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Cold War Timeline
A timeline representing the events of the Cold War -
Truman Doctrine Created
Established that the United States would provide political, military and economic assistance to nations being threatened by communism. -
Marshall Plan Announced
Would help to provide aid for countries struggling with poverty, disease, and malnutrition. -
Rio Pact Signed
The U.S. and 19 Latin American countries meet and declared that an attack against one is an attack against all. Created a pact of the Western Hemisphere. -
Communist Takeover in Czechoslovakia
Communist forces in Czechoslovakia, combined with Soviet assistance, gained power. -
Treaty of Brussels
Signed by Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, creating a defense against communism. -
Berlin Blockade Begins
Soviet forces blockaded rail, road, and water access to areas of Berlin controlled by the Allies. -
NATO Formed
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance between the U.S, Canada, and European members originally made to defend against the Soviets. -
Berlin Blockade Ends
After the U.S. and U.K. began flying resources over the blockade, the Soviets lifted the blockade. -
Russia Tests First Atomic Bomb
Detonated in Semipalatinsk Test Site, in Kazakhstan -
Truman Approves H-Bomb Development
Truman publicly announces the approval of the Hydrogen Bomb which is said to be hundreds of times more powerful than the atomic bomb. -
Korean War Begins
North Korea's communist army, supported by Stalin, invaded South Korea with Soviet weapons. -
Truman Orders U.S. Troops to Korea
Truman announces he will be sending naval and air forces to assist in the Korean war. -
Federal Civil Defense Administration Established
The FCDA was created to coordinate military, industrial, and civilian mobilization. -
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Found Guilty
They were found guilty of passing atomic secrets to the Soviets. -
Douglas MacArthur Relieved of his Command in Korea
MacArthur's plans conflicted with America's foreign policy and Truman believed it was best to remove him. -
British Developed A-Bomb
Winston Churchill announces that Britain has an atom bomb -
Cuban Government Overthrown
Fulgencio Batista overthrows the Cuban government of President Prio Socarras. -
New Prime Minister in Hungary
Matyas Rakosi become prime minister of Hungary -
Joseph Stalin Dies
Soviet leader Joseph Stalin dies from a stroke at the age of 74 -
Rosenburgs Executed
Julius Rosenberg and Ethel Rosenberg executed -
Korean War Ends
The war between North and South Korea comes to an end -
U.S. Tests Hydrogen Bomb
The United States tests a hydrogen bomb in the Marshall Islands. -
KGB Established
Security agency for the Soviet Union said to be the “sword and shield of the Communist Party.” -
New Prime Minister in China.
Zhou Enlai becomes prime minister of China. -
Imre Nagy forced to resign as prime minister.
Imre Nagy, prime minister of Hungary, forced to resign as prime minister after Soviet invasion -
Warsaw Pact Formed
Treaty established by the Soviet Union that included 7 other Central and Eastern European nations -
West Germany and Soviet Union Restore Diplomatic Relations
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Nikita Khrushchev denounces former leader Joseph Stalin
Krushchev expresses his beliefs about Stalin -
Deadly Political Protest in Poland
74 people were killed in a political protest that took place in Poland -
The UN Demands the Withdrawal of Soviet Troops from Hungary.
UN demanded Soviet troops leave during the Hungarian Revolution -
President Eisenhower Resumes Aid to Israel
Eisenhower promised to provide aid to Middle Eastern countries battling communism -
Soviets Request for U.S. and Britain to Stop Nuclear Testing
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Britain Tests First Hydrogen Bomb
Britain carried out their first hydrogen bomb test over Christmas Island -
Nikita Khrushchev Becomes Prime Minister of the Soviet Union
Communist Nikita Khrushchev gains power in the Soviet Union -
Imre Nagy Executed
The former prime minister of Hungary was tried and executed for treason along with his allies -
Soviets Want Foreign Troops Out of Berlin
The Soviet Union demands that all foreign troops should be withdrawn from Berlin in a speech from Krushchev. -
Fidel Castro's Revolution is Succesful
Fidel Castro and his victorious troops enter Havana after a successful rebellion against Fulgencio Batista -
Khrushchev Visits the U.S
Khrushchev had a 13 day visit to the United States -
United Nations Vote on China's Admission
Member states vote again against the admission of China to the United Nations -
Soviets Reveal US Spy Plane Shot Down in Soviet Territory
The U-2 US spy plane was shot down by the Soviets in Soviet territory. -
John F. Kennedy Elected President
Kennedy was elected president in the race against Richard Nixon by a very slim margin -
Cuba Aligns with Soviet Union
Cuba along with its communist leader Fidel Castro aligns with the Soviets and their ideals -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The failed American invasion of Cuba using former citizens who escaped when Castro came to power -
Berlin Border Closed
East German authorities closed the borders in Berlin -
Construction of Berlin Wall Begins
A wall made with barbed wire and concrete was starting to be built by the German government -
U.S. Involvment in Vietnam Increases
As tensions grow in Vietnam, more troops are sent from the U.S. -
Kennedy Ends All Trade with Cuba
After becoming a communist nation and allying with the Soviets, Kennedy begins to cut ties with Cuba -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Soviets installed missiles in Cuba just 90 miles from the coast of Florida -
Hot Line Established
Nikita Khrushchev and John Kennedy agree to establish a hot line to use in a Cold War crisis -
Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty
Treaty signed by the Soviet Union, United States, and Britain that banned the testing of all nuclear weapons -
John F. Kennedy is Assassinated
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas while campaigning for reelection. -
U.S. Aircraft Bomb Vietnam
For the first time in the war, the U.S. uses aircraft to bomb Vietnam forces -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
North Vietnamese warships attacked U.S. warships, leading to more U.S. involvement in the war -
China Explodes its First Atomic Bomb
After developing their own nuclear technology, China explodes its first a-bomb. -
Marines Sent to Dominican Republic
U.S. Marines sent to the Dominican Republic to fight Communism -
U.S. Dispatching More Troops to Vietnam
Announcement of dispatching of 200,000 U.S. troops to Vietnam -
Soviets Admit to Supplying Arms to North Vietnam
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France Withdraws Troops from NATO
France withdrew from the Alliance and demanded that all NATO bases be removed from French territory -
U.S government admit to using chemical weapons in North Vietnam
Admitted to using herbicides known as Agent Blue, Agent Purple, Agent Pink, Agent Green, and Agent Orange -
U.S. Air Raid Kills Vietnam Citizens
United States air raid on Hanoi kills over 100 North Vietnamese civilians