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Vietnam War
-Before WWII, Vietnam was a colony of the French.
-During WII-->Japanese took control of the area and after the war, communist Ho Chi Minh wanted freedom for the country
-Ho Chi Minh and his soldiers (called Viet Minh) began to fight the French.
-He defeated the french and the country was divided between the communist north and the more democratic south
-War between communist North & South Vietnam
-Later the U.S entered because they didn't want the country to be under communism -
Period: to
Cold
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Bay of Pigs
-Full-scale invasion of Cuba (@ Giron bay/Bay of Pigs)
-CIA operation to overthrow communist dictator, Fidel Castro: 1,400 American trained Cubans(Brigade 2506)
-Failed miserably because Castro's army outnumbered them which led to the U.S defeat
-Strengthen Castro's government within Cuba -->looked to the Soviet Union as a military ally
-Eventually aid from USSR included missiles and construction of missile bases in Cuba sparked the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 -
Creation of Berlin Wall
-After WWII- Germany was divided into east/west
-East German authorities built the wall to close access off to the west
-The Wall was made because more than 2.6 million East Germans escaped to West Berlin or West Germany since life was better in the west than the east (the east had repressivive lifestyles and communist systems)
-1989 Soviet Union was beginning to collapse-->losing their hold on East Germany
The borders were opened and the wall was torn down, uniting the country -
Cuban Missle Crisis
American spy planes caught the Soviet Union's nuclear missle sites in Cuba.They were on brink of nuclear war for 13 days. It was resolved by the signing of the Limited Test Ban Treaty which stopped the testing on nuclear weapons anywhere. This caused tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. -
Limited Test Ban Treaty
Representatives from the United States, Soviet Union, and Great Britain came together to sign the Limited Test Ban Treaty due to the arms race being at dangerous levels. This treaty prohibited the testing of nuclear weapons in outer space, underwater or in the atmosphere. American found the nuclear sites that the Soviet Union had in Cuba. After fighting, this treaty was signed to resolve the conflict. -
Washington-Moscow Hotline Established
-To decrease the threat of an accidental nuclear war-->U.S & Soviet Union agree to establish a “hot line” communication system(connected 24/7)to contact each other in case of crisis
-Reducing tensions between the United States & USSR following Missile Crisis
-In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson became the first U.S. president to use the system during the Six Day War when he notified Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin that he was considering sending Air Force planes into the Mediterranean -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
-Aug. 4--> Lyndon B. Johnson announced that 2 U.S destroyers had been attacked by North Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. He asked congress for approval of his actions
-Aug. 7--> Congress passed the resolution: authorized all necessary means (military action) needed to defend U.S allies in Southeast asia and any attacks made against the U.S
-Marked beginning of U.S military role in Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia -
Tet Offensive
-Surprise attacks by 70,000 communist Vietcong (rebel forces sponsored by North Vietnam) & North Vietnamese forces on cities, towns, and small villages throughout South Vietnam
-North V wanted to win the war with an all-out military effort. Ho Chi Minh was nearing death, and they needed a victory before that
-U.S. & South Vietnamese managed to hold off the attacks but North V won with its strategic tactics
-Turning point in Vietnam War--> beginning of thel American withdrawal from the region -
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty:
-Signed by U.S, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, etc. (187 countries signed.
-Limits spread of military nuclear technology by nuclear-weapon states to non-nuclear nations wanting to build or acquire atomic weapons
-Non-weapon states agree not to get nuclear arms
-Countries with nuclear weapons negotiate for disarmament
-The nations are entitlted to peaceful development & use of atomic energy -
"Vietnamization"
-President Richard Nixon (1913-94) introduced strategy--> plan to train, equip and expand South Vietnamese forces so they could take their own defense against communists
-Allowed U.S. to gradually withdraw troops from South Vietnam.
-South Vietnam fell to the Communist forces in 1975
