1940s

• 1940

  • Sep - Germany announces alliance with Japan - Roosevelt froze all of Japans assets in the US and closed the Panama Canal to Japanese ships
• 1941

  • March - Lend Lease Act, allowed the US to lend arms, food or supplies 'to any nation whose defence is necessary for the defence of America'
  • Aug - Atlantic Charter set aims that would lay foundations for the UN
  • Dec 7th - Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour - US cracked the code but thought the attack would be in the Philippines. Japanese planes were mistaken for US planes which delayed their defence
  • Dec 8th - US declared war on Japan,
  • Dec 11th - Germany declared war on US
  • Dec 18th - War Powers act - increased federal government power and power of the President
• 1943

  • Nov - Tehran meeting - FDR, Churchill and Stalin agreeing post war divisions of Germany
• 1944

  • June - D-day landings
• 1945

  • Feb - Yalta Conference
  • April - Fall of Berlin
  • May - Germany surrender, ends WW2 in Europe
  •  July - Potsdam conference, US, France, Britain & Soviet Union occupy zones of Berlin - President Truman determined not to be ‘soft’ on Communism & Stalin.
  • Aug - US drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki 
  • Sep - Japan Surrenders ending WW2 in Asia, US emerged a Superpower, America was now prepared to  accept a permanent place in world affairs. Defeating Nazis helped convince US that America were the ‘good guys’ and needed to ensure democracy around the world.
• 1946

  • Feb - US military establish Government of Syngman Rhee in South Korea. George Kennan sent ‘Long Telegram’ - believed it shaped US Foreign Policy toward USSR. He encouraged the US to adopt a proactive response in world affairs.
  • March - Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech - highlighted how Europe was divided into spheres of communism and democracy. Truman agreed with speech. Stalin perceived it as an anti-soviet ideological assault - Stalin emphasised his actions were to ensure national security.
  • May - civil war in Greece
• 1947

  • Feb - Britain announced they were removing financial support from Greeks resisting communism - tried to get US to help instead.
  • March - Truman Doctrine, Truman believed Soviet Union would veto any intervention - said communism was an oppressive regime and said he would only give financial aid. first step in US containment policy
  • June - George Marshall announces Marshall aid - financial assistance to Europe to support Truman Doctrine. $13.5 billion allocated to Western European countries. National Security Act
  • Sep - USSR set up Cominform - counter to Marshall aid.
• 1948

  • June - start of Berlin airlift
• 1949

  • April - formation of National Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) - based on concept of collective security. 12 founding members. step for US engaging in an interventionist foreign policy
  • May - Berlin airlift ends - Federal Republic of Germany formed (W)
  • Aug - USSR successfully detonate an atomic bomb - NATO was strengthened, US soldiers stationed throughout Europe - $1.5 billion military aid.
  • Oct - Establishment of the People’s Republic of China (Communist) - German Democratic Republic created (E) - Monarchists defeat Communists in Greece.