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Summary: A 47-volume history of US involvement in the Vietnam War with events lasting until May 1968. It stirred nationwide and international controversy as none of these were publicized to mainstream media.
Significance: Many things were revealed about America's actual involvement in the Vietnam War, and it sparked much disagreement with the government. Support for the Vietnam War was ,once again, lessened by this revelation. Likely caused evacuation of US troops. -
Summary: Joseph McCarthy was a US senator from Wisconsin. His name was a trademark for radical accusations (mainly related to communism) which was called McCarthyism. There were trials against McCarthy after so many false accusations; he later lost his supporters and all his power.
Significance: Many innocent people lost jobs and had a damaged reputation. There were so many irresponsible charges, that legitimate ones got discredited. Reeked havoc in US and added to fear of domestic communism. -
Summary: Rebels in Turkey and Greece trying to overthrow their communism government were defeated. US Congress requested $400 million to aid countries trying to fight against communism. Significance: Established that the US would provide political, economic, and military help for democratic nations struggling against threats of external or internal authoritarian force. It also helped lead to the the formation of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). -
Summary: This was an executive order signed by President Harry Truman due to excessive public concern of domestic communism. This allowed FBI to check federal employees for political disloyalty. People were subjected to extreme scrutiny and dismissed from jobs.
Significance: Around 3,000 people were dismissed from their jobs. People were becoming more paranoid about the people around them, and people were pointing fingers at anyone they thought was secretly communist. -
Summary: A US program providing aid to Western Europe following the tragedies of WWII. About $13 billion in grants and loans were given to nations in Western Europe.
Significance: It helped countries that desperately needed assistance. The prosperity stimulated benefited the US economy because trade increased. Lastly, it stopped against the expanse of communism, so it was successful. -
Summary: In retaliation to not wanting to combine occupation zones of Germany with other Allied Powers, USSR created a blockade around Berlin's rail, road, and water communications with the west. Airlift was created to supply the city with food and other vital materials. While the blockade was lifted May 12, the airlift kept going until September 30.
Significance: It led to the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Berlin became symbol of Allies willingness to stop USSR expansion. -
Summary: This was a military alliance. It was formed by the North Atlantic treaty which sought to halt the Soviet armies stationed in central and eastern Europe after WWII.
Significance: It allowed for the formation of the European Union to be possible. The protection from the United States military was enough to ensure safety for European nations to rebuild after the devastation of WWII. -
Summary: Conflict between North and South Korea. It became an international war after North Korea invaded South Korea using aid from the Soviet Union. UN and US joined on the side of South Korea while China joined in with USSR and North Korea.
Significance: The first time that two strong powers (US and USSR) fought a proxy battle in a third country. It gave the United States more reason to increase its military expenditure. -
Summary: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were a married couple who were charged with espionage and trading atomic bomb secrets to the USSR. They were found guilty and sentenced to death. They were electrocuted after 26 months on death row.
Significance: This exacerbated the fear of domestic communism among citizens of the US. It added fuel to the fire of the Red Scare, and people were accusing their friends, family, and coworkers of being a communist with or without any plausible evidence. -
The Mau Mau were a group of people that aimed at ending British rule in Kenya. The British and Kenyan government called a state of emergency and ordered more troops to Kenya to stop the violence. They were especially sent to areas where people were the Mau Mau were intimidating those who didn't join the movement. Many people were arrested, and many were killed on both sides.
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British scientists James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick announce the discovery of the double-helix DNA strand. While the study of DNA started in the 1800s, they were the first to discover the ladder-like shape and how it replicates to pass on genes. They later published their discoveries in April of the same year. -
Summary: French occupied town of Dien Bien Phu to cut off nationalist supply lines into Laos. Viet Minh surprise attacked the French and surrounded their base. The base was eventually overrun on May 7, 1954.
Significance: It was the battle that ended the eight year Indochina war. It eventually led to the Geneva Peace Accords. -
Summary: A meeting in which the hot spots of the Cold War, Berlin and North Korea, were discussed. Also, the topic of how to reunite Vietnam and set it up to govern itself and making it non communist was important as well.
Significance: Along with the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, this helped lead to the end of the Indochina War. It is also a reason for the start of the Vietnam War. -
Rosa Parks was a vital civil rights activist from Alabama who was arrested for sitting in the front of the bus. This went against the segregation laws in Alabama didn't allow for black people to sit in the front. After her arrest, many boycotts were put into place and many more people were arrested for the same crimes as Parks. She was and still is a respected figurehead of the civil rights movement. -
"Heartbreak Hotel" was Elvis Presley's first hit single released, and it became a hit song in the 50s. It was number 1 on the billboard pop charts for 8 weeks, and it also hit number 1 on the country singles charts. This was also his first song that sold over 1 million copies. -
Summary: America and Britain did not finance the construction of the Aswan High Dam due to Egypt's growing ties with communist Czechoslovakia and USSR. In response, Egypt declared martial law and seized control of the Suez Canal Company to finance the construction instead. On October 29, 1956, France and Britain alongside Israel went against Egypt, but were defeated.
Significance: Britain and France lost influence in the Middle East. It highlighted Britain's decline to a second-tier power. -
Summary: A US foreign policy promising military and economic aid to any middle eastern countries struggling to resist communism. It was intended to check increased Soviet influence in the middle east.
Significance: It was a continuation of the US policy of containment, or resistance to any kind of extension or expansion of the Soviet sphere of influence. Thanks to the Eisenhower Doctrine, countries could request US military aid to defend against armed aggression from a communist state. -
The Little Rock Nine were a group of African-American students that were allowed to enroll at Little Rock Central High School. They were met with resistance by protesters and the state governor. Federal troops, under the orders of president Dwight D. Eisenhower, ended up escorting the students into the school safely. -
Summary: An invasion of Cuba financed and directed by the US government to try and overthrow the Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro. 1,500 Cuban exiles armed with US artillery invaded; however, they were unsuccessful in their efforts.
Significance: Marked the start to the deterioration of relations between Castro and the US. Gave more reason to Cuba to go under the influence of the USSR and adopt their policies. Lastly, it caused further strain in Cuba and was important to stopping communism in Cuba. -
Summary: Germany was divided into West and East Germany due to political differences on both sides. The eastern communists believed too many people were defecting to the western side, so construction began. Wall was heavily guarded and many people were captured and killed by East German authorities.
Significance: The fall of the Berlin Wall became a prominent symbol of the Cold War and Iron Curtain. It also stood as a symbol of unification and the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. -
Summary: Major confrontation between Cuba and US after discovery of USSR missile present in Cuba. With missiles there, range-ballistic missiles could hit the US eastern border within a few minutes. JFK placed a "quarantine" on Cuba to prevent any further nuclear shipments from USSR.
Significance: Marked the closest point to global nuclear war in the world. The Soviet's failure in Cuba led to decline of power for USSR leader, Nikita Khrushchev, and increased motive for nuclear war against the US. -
Summary: Resolution set forward in result of two allegedly unprovoked attack by Northern Vietnamese torpedo boats on the US boats, Maddox and C. Turner Joy. US could use military force in Southeast Asia to be more protected and more strong.
Significance: Allowed Lyndon Johnson to basically take any action in order to opposed communist aggression. It was later realized that this resolution gave the president blanket power to wage war, so it was repealed in 1970. -
Summary: A series of attacks enforced by North Vietnamese forces against South Vietnam. It consisted of simultaneous attacks carried out by the North Vietnamese government. Goal was to erode US support of sending military to South Vietnam.
Significance: It was a huge psychological blow that diminished support for the war among the US population. It has the most recorded deaths among North Vietnam and the Viet Cong. Lastly, it led to Lyndon Johnson's decision to not seek re-election. -
Summary: The killing of at least 500 unarmed Vietnamese citizens in the village of My Lai including women, elderly, and children. Along with this the soldier of the Charlie Company (the group of soldiers) committed many rapes and burned down buildings. They then shot the survivors.
Significance: Ultimately led to domestic opposition of US forces/involvement in Vietnam. It showed the deterioration of US troops in Vietnam and was an important turning point of American opposition to the war. -
Summary: The shooting of unarmed college students at Kent State University. In retaliation of the anti-Vietnam War PEACEFUL protests going on due to the bombing in Cambodia. 4 students were killed this day.
Significance: The public opinion of the Vietnam war instantly became worse once news about this got out. Along with this, many colleges around the country were temporarily shut down. The public was increasingly becoming concerned with the way US was handling the war, and people wanted out. -
Summary: US, North and South Vietnam, and Viet Cong all signed an agreement that would end the war and restore peace in Vietnam. The US had to withdrawal all troops from Vietnam and disassemble all bases. In return, North Vietnam returned all POW.
Significance: It led to the unifying Vietnam and helped stop the spread of communism. However, Vietnam stayed communist after this, but the goal was to halt the spread of communism, and that is what happened. -
Summary: This was a law passed to restrain the president's ability to commit US forces overseas, and they must consult Congress first. Goal was to prevent any long lasting wars like in Vietnam. It was ignored and resisted by many presidents because they considered it "unconstitutional".
Significance: It was able to limit the president's power to go to war, and it has helped prevent any Vietnam like situations. Overall, the War Powers Act was successful, and has kept us out of war. -
Summary: The South Vietnamese stronghold, Saigon, was attacked by the People's Army of Vietnam along with the Viet Cong. They were forced to surrender. Despite the promise of aid, the US did nothing to help South Vietnam.
Significance: This was the trademark for the end of the war. By staying out of it, the US potentially stopped the spread of communism, so the US did learn from their mistakes of the Vietnam War. On the down side, Vietnam is still under communist rule now.