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Communist Take control of China
Nations: U.S, China
Leaders: Chiang Kaishek, Mao Zedung
The US was shocked. Mao Zedung had been fighting to over throw China's government. In October of 1949 he set up the Peoples Republic of China. By December communist forces had driven all of Chiangs forces, Zedung had won. -
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Cold War
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Truman Doctrin
Nations: U.S, Greece, Turkey
Leaders: President Truman
Truman asked Congress for $400 million in military and econmis aid for putting down communist revolts -
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Marshall Plan
Nations: Europe, U.S
Leaders: George Marshall, Pesident Truman
Marshall, who was touring the destroyed Europe, feared they'd turn to communism. So he came up eith a plan to rebuild its economy. Stalin rejected the plan but it happened anyway -
Berlin Blockade
Nations: U.S, Britain, France, Germany, Soviet Union
Leaders: President Truman, Joseph Stalin
All countries in the Untited Nations wanted to let Germany reuntite except for Stalin. He decided to blockade West Germany. -
NATO
Nations: Democratic countries of Western Europe
Leaders: Leaders of the Western Euorpean Countries
This was another way to keep international peace. The US had joined to show it would help defend Western Nations from Soviet powers. -
Berlin Airlift
Nations: U.S, Britain, France, Germany, Soviet Union
Leaders: President Truman, Joseph Stalin
Truman reacted to the blockade by airlifting supplies to 2 million West Berliners. In one day they transported 5,000 tons -
Red Scare/McCarthyism
Nations: US
Leaders: Truman, Joseph McCarthy
Chaos eputed when US citizens were turning on each other and being accused of spying for the Reds. One of the people who accused the most was Senator Joseph McCarthy. His campaign spread worry and fear throughout the nation. -
Korean War
Nations: Korea, Soviet Union, US
Leaders: President Truman, Douglas MacArthur
When North Korean soldiers swept across the 38th parallel into South Korea, Truman acted quickly. The UN sent a force to help commanded by MacArthur. After 3 years of back and forth retreating, both sides signed a cease fire. -
Warsaw Pact
Nations: Communist countries of Eastern Europe
Leaders: Leaders of Eastern European countries
The Soviet Union form the military alliance and demanded loyalty from its allies. The "Iron Curtain" was firmly in place -
Sputnik
Nations: Soviet Union, US
Leaders: Khruschev
It was a Soviet rocket, the world's first artificial satellite. The US was stunned, if they could launch a satellite, their missiles could reach the US in minutes, the Arms race began -
NASA
Nations: US
Leaders: Kennedy
NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was created in response to Sputnik -
U-2 Spy Planes
Nations: Soviet Union, US
Leaders: Kennedy, Khruschev
Gary Powers was flying a U-2 spy plane when he was shot down while flying across the Soviet Union border taking illeagal pictures. He parachuted to safety and was arrested for 10 years. In early 1962 he was a traded -
Bay of Pigs
Nations: US, Soviet Union, Cuba
Leaders: Fidel Castro, Eisenhower, Kennedy
Castro's actions worried the US. The Soviet Union was helping the new socialist state. In response, President Eisenhower put together forces of Cuban exiles. The forces he sent were not prepared for what met them there. This strengthened Cuba -
Berlin Wall Built
Nations: West and East Germany, Soviet Union
Leaders: Rulers of Soviert Union and West and East Germany
3 Million East Germans flooded into West Germany, this embarressed both East Germany and the Soviet Union. Within days the wall sealed off the two sides. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Nations: US, Soviet Union, Cuba
Leaders: Kennedy, Khruschev
The Soviet Union was giving Cuba more weapons. Once Kennedy discovered they were building missile bases, there was a strict quarantine placed on Cuba. It was very tense for that week. But both sides agreed not to invade each other -
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Vietnam War
Nations: US, Vietnam
Leaders: President Johnson, Ho Chi Ming, Ngo Diem
The vietcong were starting to become more violent and restles with Diem in charge. The US was worried that the "domino theory" could come true. So they sent troops to help. But in 1964, North Vietnam attacked a US ship. 500,000 troops were sent to Vietnam. Drafting boys into the army began again. Eleven years later a cease fire was declared. Later the US still sent money to South Vietnam -
Salt 1/ Salt 2
Nations: US and Soviet Union
Leaders: Nixon, Ford, Carter
It was agreed to sign a treaty to limit the usage of nuclear weapons. The treaty remained for many years but in 1979 the Soviet Union's agression caused Carter to withdraw Salt 2 -
Star Wars
Nations: US, Soviet Union
Leaders: Ronald Reagan
Reagan wanted to be able to shoot down Soviet missiles in space before they reached the US. The system was called Star Wars -
Glasnost
Nations: Soviet Union
Leaders: Mikhail Gorbahev
Gorbahev called for glasnot (a policy of openly speaking) throughout the country. He hoped it would improve many things -
Fall of Communism
Nations: Eastern Europe (Including Soviet Union)
Leaders: Mikail Gorbahev
Gorbahev was open to change and listened to protests. The first free election was in 1889 and many peaceful protests were sweeping Eastern Europe. Within a year, Germany was reunited and with a Democratic government!
