Events with tag - International Relations

February 6, 1778

French-American Alliance Treaty

France formally entered the American Revolution by signing the Treaty of Alliance with the United States, providing crucial military and financial support that ultimately helped secure American independence from British rule.

September 3, 1783

Treaty of Paris (1783)

The Treaty of Paris was a landmark peace agreement that ended the American Revolutionary War, formally recognizing American independence and establishing new territorial boundaries in North America. Signed on September 3, 1783, it represented a crucial moment in world history that reshaped international relations.

March 11, 1941

Lend-Lease Act

The Lend-Lease Act, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, authorized the United States to provide military aid and supplies to Allied nations during World War II. This pivotal legislation effectively ended American neutrality and transformed the U.S. into the 'Arsenal of Democracy.'

March 11, 1941

Lend-Lease Act

The Lend-Lease Act was a groundbreaking U.S. program that provided military aid worth $50 billion to Allied nations during World War II. Initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, it marked America's transition from neutrality to active support of Allied forces against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.

July 26, 1941

US Oil Embargo Against Japan

President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order implementing a complete oil embargo against Japan and freezing Japanese assets in the United States. This action was taken in response to Japan's military expansion in Asia and occupation of French Indochina.

August 14, 1941

Atlantic Charter

Historic diplomatic agreement signed by Roosevelt and Churchill aboard USS Augusta, establishing eight fundamental principles for post-war international order and laying groundwork for the United Nations.

December 7, 1941

US Entry into World War II

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, forced the United States to abandon its neutrality and enter World War II. This pivotal moment resulted in 2,403 American casualties and led to formal declarations of war against Japan, Germany, and Italy.

November 22, 1943

Cairo Conference

A crucial World War II summit held in Cairo, Egypt, where Allied leaders Roosevelt, Churchill, and Chiang Kai-shek met to plan Pacific war strategy and post-war Asian territorial arrangements.

April 25, 1945

Elbe Day

American and Soviet forces met at the Elbe River near Torgau, Germany, effectively cutting Nazi Germany in half and symbolizing Allied victory in World War II. The historic handshake between American Lt. Albert Kotzebue and Soviet Lt. Alexander Silvashko became an iconic symbol of Allied unity.

August 14, 1945

MacArthur Appointed as SCAP

General Douglas MacArthur was appointed as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, marking a pivotal moment in post-war Japan's reconstruction and establishing unprecedented authority over Japan's transformation.

June 5, 1947

Marshall Plan Announcement

Secretary of State George C. Marshall announces a massive economic recovery program for post-World War II Europe at Harvard University, committing $13 billion in American aid to rebuild war-torn European nations.

April 4, 1949

NATO Foundation

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established in Washington D.C. with twelve founding members, creating a military alliance based on collective defense principles to counter Soviet influence in Europe.

April 7, 1954

Introduction of the Domino Theory

President Dwight D. Eisenhower introduced the Domino Theory during a press conference, establishing a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy that suggested communist takeover of one nation would lead to communist expansion in neighboring countries.

May 14, 1955

Warsaw Pact Formation

The Warsaw Pact was established on May 14, 1955, as a military alliance between the Soviet Union and seven Eastern European communist states. It emerged as a direct response to NATO's expansion and West Germany's integration into Western alliance structures.

May 1, 1960

U-2 Spy Plane Incident

On May 1, 1960, Soviet forces shot down a U.S. U-2 spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers over Sverdlovsk, USSR. The incident caused a major diplomatic crisis between the United States and Soviet Union, leading to the collapse of the Paris Summit.

April 17, 1961

Bay of Pigs Invasion

A failed military invasion of Cuba by CIA-trained Cuban exiles attempting to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist government. The operation lasted three days and resulted in a complete failure, strengthening Castro's position and pushing Cuba closer to the Soviet Union.

October 16, 1962

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 13-day nuclear standoff between the US and USSR triggered by the discovery of Soviet missile sites in Cuba, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war. The crisis was resolved through diplomatic negotiations, resulting in the removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba and US missiles from Turkey.

February 21, 1972

Nixon's China Visit

President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China in February 1972 marked a pivotal moment in US-China relations, ending decades of hostility and establishing diplomatic ties between the world's most powerful democracy and the most populous communist nation.

May 26, 1972

SALT I Treaty Signing

The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) was signed in Moscow by US President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, marking a historic agreement to limit nuclear arms and missile systems between the two superpowers.

November 4, 1979

Iran Hostage Crisis

On November 4, 1979, Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. This crisis severely impacted U.S.-Iran relations and contributed to President Jimmy Carter's defeat in the 1980 election.

December 26, 1991

End of the Cold War

The Cold War officially concluded on December 26, 1991, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, marking the end of decades-long geopolitical tensions between the United States and USSR. This historic event was preceded by several crucial developments including the fall of the Berlin Wall and Gorbachev's reforms.

July 11, 1995

US-Vietnam Diplomatic Normalization

President Bill Clinton formally established diplomatic relations with Vietnam on July 11, 1995, marking a historic turning point in post-Vietnam War relations. This decision ended two decades of hostility and opened new opportunities for economic cooperation and regional stability.