Download The Roots of the Cold War – Timeline of Key Events

AP U.S. HISTORY
MR. WAGENBERG
NAME:
The Roots of the Cold War – Timeline of Key Events
Date
Event
1941-1945
The United States and the Soviet Union joined as Allies during W W II.
February 1945
The Yalta Conference was held to discuss a plan to end W W II.
Representatives from the Allied countries of the Soviet Union (J. Stalin),
the United States (F.D. Roosevelt), and Great Britain (W . Churchill) were
present. They agreed on a joint occupation of Germany following the end
of the war.
May/June 1945
Germany surrendered, ending W W II in Europe. Germany was placed
under military rule and divided into zones of occupation (Soviet,
American, British and French). The capital of Berlin was also divided into
four zones, although the city was located in the Soviet section of
occupation. This angered Stalin and the Soviets.
July/Aug. 1945
The Potsdam Conference was held, with the USSR, the US and Britain
again in attendance. They agreed to recognize each others’ influence over
regions where their respective troops remained at the end of W W II.
Aug/Sept 1945
Stalin established Soviet-controlled governments in Eastern European
countries occupied by the Soviet Army. The United States objected to
these totalitarian regimes, but did not act.
August 1945
The United States used the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
ending the war with Japan.
Spring 1946
W inston Churchill declared an “Iron Curtain” had descended over Europe,
speaking of the Soviet control of Eastern Europe.
Early 1947
The governments of Greece and Turkey were fighting against Communist
rebellions in early 1947. The Greek government appealed to the United
States for help.
March 1947
In response to the situation in Greece and Turkey, President Truman made
a speech where he stated it was the obligation of the United States to
“support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation
[enslavement] by armed minorities or by outside pressures [Communists].”
This became known as the Truman Doctrine, which outlined the policy of
containment, preventing the spread of Communism. The United States
provided monetary aid to suppress the rebellions and both attempted
takeovers were defeated.
June 1947
President Truman believed all of Europe was nearing economic collapse
because of the devastation caused by W W II. Truman also believed a
collapse would leave countries vulnerable to communism. Truman
implemented the Marshall Plan which provided $17 billion in aid for the
economic recovery of Europe
How did this event contribute to the
development of the Cold War?
Date
Event
June 1948
The United States, Great Britain, and France still occupied Germany and
decided to introduce a new form of currency. The Soviets, angered at not
being consulted, instituted a formal blockade of W est Berlin. Road, rail
and water routes were cut off, followed by supplies of food, power and
fuel. The United States responded in August by air lifting supplies to W est
Berlin. Stalin lifted the blockade after nearly a year, on May 12, 1949.
Berlin remained a divided city, and the Berlin W all was built to separate
East and W est in 1961, to prevent East Berliners from escaping to the
W est.
1949
Mao Zedong led the Communist Revolution to success in China. China
quickly allied with the Soviet Union, and the countries signed mutual
defense and economic aid agreements.
April 1949
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed by the United
States, Canada, France, Great Britain, Italy and the Netherlands. Member
countries formed a military alliance to protect each other from Soviet
aggression.
August 1949
The Soviet Union successfully tested their first nuclear weapon, an atomic
bomb.
1950 - 1953
The Korean W ar. After W W II, Korea had been divided at the 38 th parallel
into two regions, North and South. North Korea was supported by the
USSR, and South Korea was supported by the US. W ith support from the
USSR, Communist North Korea invaded South Korea. North Korea also
received support from China. The United States supported the South
Koreans, and sent troops to fight the North Korean forces. The W ar ended
in a stalemate (no clear winner) on July 27, 1953.
1952
The United States tested the hydrogen bomb, a weapon with the potential
of far greater destruction than the atomic bomb.
1953
The Soviet Union also developed and tested a hydrogen bomb.
1956
Citizens in Hungary, a Soviet-controlled state, were rioting and demanding
more freedoms from their Communist government. The new Soviet leader,
Nikita Khrushchev, sent the Soviet Army into the Hungarian capital of
Budapest where the protest was suppressed with military force. The
United States did not aid the Hungarian uprising despite requests for help.
How did this event contribute to the
development of the Cold War?
By this time, the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union had developed into the Cold W ar and each country was
deeply entrenched