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The U.S. pledged to support countries resisting communism, starting with Greece and Turkey. This marked the start of America's containment policy. It symbolized a firm ideological divide between East and West. -
The U.S. launched a massive economic aid program to rebuild Western Europe. This aimed to prevent the spread of communism by stabilizing economies. The USSR rejected it and forbade Eastern Bloc countries from participating. -
The USSR established the Communist Information Bureau to coordinate communist parties across Europe. It was a reaction to U.S. influence through the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan. It formalized Soviet ideological control. -
The Communist Party, backed by the USSR, seized full power in Czechoslovakia. It marked a major Soviet gain in Eastern Europe. The West saw it as communist expansion. -
Twenty-one nations signed the OAS Charter to promote regional unity. The U.S. used it to push anti-communist policies in the Western Hemisphere. It was an institutional Cold War tool. -
The Soviet Union blocked Allied access to West Berlin. In response, the U.S. and its allies launched the Berlin Airlift to supply the city. This crisis was one of the first direct confrontations of the Cold War. -
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established as a military alliance among Western nations. It aimed to counter Soviet military power in Europe. This institutionalized the East-West divide. -
The USSR exploded its first nuclear device, “First Lightning.” This ended the U.S. nuclear monopoly. It drastically escalated Cold War stakes. -
Mao Zedong declared communist rule in China after defeating the Nationalists. The U.S. viewed this as a major Cold War loss. It extended the communist bloc in Asia. -
This U.S. policy paper urged a vast military buildup to counter Soviet power. It became a foundational Cold War doctrine. It framed the USSR as a global threat. -
North Korea, backed by the Soviets and China, invaded South Korea. The U.S. and UN forces intervened to stop the spread of communism. The war turned Korea into a Cold War battleground. -
Chinese forces crossed the Yalu River to fight U.S.-led forces. This turned the tide in North Korea’s favor. It widened the Cold War conflict in Asia. -
President Truman fired General MacArthur for insubordination over war policy. MacArthur wanted to escalate against China. The incident reflected Cold War tension in military leadership. -
Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. formed a military alliance. It extended Cold War alliances into the Pacific. It showed global containment efforts. -
The U.S. committed billions in military aid to allies. This expanded American influence and strengthened anti-communist defenses globally. It reflected Cold War priorities in foreign policy spending. -
The United Kingdom successfully tested its first atomic bomb off the coast of Australia, becoming the third nuclear power. This reinforced Western nuclear capabilities against the Soviet Union. The test strengthened the NATO alliance and emphasized global Cold War competition. -
The U.S. successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb, escalating the nuclear arms race. The Soviet Union followed soon after. This intensified fears of global destruction. -
Dwight Eisenhower won on a platform of strong anti-communism. His administration pursued nuclear deterrence and covert interventions. It marked a shift in Cold War strategy. -
Joseph Stalin's death led to a power struggle and some thawing in East-West tensions. It created uncertainty in Soviet foreign policy. Peoples hopes briefly rose for a softening of Cold War hostility. -
The U.S., China, and North Korea signed a ceasefire, ending active combat. The peninsula remained divided. It exemplified Cold War stalemate. -
The CIA helped overthrow Prime Minister Mossadegh to secure oil interests and prevent Soviet influence. It was a classic Cold War intervention. It bred long-term mistrust in the Middle East. -
This conference divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel. It set the stage for future U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The Cold War's reach expanded into Southeast Asia. -
President Árbenz was ousted for his suspected communist ties. The U.S. feared a Soviet foothold in Central America. It was a key Cold War action in Latin America. -
The Geneva Accords temporarily divided Vietnam. The U.S. supported South Vietnam and refused elections. This deepened Cold War tensions in Southeast Asia. -
The Soviet Union created a military alliance with Eastern Bloc countries in response to NATO. It formalized the Eastern bloc’s military cooperation. This solidified the division of Europe. -
This treaty ended Allied occupation and guaranteed Austria’s neutrality. Unlike Germany, Austria avoided division. It was a rare Cold War diplomatic success. -
Leaders of the U.S., USSR, UK, and France met to discuss arms control and peace. Though no agreements were made, tensions slightly eased. It marked the "Spirit of Geneva." -
Hungarians revolted against Soviet control, but the USSR crushed the uprising. It showed the limits of U.S. support in Eastern Europe. The event highlighted Soviet dominance in its sphere. -
Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt after the Suez Canal was nationalized. The U.S. and USSR both opposed the invasion. It signaled a shift in global Cold War power dynamics. -
Soviet troops invaded Budapest to crush a popular uprising. Thousands died resisting communist control. It revealed the USSR's iron grip on Eastern Europe. -
The U.S. pledged to defend Middle Eastern nations from communism. It extended containment policy to a new region. It sought to counter Soviet influence in oil-rich areas. -
The USSR launched the first artificial satellite. This shocked the U.S. and started the space race. It symbolized technological competition between the superpowers. -
The report warned of a Soviet missile advantage. It led to a surge in U.S. military spending. It increased Cold War urgency over the arms race. -
U.S. Marines landed in Lebanon to protect a pro-Western regime. It was a Cold War show of force under the Eisenhower Doctrine. It prevented a perceived communist takeover. -
The USSR demanded Western withdrawal from Berlin. Tensions escalated as both sides refused to budge. This deepened Cold War anxieties over Germany. -
He demanded the West leave Berlin within six months. This heightened Cold War tension over Germany. It began a new Berlin crisis. -
Fidel Castro overthrew the U.S.-backed Cuban government. He later aligned with the Soviet Union, bringing communism to the Western Hemisphere. This marked a new Cold War front. -
Nixon and Khrushchev debated capitalism vs. communism at a U.S. exhibit in Moscow. It was a symbolic Cold War confrontation. It showcased ideological rivalry. -
Negotiations started for peaceful scientific cooperation in Antarctica. The Cold War rivals agreed to demilitarize the continent. It was rare East-West cooperation. -
A U.S. spy plane was shot down over the USSR. The incident embarrassed the U.S. and collapsed a planned summit. It revealed the deep mistrust between superpowers. -
A planned summit ended after the U-2 spy plane incident. The USSR walked out after the U.S. refused to apologize. It halted progress toward easing tensions. -
Chaos erupted after Congo's independence. The U.S. and USSR backed opposing factions. It became a Cold War proxy conflict in Africa -
U.S.-trained Cuban exiles landed to overthrow Castro. The operation failed, embarrassing the U.S. It pushed Cuba closer to the USSR. -
East Germany, backed by the USSR, built a wall dividing East and West Berlin. It became a symbol of Cold War division. The wall physically manifested the Iron Curtain. -
Leaders like Tito, Nehru, and Nasser founded the movement in Belgrade. They sought to avoid alignment with either bloc. It challenged Cold War polarization. -
U.S. military leaders proposed false-flag attacks to justify invading Cuba. The plan was rejected by the Kennedy administration. It reflected Cold War extremes. -
The U.S. discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba. A tense standoff brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. It was the Cold War’s most dangerous moment. -
China attacked Indian positions in a border dispute. Though not directly Cold War-related, it affected global alignments. The USSR and U.S. reacted cautiously. -
A direct line between Washington and Moscow was created. It aimed to prevent miscommunications like during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was a small step toward Cold War stability. -
The U.S., USSR, and UK agreed to ban atmospheric nuclear tests. It was a small step toward easing tensions. The crisis of 1962 prompted both sides to seek arms control. -
With U.S. support, South Vietnamese generals killed President Diem. His regime had lost U.S. favor. It deepened American involvement in Vietnam. -
An alleged attack on U.S. ships led to greater U.S. involvement in Vietnam. It marked a deepening of Cold War military engagement. The U.S. sought to prevent communist expansion. -
Khrushchev was replaced by Brezhnev due to perceived failures. His exit marked a shift in Soviet Cold War policy. It ushered in more conservative leadership. -
China tested its first nuclear weapon. This made it the fifth nuclear power. It added complexity to Cold War diplomacy. -
President Johnson committed more troops to Vietnam. The conflict became a central Cold War battlefield. It showed the U.S.’s resolve to contain communism militarily. -
The U.S. started bombing North Vietnam heavily. It marked full-scale U.S. entry into the Vietnam War. It was central to Cold War containment in Asia. -
The U.S. intervened to prevent a suspected communist government from taking power. It reflected Cold War fears in Latin America. It was part of hemispheric containment. -
Throughout 1966, the U.S. intensified bombing campaigns against North Vietnam. These actions were meant to weaken the communist North and support the South’s anti-communist regime. The escalation demonstrated the U.S.'s commitment to containing communism in Southeast Asia, a key Cold War goal. -
President de Gaulle removed French forces from NATO’s military command. He sought more independence from the U.S. It revealed cracks in the Western alliance. -
Mao Zedong launched a radical campaign to reassert communist ideology. Though internal, it impacted Cold War dynamics by increasing China’s ideological distance from the USSR. It reflected broader tensions within the communist bloc.