The Cold War Begins
1. 1938
-------- George Kennan sends telegram outlining containment strategy; Winston Churchill delivers “iron curtain” speech Senator Joseph McCarthy carries out anti-Communist crusade Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed for espionage Truman Doctrine articulated; National Security Act passed; Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) established; Truman creates Federal Employee Loyalty Program House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) established Korean War Congress approves Marshall Plan Communists win Chinese civil war; North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed; Soviet Union successfully tests atomic weapon Berlin blockade and airlift; Alger Hiss affair NSC-68 issued Potsdam Conference
2. 1945
-------- George Kennan sends telegram outlining containment strategy; Winston Churchill delivers “iron curtain” speech Senator Joseph McCarthy carries out anti-Communist crusade Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed for espionage Truman Doctrine articulated; National Security Act passed; Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) established; Truman creates Federal Employee Loyalty Program House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) established Korean War Congress approves Marshall Plan Communists win Chinese civil war; North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed; Soviet Union successfully tests atomic weapon Berlin blockade and airlift; Alger Hiss affair NSC-68 issued Potsdam Conference
3. 1946
-------- George Kennan sends telegram outlining containment strategy; Winston Churchill delivers “iron curtain” speech Senator Joseph McCarthy carries out anti-Communist crusade Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed for espionage Truman Doctrine articulated; National Security Act passed; Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) established; Truman creates Federal Employee Loyalty Program House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) established Korean War Congress approves Marshall Plan Communists win Chinese civil war; North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed; Soviet Union successfully tests atomic weapon Berlin blockade and airlift; Alger Hiss affair NSC-68 issued Potsdam Conference
4. 1947
-------- George Kennan sends telegram outlining containment strategy; Winston Churchill delivers “iron curtain” speech Senator Joseph McCarthy carries out anti-Communist crusade Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed for espionage Truman Doctrine articulated; National Security Act passed; Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) established; Truman creates Federal Employee Loyalty Program House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) established Korean War Congress approves Marshall Plan Communists win Chinese civil war; North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed; Soviet Union successfully tests atomic weapon Berlin blockade and airlift; Alger Hiss affair NSC-68 issued Potsdam Conference
5. 1948-1949
-------- George Kennan sends telegram outlining containment strategy; Winston Churchill delivers “iron curtain” speech Senator Joseph McCarthy carries out anti-Communist crusade Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed for espionage Truman Doctrine articulated; National Security Act passed; Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) established; Truman creates Federal Employee Loyalty Program House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) established Korean War Congress approves Marshall Plan Communists win Chinese civil war; North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed; Soviet Union successfully tests atomic weapon Berlin blockade and airlift; Alger Hiss affair NSC-68 issued Potsdam Conference
6. 1948
-------- George Kennan sends telegram outlining containment strategy; Winston Churchill delivers “iron curtain” speech Senator Joseph McCarthy carries out anti-Communist crusade Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed for espionage Truman Doctrine articulated; National Security Act passed; Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) established; Truman creates Federal Employee Loyalty Program House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) established Korean War Congress approves Marshall Plan Communists win Chinese civil war; North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed; Soviet Union successfully tests atomic weapon Berlin blockade and airlift; Alger Hiss affair NSC-68 issued Potsdam Conference
7. 1949
-------- George Kennan sends telegram outlining containment strategy; Winston Churchill delivers “iron curtain” speech Senator Joseph McCarthy carries out anti-Communist crusade Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed for espionage Truman Doctrine articulated; National Security Act passed; Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) established; Truman creates Federal Employee Loyalty Program House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) established Korean War Congress approves Marshall Plan Communists win Chinese civil war; North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed; Soviet Union successfully tests atomic weapon Berlin blockade and airlift; Alger Hiss affair NSC-68 issued Potsdam Conference
8. 1950-1954
-------- George Kennan sends telegram outlining containment strategy; Winston Churchill delivers “iron curtain” speech Senator Joseph McCarthy carries out anti-Communist crusade Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed for espionage Truman Doctrine articulated; National Security Act passed; Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) established; Truman creates Federal Employee Loyalty Program House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) established Korean War Congress approves Marshall Plan Communists win Chinese civil war; North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed; Soviet Union successfully tests atomic weapon Berlin blockade and airlift; Alger Hiss affair NSC-68 issued Potsdam Conference
9. 1950
-------- George Kennan sends telegram outlining containment strategy; Winston Churchill delivers “iron curtain” speech Senator Joseph McCarthy carries out anti-Communist crusade Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed for espionage Truman Doctrine articulated; National Security Act passed; Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) established; Truman creates Federal Employee Loyalty Program House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) established Korean War Congress approves Marshall Plan Communists win Chinese civil war; North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed; Soviet Union successfully tests atomic weapon Berlin blockade and airlift; Alger Hiss affair NSC-68 issued Potsdam Conference
10. 1950-1953
-------- George Kennan sends telegram outlining containment strategy; Winston Churchill delivers “iron curtain” speech Senator Joseph McCarthy carries out anti-Communist crusade Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed for espionage Truman Doctrine articulated; National Security Act passed; Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) established; Truman creates Federal Employee Loyalty Program House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) established Korean War Congress approves Marshall Plan Communists win Chinese civil war; North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed; Soviet Union successfully tests atomic weapon Berlin blockade and airlift; Alger Hiss affair NSC-68 issued Potsdam Conference
11. 1953
-------- George Kennan sends telegram outlining containment strategy; Winston Churchill delivers “iron curtain” speech Senator Joseph McCarthy carries out anti-Communist crusade Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed for espionage Truman Doctrine articulated; National Security Act passed; Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) established; Truman creates Federal Employee Loyalty Program House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) established Korean War Congress approves Marshall Plan Communists win Chinese civil war; North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed; Soviet Union successfully tests atomic weapon Berlin blockade and airlift; Alger Hiss affair NSC-68 issued Potsdam Conference