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Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was a meeting of British prime minister Winston Churchill, Soviet premier Joseph Stalin, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt early in February 1945 as World War II was coming to an end. The importance of this event is that this is when the three leaders agreed to demand Germany's unconditional surrender and began plans for a post-war world. -
Bombing od Hiroshima and Nagasaki
An American bomber dropped an atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The first explosion destroyed 90 percent of the city and immediately killed 80,000 people. Later, tens of thousands more would die of radiation exposure. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000 people. This was an important event in history because this was the first time that an atomic bomb was ever dropped on another country, and also led to the Japanese surrendering. -
End of World War II
Germany surrenders and the allied powers win the war. This is an important day because this is the start of the United States and Russia becoming global superpowers. This event also led to the formation of the United Nations. -
Berlin Airlift
The Russians closed all highways, railroads and canals from western-occupied Germany into western-occupied Berlin. so the U.S. and its allies decided to supply their sectors of the city from the air. This lasted for more than a year and carried more than 2.3 million tons of supplies into the city. This is important because it showed Russia that they were not in control and that they were going to put up a strong fight. -
NATO Establishment
Also known as, The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established by 12 Western nations. The military alliance, which provided for a collective self-defense against Soviet aggression, greatly increased American influence in Europe. The importance of NATO and its establishment is that it did increase American influence in Europe which helped the allies gain power. NATO still exists today and is still a big part of the countries that created it as well as countries that have joined. -
Soviets Explode Atomic Bomb
At a remote test site at Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, the USSR successfully detonates its first atomic bomb, code name “First Lightning.” The atomic explosion was roughly equal to the first U.S. atomic explosion. This was an important event because it led to America, as well as other countries racing to build their own bombs, but it also led to issues because of spies getting information from the United States and giving it to the Soviet Union. -
Warsaw Pact
A mutual defense organization that put the Soviets in command of the armed forces of the member states. This was important because it was formed in response to NATO which believed it was necessary to prevent the chance of another war breaking out while West Germany was being remilitarized. The soviets saw NATO as a threat and felt the need to protect themselves with this act. -
Soviets Crush Hungarian Revolt
Following nearly two weeks of protest and political instability in Hungary, Soviet's military viciously crush the protests. Thousands were killed or wounded, and nearly a quarter-million Hungarians fled. This was an important moment because it is known as one of the darkest moments in the Cold War. Many outlooking countries were unsure how to respond, especially the United States. -
Sputnik Is Launched
The Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite. Sputnik transmitted radio signals back to Earth strong enough to be picked up by amateur radio operators. However, in January 1958, Sputnik’s orbit deteriorated, as expected, and the spacecraft burned up in the atmosphere. This was important because it started the United States efforts to catch up with the Soviets which heralded the beginning of the “space race.” -
Fidel Castro Takes Cuba
Fidel Castro becomes prime minister of Cuba after leading a guerrilla campaign that forced right-wing dictator Fulgencio Batista into exile. This was an important event because not soon after this America withdrew its support after Castro launched a program of agrarian reform, nationalized U.S. assets on the island, and declared a Marxist government. -
The Start of The Bay of Pigs Invasions
The Bay of Pigs invasion began when a group of Cuban refugees landed in Cuba and attempted to topple the communist government of Fidel Castro. The attack was an utter failure because Castro had been aware of the attack. This invasion was an important one because it solidified Castro's power in Cuba and eventually led to the cuban missile crisis. -
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Cuban Missile Crisis
Leaders of the U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in a tense, 13-day political and military standoff over the installation of nuclear-armed missiles on Cuba, just 90 miles from U.S. shores. Many feared that a nuclear was was coming however, the U.S. agreed to Soviet leader Khrushchev’s offer to remove the Cuban missiles if the U.S. promised not to invade Cuba. This is important because it was one of the most important confrontations of the cold war. -
China Drops Their First Atomic Bomb
China is the fifth country to drop an atomic bomb, joining the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France. The successful test did cause concern in the U.S. government because of China's want to spread communism around Asia. The test also concerned the Soviet Union; the split between the USSR and communist China over ideological and strategic issues had gotten much worse. This was important because it led to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. -
President Nixon Visits China
Nixon visited China with hopes to ease tension between the countries. In this meeting, Nixon was able to expand cultural contacts between their two nations and establish plans for a permanent U.S. trade mission in China. The importance of this visit was that this eventually led to the Open Door Policy. -
The Abolishment of The Soviet Union
Mikhail Gorbachev resigned his post as president of the Soviet Union, leaving Boris Yeltsin as president of the newly independent Russian state. This was important because due to the change, the economy and government in the new Russia was improving and much better thanks to the United States and other allies.
