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Truman Doctrine
President Truman asked Congress for $400 millon in economic/military support for the countries of Greece and Turkey. This came about when Britain couldnt give aid to these countries becasue the war left them in a poor economic state. This was very controversial because some felt the US shouldn't get involved in other countries affairs, yet Congress agreed with Truman that sending the money over would be in the best interest to stop the Soviet influence from spreading. -
Marshall Plan
Secretary of State Gen. George Marshall propsed that the US give $12.5 billion in aid to any of the European nations in need. Many of the countries faced the hardeest winter in a while with ruined crops, low food rations, and fuel shortages. The Marshall Plan was debated for quite a while, but in Feb 1984 Congress approved it after Soviets took over Czechoslovakia. With the Marshall plan Euope was able to flourish both politically and econmomically. -
Nato
The formation of a defensive military alliance between US, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal. These countries were in agreement that if one got attacked, they all got attacked. Congress was immediately on board although some thought it would create an arms race. this was the US's first time making an alliance during peacetime. -
Korean War
N. Korea was communist while S. Korea remained a republic. the war formed after US and the Soviet Union removed their troops. N. Korea invaded S. Korea which resulted in President Trruman taking action because he wanted to halt any more communist gains. The UN agreed to help S. Korea and sent 520,000 troops from 16 countires. The leading force in the war bounced between the 2 countries. Gen MacArthur wanted to invade China to help win, but Truman relieved him before that could happen. -
Warsaw Pact
Stalin died in 1953 &tension between the Soviet Union and US settled down. W. Germany able to join NATO in 1955 which resulted in a fearful Soviet Union. The Warsaw Pact was established by the Soviet Union creating its own military alliance. The Eastern European satellite nations* were under its control.
*satallite nations are independed but gonverned by another nation. Countries like Poland, Bulgaria, and Hungary were all satallite nations who had to run their decisions by Soviets in Moscow. -
Vietnam War
Vietnam was divided on the 17th parallel which resulted in Ho Chi Minh cotrolling the North while Ngo Dinh Diem controlled the South. The US sided with South Vietnam & Co Chi Mihn providing aid. The US had no intentions of gaining territory. Americans weren't very pleased with this war, it went on too long for their taste. The Vietnam War was the first "living room" war meaning that each night families would sit in their homes & see first hand footage of the war as well as death counts. -
Soviet Launch Sputnik
The US was ahead of the Soviet Union as far as science & technology until August 1957 when the Soviet Union announced they developed a intercontinental ballistic missle (ICBM). The Soviets launched the 1st Sputnik on this date, leaving the US to feel inferior & behind in the race. The US also felt vulnerable to a nuclear attack--the Soviet Union could now hit any target in the world. Because we wanted to be back in the lead, schools developed better science, math, and foreign language classes. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
When Castro took power of Cuba, 10% of the population was exiled to Florida. Eisenhower instructed the CIA to train these people for an ivasion on the south coast, the Bay of Pigs. When the day finally came to attack nothing went right. The air strike days before didnt harm the Cuban air force & the group that set out to distract Castro never reached land. When the exiles went to attack they were greeted by 20,000 Cuban troops & backed up by Soviets. Some exiles were killed, some taken prisoners -
Berlin Wall Goes Up
West Berlin had a very good economy and was a top notch democracy, resulting in many East Germans fleeing to the west to get away from the communism in the east. Khrushchev wanted to to close access road to West Berlin but Kennedy was against it. Instead, the Soviet premier made an unexpected decision to put up a barrier (the Berlin Wall) to stop this problem. With armed guards along this wall, the percent of East German refugees greatly dropped which solved Khrushchev's main problem. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
Castro and Khrushchev were allies and the Soviets promised to defend Cuba with their arms. the Soviets were sending over ewapons & nuclear missles. American U-2 planes took pictures of secretly built missles bases on Cuba taht were ready to launch missles to the US in minutes. Pres Kennedy informed his nation of this and had the US Navy top the Soviet ships 500 miles from the island. Khrushchev was willing to remove the missles if the US pledged not to invade Cuba. Kennedy agreed & it was over. -
US Sends Man to Moon
The Nixon administration was filled mostly with political war, although there was some other events. 10 years prior to this event John F. Kennedy challenged the United States to send someone to the moon, and on this date, it happened. Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon putting us ahead of the Soviets again. Armstrong proclaimed, "that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." This event was astonishing and left Americans swelled with pride. -
Nixon Visits China
Nixon believed it was time to change the fact that the US wasn't recognizing Communist China and took a trip across seas. News crews covered the visit, and American views on the president increased. Nixon was very anti-communist but believed it was time to negotiate with China. They agreed to not try to rule the Pacific and settle any disputres in a peaceful manner. US also was willing to withdraw the American forces from Taiwan. -
1980 Olympic Hockey Game
The US and Soviet Union teams faced off in the Semifinals of the olympics on this date in history. The win was in the Soviets favor because they were said to be the best team at the time. It was a big upset when the US team won and moved on the face Finland and won gold. This event was huge because the cold war was still occuring and these two countries were on opposite sides. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
Germany had been seperated by the "Berlin Wall" for 28 years. When this wall fell, people from both sides of it gathered around and celebrated the moment - it had been quite some time since seeing the other half of Germany. By 1990 Germany had their first free election. October 3, 1990, the two German sides officailly became one. -
Collapse of Soviet Union
Mikhail Gorbachev became general secretary of the Communist Party in 1985, and the Soviet Union took a turn from there. Thru his years of office things changed-free elections and hardly any censorship. In 1991 Communists threw out Gorbachev, but 3 days later, he regained power. However, on the 24th, Gorbachev resigned and banned Communism from a future role in government. In December 14 republics declared independece. After 74 years of power, the Soviet Union was dissolved.
