Early Cold War/Truman

Bretton Woods Conference

From July 1-22, 1944 held a meeting in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire where 44 nations designed the post–WWII economic system and agreed to create the World Bank (IBRD) and IMF.

World Bank/IRBD

Created in 1944 and ratified Dec 27, 1945 the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development; provides loans to help countries rebuild and develop after war.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Created 1944 and ratified Dec 27, 1945, the IMF was an International organization that promotes currency stability, international trade, and financial cooperation. It provides financial assistance and advice to member countries facing economic difficulties.

United Nations Conference

From April 25 to Jun 26, 1945 was a San Francisco conference where representatives from 50 countries drafted and signed the UN Charter

When does the UN begin?

On Oct 24, 1945 the UN officially took effect after major-power ratification including U.S., UK, USSR, France, China and others.

Iron Curtain Speech

On Mar 5, 1946 Winston Churchill gave a speech warning that Europe was divided between Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and the democratic West.

Long Telegram

On Feb 22, 1946 George Kennan sent a message arguing the USSR was expansionist and the U.S. should respond with long-term resistance.

Containment

A late 1940s U.S. strategy to stop the spread of communism into new countries/regions.

Truman Doctrine

On Mar 12, 1947 Truman asks Congress for $400 million to aid Greece and Turkey; policy to support nations resisting communist pressure.

Marshall Plan / European Recovery Program

Announced Jun 5, 1947; funded 1948–1951): U.S. program giving over $13 billion to rebuild Western Europe’s economy to prevent instability and communist influence.

National Security Act

Law reorganizing U.S. defense and foreign policy-making; created the National Security Council (NSC) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Berlin Blockade

From Jun 24, 1948–May 12, 1949 the blockade was a major Soviet cutoff of land routes into West Berlin to pressure the West to leave the city.

Berlin Airlift / Operation Vittles

From Jun 26, 1948–Sept 30, 1949 the U.S. and Britain flew food, fuel, and supplies into West Berlin to defeat the blockade.

NATO

On Apr 4, 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created; it served as a Western collective defense alliance—an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all.

Nuclear arms race begins

The U.S. held a nuclear monopoly from 1945–1949; USSR tests bomb Aug 29, 1949): U.S. had sole atomic weapons after 1945 until the Soviet Union developed and tested its own in 1949.

People’s Republic of China

On Oct 1, 1949 Mao Zedong and the CCP establish communist China; Nationalist government under Chiang Kai-shek retreats to Taiwan.

Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

Founded in 1921, the CCP was a Communist political party that ultimately won the Chinese Civil War and founded the PRC in 1949.

Kuomintang / Nationalists (KMT)

There was a major split in 1927 when they lost the Chinese mainland in 1949: Nationalist Party led by Chiang Kai-shek; fought CCP and retreated to Taiwan after defeat.

Chiang Kai-shek

Leader of KMT who lost mainland in 1949: Leader of the Chinese Nationalists (KMT) who fled to Taiwan after the communist victory.

Korean War

From Jun 25, 1950–Jul 27, 1953 the Korean War between communist North Korea and anti-communist South Korea; U.S. led UN forces to defend South Korea; ended in stalemate.

Warsaw Pact

On May 14, 1955 the soviets formed the Warsaw Pact: A Soviet-led military alliance formed in response to NATO (post-Truman but often compared directly to NATO).

Henry Morgenthau Jr.

(U.S. Treasury Secretary; 1934–1945): Led the U.S. delegation at the Bretton Woods Conference (July 1944) and served as conference president; helped shape plans that created the World Bank (IBRD) and IMF.

John Maynard Keynes

(British economist; U.K. delegate, 1944): Key British representative at Bretton Woods (July 1944); influential in designing postwar international economic cooperation.

George F. Kennan (1904–2005)

U.S. diplomat/Russia expert; wrote the “Long Telegram” (Feb 22, 1946) arguing the USSR was expansionist and the U.S. needed containment.

Winston Churchill (1874–1965):

Former British Prime Minister; gave the “Iron Curtain” speech (Mar 5, 1946) warning that Europe was divided between Soviet-controlled East and democratic West.

Harry S. Truman

(President, 1945–1953): Announced the Truman Doctrine (Mar 12, 1947) (aid to Greece/Turkey), supported the Marshall Plan (1947–1951), signed the National Security Act (July 26, 1947), and backed U.S./UN action in Korea (1950–1953).

Dean Acheson

(Undersecretary of State in 1947; later Secretary of State 1949–1953): Key official who persuaded Congress on the urgency of aiding Greece/Turkey and helped push early Cold War containment logic.

George C. Marshall

(Secretary of State, 1947–1949): Announced the Marshall Plan in a Harvard speech on Jun 5, 1947 to rebuild Europe and reduce communist influence.

Mao Zedong

(1893–1976): Leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP); proclaimed the People’s Republic of China (Oct 1, 1949) after Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War.

Chiang Kai-shek (1887–1975):

Leader of the Nationalists (KMT); lost the Chinese Civil War and retreated to Taiwan (1949), maintaining a rival government there.