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The Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine stated that the US would support free people that risked takeover by armed minorities or outside pressure. This caused a lot of controversy. Some didn’t think the US should interfere with other countries affairs. Other people didn’t like the idea of helping a dictator even if it was an anti-communist dictator. Other people believe if the US helped all the other nations the power would be lessened. Despite these opinions, Congress sided with Truman. -
Marshall Plan
George Marshall wanted the US to provide distressed European Nations with aid. He believed that this direction would help against hunger, poverty and depression. However, the nations that needed aid had to remove trade barriers and cooperate economically with each other. The Soviets invaded Czechoslovakia making congress aware that they need a stronger government in Europe. The plan worked out perfectly and was a success. -
The Berlin Airlift
The USSR held West Berlin hostage by cutting off highways and supplies. America and Britain flew supplies into West Berlin. They did this for 327 days and landed every few hours. The supplies varied from food, fuel, Christmas presents and many other things. The airlift saved West Berlin and boosted American status around the world. The Soviets were beaten and they disengaged the blockade -
China becoms Communist
When Japan invaded China the two forces, Jiang Jieshi and Mao Zedong, of China had to temporarily work together. The US supported Jiang and sent billions of dollars as aid. However the Soviets supported Mao and the communist power grew in China. America had no intentions of fighting and Jiang left for Taiwan. It was then that Mao took over China and China became communist. -
Creation of NATO
Because of the blockade in Europe, the Western European nation, United States, and Canada singed an alliance called NATO. This alliance stated that an attack on one of the nations is an attack on all. This was the first the US joined a military alliance with other nations during peace time. This ended the US isolationism. -
Korean War
North Korea (USSR) invaded South Korea ( US). The US was obligated to help fight against any attack from the communist side. The US also reared that the communist rule would envelope the rest of the world. So the US stationed military troops to help with the disagreement of the two sides. North Korea invaded and took some of South Korea. McArthur used a new military weapon to push North Korea back to their side. The war ended in a military stall meant sitting on the 38th parallel, prepared. -
Creation of the Warsaw Pact
This was a military alliance between the Soviet Union and the Eastern European nations which was a mutual defense organization. The nations that signed it agreed that they would defend each other if there was an attack on one. It was the USSR version of NATO. -
Soviet Launch Sputnik
Sputnik was an artificial satellite. The Soviet launched the 194 pound, beach ball size satellite into space. It took about an hour and forty minutes to orbit around the earth. The launch now allowed new technological, military advantage, and scientific development. This day began the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. -
Vietnam War
This was a struggle to unite the country of Vietnam under Communist rule. The US didn’t want the spread of communist influence so they interfered. The leaders of the US at this time lost support for the war. This war latter on was a model of what not to do in future foreign conflict. -
Bay of Pigs
The CIA was given permission to train exiled Cubans for an invasion on Cuba. The US expected the invasion to be a success. Cuban exiles invaded the Bay of Pigs to overthrow Castro. Nothing went as planned and they were defeated by Castro's Army. Some exiles were killed and others taken prisoner. Kennedy talked with Castro and paid 53 million in ransom. -
Berlin Wall Goes Up
The Berlin Wall physicaly devided East and West Berlin. As the tension grew with the Soviet and the Allies the wall went up East Berlin started to close the borders between them and West Berlin. The purpose of the wall was to keep Westerners from coming in and undermining the socialistic states. It mainly separated East and West Berlin. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
An American spy found out that the Soviet Union was building nuclear missiles in Cuba. Not wanting the Soviet Union, President Kennedy discussed the issue with an adviser and made the decision to put a naval blockade around Cuba. He did this in hopes of stopping the moving of military supplies to Cuba. After Kennedy went public, the Soviet Leader and the President agreed that the missile site would be disarmed if the US did not invade Cuba. -
US invades Grenada
The US invaded Granada because of the ongoing rivalry between the US and Cuba. The US wanted to eliminate communist influence in the Caribbean and get rid of Castro’s allies. There were also American students on the island of Granada and Reagan decided that they needed to be protected. The invasion was bloody and was over in a few weeks. The US came out on top. -
German Runification/Fall of Berlin Wall
East and West Berlin wanted to reunite. Reunification won the elections in East Berlin and the new government worked to unify Berlin. East Berlin’s economy actually failed but got better. Germany reunited was the Berlin wall was taken down. -
Collapse of the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union split up into fifteen different centuries. There was more evidence over capitalism over socialism and the allies’ enemies were defeated. This ended the Cold War.
