Post War Foreign

Arms Race

Jul 17, 1941

The Arms Race between the Soviet Union and the US was competition between the two nations to accumulate the most powerful and advanced nuclear weapons. The "race" started with the ending of World War II.

Cold War 1945-1991

Jan 20, 1945

The Cold War was a conflict between the US and the USSR. After being Allies during WWII, the US and USSR soon viewed each other with increasing suspicion. Both countries emerged as superpowers with different ambitions and ideas for the future after WWII.

Truman Doctrine

Mar 17, 1947

This doctrine, first used in Greese and Turkey in the late 1940s, vowed to provide aid to support "free peoples who are resisting outside pressures" By 1950, the United States had given $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey. Congress thought it essential in stopping the spread of Communism.

Marshall Plan

Jun 17, 1947

Created on June 1947, Secretary George Marshall proposed a US aid package to European nations. To help against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. Western Europe accepted the help, while Eastern Europe rejected the aid.

Creation of NATO

Apr 4, 1949

Created on April 4, 1949 to form a defensive alliance to stop the spread of communism. It is known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It was the first peacetime military alliance which maintained more than 500,000 troops.

Korean War

Jun 25, 1950

North Korean forces swept across the 38th parallel in a surprise attack on South Korea. With only 500 US troops in South Korea, the Soviets figured that Americans would not fight to save South Korea. Instead, America sent troops, planes, and ships to South Korea.

Vietnam War

Apr 30, 1954

An alleged attack by North Vietnam against a US ship, following this event, Congress provides LBJ a "blank check", escalating American military involvement in Vietnam.

Space Race

Oct 4, 1957

The Space Race began right after the launch of Sputnik. This led to a rapid sequence of events in both the United States and the Soviet Union that helped mobilize the industrial resources of both superpowers. The goal of 'beating' the other in space technology.

Launching of Sputnik

Oct 4, 1957

Sputnik was the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth. This led to the space race between the US and USSR. Also an increased spending in education, especially for math anf science.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

Apr 17, 1961

This was a failed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro by Cuban peasants. This led to a massive Cuban migration to Florida.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Oct 14, 1962

Castro had a powerful ally in Moscow, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev promised to defend Cuba with Soviet weapons. During the summer of 1962 the flow of Soviet weapons into Cuban-including nuclear-incresed greatly. Which caused President Kennedy to respond with a retaliation against the Soviets.