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Berlin Blockade
The Berlin blockade was when the Soviet Union refused the Allied powers access into Berlin. The U.S. responded by sending supplies by air, over the blockade. Since they couldn't deliver by land, they did so by air. -
Formation of NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created by allied powers including the U.S., U.K., France, and other European Nations. They promised to protect one another during times of war. -
Berlin Airlift
After the Soviet Union implemented the Berlin Blockade, allied forces began sending supplies by plane. A supply plane was landed in Berlin approximately every 45 seconds. -
Chinese Civil War
Mao Zedong announced the creation of the Peoples Republic of China, which sprouted outrage among the people. A war broke out between the PRC and the Kuomintang, an opposing political party. -
National Security Council Report NSC-68
NSC-68 was a 58 page top secret document presented by Truman that stated a policy for the Cold War. Truman wished to curb military spending despite the Soviets increase in nuclear weapons. -
Korean War
This war was fought originally by a communist North Korea and a democratic South Korea. Eventually, the U.S. began supporting the South and the Chinese began supporting the North, creating plenty of tension between communism and democracy. -
President Truman fires General MacArthur
MacArthur was a general who had military control during the Korean War, and often pushed his boundaries with Truman. He threatened to use nukes against China, was rude to government officials, and called Truman out for being too weak of a leader. When Truman fired MacArthur, it proved that Truman was pro-peace and supported policies of limited war. -
Formation of the Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization included the Soviet Union and Eastern European nations. Like NATO, they vowed to protect one another during war. -
Launching of Sputnik
The Soviet Union instigated the space race when they launched the first satellite, Sputnik, into space to orbit the Earth. After the launch, the U.S. sprung to action and began their own space organization; NASA. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The U.S.S.R. placed nuclear weapons in Cuba in case they needed to fire a preemptive strike on the U.S. In response, the U.S. threatened to place nukes in Turkey unless the Soviets removed their nukes. This was the most tense moment of the Cold War.
