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The start of World War 1
The killing of Franz Ferdinand is largely regarded as the last straw that precipitated World War I. Part of the reason for America's engagement in WWI was due to German bombardment of American ships. In this example, America joined the war due to physical aggression, but in cold conflicts such as Vietnam, America participated due to political considerations. The Cold Conflicts are distinguished from hot wars by these features. -
The Zimmerman Telegram
The Zimmermann Telegraph was written by German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to a German Minister in Mexico, requesting their assistance in WWI by joining them in guns in exchange for land in America. Great Britain intercepted and decrypted the communication, revealing Germany's plot and informing America.
https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/zimmermann -
Nazi Invasion of Poland
The Nazi invasion of Poland sparked an international uproar, resulting in World War II. The "justification" was Poland's charge that it was punishing ethnic Germans residing in the nation. Along with this accusation, Germany also claimed that Poland intended to break apart the country, which was incorrect. -
The German Attack on Great Britain
the German invasion of Britain, the world faced the possibility of the Nazis gaining complete control of Europe. America, understandably, wished to prevent this from happening in order to prevent Germany from winning the war. If the Germans had taken control of the country they would be giving them a huge advantage over the rest of Europe and the rest of the globe. This confrontation would rise to discussion in the United States about a future war effort. -
The Bombing of Pearl Harbor
By far the most important cause for America's entry into WWII in the first place, and therefore, technically, changing the war's trajectory. Japan spearheaded the attack, with the goal of cutting off American access to Japan's coastline via Hawaii and preventing American strikes. While America had been neutral in the war before to the bombing, this move prompted them to enter the conflict the next day. -
U-boat attacks on american supply
The attack on American supply boats by Germany was a conflict that added to America's overall unwanted participation in WWI. -
NATO
NATO was a post-World War II alliance made up of 30 nations founded with the goal of maintaining security in the Soviet Union, since communism and the Soviets, in general, were being watched for their potential to be hazardous. Throughout both the Hot Wars and the Cold Wars, a recurrent element was the formation of several diverse coalitions, each with its own set of goals. -
Vietnam
Vietnam was another cold war conflict, but unlike the Cuban Missile Crisis, it was fought physically. This conflict was categorized as a "cold war" since it was fought entirely within Vietnam's borders, rather than on a national scale. This war was fought because the United States did not want communism to expand throughout Vietnam and the rest of Asia. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a stressful 13-day period of political and social tension in the United States as a result of news that Russia had obtained a nuclear weapon. Because Russia was prepared to use nuclear weapons on American cities, this war was waged politically rather than militarily. This conflict produced widespread concern throughout the country, making the cold war equivalent to the hot wars in terms of worry and anxiety. However, no troops were dispatched on any side.
