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Phrased by Winston Churchill, the Iron Curtain was an imaginary line separating Europe into two, with one side influenced by the Soviet Union and the other by Western Influence. The wall was formed after World War II and was present until the Cold War ended, which created tensions between the two sides before the war. The Warsaw Pact and NATO were established on the respective sides of the Iron Curtain. -
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In November 1950, the UN forces, led by General Douglas MacArthur, faced an unexpected large-scale attack by Chinese Communist Forces in North Korea. The CCF caught the UN troops off guard, leading to significant losses.
It is said that it could be due to security concerns and protecting their own interests that pushed China to intervene in the Korean War. -
Led by communist leader Kim Il-sung, North Korea invaded South Korea and marked the start of the Korean War. North Korea was backed by the Soviet Union and China, with an aim of uniting the Korean peninsula. US and UN forces join to intervene in the war to support South Korea, while China helps North Korea push south. -
The war brought millions of casualties, and it reached a stalemate as the US, UN, and China came to intervene. While the Korean War didn't end with a formal treaty, both sides suffered a lot and neither side had an advantage. Negotiations were present, and they signed an armistice agreement on July 27, 1953. This agreement stopped the fighting and a buffer zone was established between the two. Meanwhile, Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, died. -
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The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation between the US and the USSR that occurred after the Soviet Union hid nuclear missiles in Cuba near the US. This threatened the US security as the two superpowers almost started a war. As a result, the Soviet Union promised to remove the missiles and the US promised not to invade Cuba. During that period, the US, supporting Vietnam against the Communist party, sent increasing numbers of their army to Vietnam, triggered by the heightened tensions. -
On August 2nd, 1964, two US Navy destroyers were attacked by North Vietnamese in the Gulf of Tonkin. The incident happened again two days later, which heightened the US's alert towards the Vietnam War and its influence. This led to the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution by Congress which led to US involvement in the Vietnam War. -
As the US got involved in the Vietnam War, they provided aid to Vietnam. To increase US military presence, President Lyndon B. Johnson began sending troops over. With support from Congress and US state governors, Johnson gradually sent more troops and made a statement of pursuing war. -
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The Tet Offensive is considered as a turning point. It was a series of surprise attacks from North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces against South, which occurred during the Tet Vietnamese holiday. They targeted major cities, and brought profound impact towards infrastructure and the people. -
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The cease-fire was represented by the Paris Peace Accords, signed on January 27, 1973 that included US withdrawal, release of prisoners of war, and the National Council of National Reconciliation and Concord that ensured democratic practices in South Vietnam. With signatures from all sides during the war, it was a multi-party agreement. -
In April 1975, the last American combat troops left South Vietnam. This led to the fall of South Vietnam, which meant reunification with communist North Vietnam. On March 29, 1973, the Paris Peace Accords were signed, which promised the leave of US troops. After that, North Vietnam forces quickly took over the nation as the South gave in. -
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