Cold War

SALT I Treaty signed

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The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) resulted in the signing of the SALT I Treaty between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, placing limits on strategic nuclear weapons.

Iron Curtain Speech by Winston Churchill

Mar 5, 1946

Winston Churchill delivered this speech in Fulton, Missouri, outlining the ideological division between Eastern and Western Europe, coining the term "Iron Curtain."

Truman Doctrine

Mar 12, 1947

President Truman announced this policy, providing economic and military assistance to nations resisting communist influence, signaling a shift in U.S. foreign policy.

Berlin Blockade ends

May 12, 1949

The Soviet Union lifted the blockade of West Berlin after almost a year, allowing for the resumption of supplies to the isolated city.

Korean War begins

Jun 25, 1950

North Korean forces invaded South Korea, leading to the first major armed conflict of the Cold War, with the United States supporting South Korea.

Launch of Sputnik 1

Oct 4, 1957

The Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, marking the beginning of the Space Race and increasing Cold War tensions.

Construction of the Berlin Wall begins

Aug 13, 1961

East Germany, with Soviet support, started building the Berlin Wall to prevent the flow of East Germans to West Berlin.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Oct 16, 1962

The U.S. and the Soviet Union came close to nuclear war over the placement of Soviet missiles in Cuba, leading to a tense standoff and eventual resolution.

Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Aug 5, 1963

The United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom signed an agreement prohibiting nuclear weapons testing in the atmosphere, space, and underwater.

Fall of the Berlin Wall

Nov 9, 1989

The Berlin Wall fell, symbolizing the end of the division between East and West Germany and the beginning of the end of the Cold War.