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The Truman Doctrine
President Harry S. Truman presented before Congress the Truman Doctrine requesting $400 million in military and economic aid to Greece and Turkey. -
The Marshall Plan
Acting upon the desvistating results of WWII, Secretary of State, George Marshall, proposed the Marshall Plan to President Truman. It asked for economic aid to Europe to redbuild and recover. Congress then sent $13.3 billion to Europe. -
Creation of NATO
Following the rise of communism, the US and 11 other western nations formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. At the same time the Soviet Union and several other Communist nations began to form a rivalry alliance system, The Warsaw Pact. These extreme alliances led to a political and physical division of Europe. -
Korean War
The first military action of the Cold War, North Korean troops poured across the 38th parallel and began to invade Republic of Korea both the North and South of it. In return, the US entered the battle hoping to put an international end to communism. -
Creation of the Warsaw Pact
As a response to NATO, the Soviet Union and several other communist nations affiliated with them formed an alliance system against the nations of NATO and capitalists. -
Vietnam War
A fight of North Vietnam and the Vietcong(North Vietnams southern allies) against South Vietnam and its ally, the US. This was simply a battle against communism once more and the struggle to defeat the North's leader, Ho Chi Minh. -
Soviet Launch of Sputnik
The successful launch of the unarmed satellite, Sputnik. This lead in the arms race sent Eisenhower and America in shocking dismay and forced them to speed up their space program beginning the Space Race. -
Fidel Castro Comes to Power in Cuba
In July of 1953, Castro led 160 men in an attempt to overthrow the American-backed dictator, General Fulgencio Batista. His attempt failed and him and his brother fled to Mexico after being released from prison in Cuba. They soon returned with more men and after years of guerilla warfare they forced Baitsta into exile. Castro was the announced Prime Minister of Cuba. -
Bay of Pigs
After Fidel Castro forced his way to power and overthrew an American-backed president, America launched a full invasion of Cuba in attempt to overthrow Castro. Although the invasion was not successful. American troops were outnumbered and surrenedered in 24 hours time. -
Berlin Wall Goes Up
Berlin had been split apart when barbed wire had gone up, cutting Berlin in half making East and West Berlin. Its objective was to keep Western facists from entering the socialist Eastern side. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Beginning with an alliance between Cuba and the Soviet Union, the Soviet Union had planned to store nucular weapons in Cuba, just 90 miles from florida. President Kennedy was informed and notified his fellow Americans. Kennedy immediately responded with a blockade to Cuba, forcing all Soviet ships to turn around. Although, they could not do much about the missiles already in Cuba. Soon though, the Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, promised to remove the missiles if the US didn't invade Cuba. -
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
Limited the US and the Soviet Union's deployment of anti-missile systems. -
US Invasion of Grenada
The murder of Marxist Maurice Bishop led to a breakdown in civil order that left American medical students stranded. The US launched "Operation Urgent Fury" and sent marine and army soldiers to the island. Depite the unexpected amount of risistance from Grenada's army and Cuban allies, the US was claimed successful by mid-December. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
As the Cold War began to come to a hault, the spokesman for Eastern Berlin brought about to the communist party that relations between the two split sides had changed. That morning people swarmed the wall and celebrated together the freedom they had been granted back. -
Collapse of the Soviet Union
Eleven Soviet republics met and announced their leave of the Soviet Union to become independent states. All but one remained, George. With the devistating news, Gorbachrev resigned and the Soviet Union fell.
