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Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a long rivalry between the nationalists and the communist party in China. The US did not want to cause an even bigger conflict, so they did not intervene. As a result, the communists won, all of china became communist, and the nationalists fled to Taiwan. This is important because it shows the domino theory coming in to effect and makes the US want to take action. from Mr. Dickey's notes -
Yalta Conference
The yalta conference was a meeting between Winston Churchill, Franklin D Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin at the end of WWII. They met to make peace and order the surrender and division of Germany. This is important because it leads to other important events like the split of east and west Germany. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/yalta-conference -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall plan was a US funded program that helped rebuild Europe. It provided $15 billion to help rebuild Europe's buildings and the economy. This is important because it helped Europe become a functioning continent again, and it was the US' first act against communism.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/marshall-plan-1 -
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Berlin Airlift
The Berlin airlift was an effort from the US that sustained the Americans inside of Berlin through air plane cargo. The Russians were trying to force America out of Berlin, and they could become more powerful this way. This is important because it shows that America is serious about maintaining their influence in Europe, especially to stop the spread of communism.
https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-airlift -
Creation of NATO
The creation of NATO was a treaty between the US and 11 western countries. This made them a very strong alliance against the Soviet Union, who made the Warsaw Pact in response. This is important because it gave the US even more of a reason to be involved in Europe and to stop the spread of communism.
https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/formation-of-nato-and-warsaw-pact -
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Korean War
After the Chinese Civil War, China backed communists in North Korea to invade South Korea. Seeing this as the start of the domino theory, the US decided to help out, and the war ended in a stalemate with Korea being divided. This is important because it finally shows the US' first action to contain communism. From Mr. Dickey's notes -
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Vietnam War
The Vietnam war was a war between the communists in Vietnam vs the nationalists in southern Vietnam and the USA. The US eventually lost and had to give up Vietnam to the communists. This is important because it displays the domino theory of the communists spreading and getting stronger. From Mr. Dickey's notes -
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Space Race
The space race was a competition in the cold war, to see which nation could get to space faster. The space race started with the first man made object put in earth's orbit, Sputnik, launched by the Russians. The US ended it and won by getting to the moon. This is important because it grew tension against the Russians, thinking they could spy on the US with satellites. It also grew feelings of Nationalism with the US. -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin wall was a blockade built in between east and west Berlin. It was supposed to prevent western fascists from entering east Germany. This is important because it created more tension between Russia and the 3 other occupants of Germany.
https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was an event in the cold war where the communist country of Cuba was being used to store nuclear missiles from the USSR. The US made a naval blockade and ordered Cuba to remove the missiles, and they eventually did. This is important because it almost started WW3 and a nuclear war.
