military. McCarthy ruined many people's career's and reputations with all the wild accusations he made.The House Un-American Activities Committee accused people in the film industry of having communist ties. This lead to expanded government surveillance on citizens.

1957:The Space Race & Sputnik

1061144_ — 2025-02-21 17:49:53 UTC

The Space Race was a competition between the the U.S. and the Soviet Union to see who could get to space first. They both wanted to prove that they had the superior technology and military. On October 4, 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik the first artificial satellite to space. The U.S. were scared that this could lead to advanced missiles. In response the U.S. created NASA in 1958. They also increased funding for science and technology. On July 20, 1969 the U.S. won the space race by landing astronauts on the moon. The Space Race lead to major advances in technology and STEM education.

1962: The Cuban Missile Crisis

1061144_ — 2025-02-21 18:07:41 UTC

In October 1962, the U.S. spies discovered that the Soviet Union was keeping nuclear missiles in Cuba. The Soviet Union keep them there to counter the U.S. nuclear weapons they had in Turkey. The U.S. used a naval blockade around Cuba to stop more weapons from coming in. The U.S. demanded for the missiles to be removed if not they would take military action, like nuclear war. For 13 days the world were scared that there would be a nuclear war, but on October 28, 1962 the Soviets agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba. The U.S. also removed the missiles from Turkey and not to invade Cuba. This lead to nuclear arms control and direct a hotline between Washington and Moscow to prevent future crisis.

1955-1975: The Vietnam War

1061144_ — 2025-02-21 19:10:45 UTC

After WWll Vietnam was divided into South Vietnam lead by communist Ho Chi Minh and South Vietnam backed by the U.S. anti-communist. The us had gotten involved to stop communism from spreading in Asia. In 1960 the U.S. sent troops, weapon, and aid to South Vietnam. North Vietnam fought the war using guerrilla warfare the Viet fighters would blend into the jungle, this would make is hard for the U.S. to win. In 1968 North Vietnam launched the Tet Offensive which surprised the U.S.. The was was broadcasted on TV. This lead to many people staring an anti-war protest. In 1973 the U.S. ended their involvement in the combat. Them by 1975 North Vietnam took over South Vietnam. The lasting impact was the War Powers Act which limited the presidents power to send troops with out the approval from congress.

1964:The Civil Rights Movement & Cold War Politics

1061144_ — 2025-02-24 03:05:12 UTC

The U.S. wanted to shoe the world that democracy was better than communism. The Soviet Union used the United States racial discrimination and segregation as propaganda to show that democracy was not good. The U.S. supported some civil right policies to improve their image. They also ended the school segregation in 1954.

Activists like Martin Luther King and many more called out the U.S. on their hypocrisy. Many civil right were accused of being communists.This led to laws and policies that expanded government surveillance.

1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall

1061144_ — 2025-02-24 03:23:14 UTC

The Berlin Wall was built by East Germany so that people wouldn't go to East Berlin. East Berlin was free and democratic. It was one the most famous symbols of the Cold War. The wall fell in 1989 because communist government across Eastern Europe were getting weak. Due to protests, economic struggles, and pressure for democracy.On November 9, 1989 East German officials made the mistake of telling people that they could cross the boarder, which lead to crowed tearing down the wall. The Soviet Union did not send troops, which meant that communism was collapsing. In 1990 East and West Germany reunited and became on country again. This marked the end of the the Cold War.

1991:The Rise of the Military-Industrial Complex

1061144_ — 2025-02-24 03:32:56 UTC

The Military-Industrial Complex is when the government, military, and defense companies work closely together. The U.S. built up its military and weapons to compete with the Soviet Union. After the Cols war the military spending went down.The MIC pushed the U.S. into wars like Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan because war meant more money for defense companies