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The Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was created in response to Great Britian's discovery that they could no longer help Greece and Turkey in their combat against Communism. President Truman first requested $400 million from congress to help Greece and Turkey, then proposed the doctrine. Under this policy, The United States pledged to provide military and economic help to any country threatened by Communism. -
The Marshall Plan
Proposed by Secretary of State George Marshall, The Marshall Plan was created to rebuild Europe after World War II. Under this plan, nearly $13 billion were sent to Europe from the United States between 1948 and 1952. The Soviet Union and Easern Europe refused aid from the United States claiming that they were only giving in order to receive something in return. -
Creation of NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, was created to prevent further conflict between nations. It stated that if any of the member countries were attacked, all others would flock to their aid. The twelve countries that first signed it were Great Britian, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Belguim, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Iceland, Canada, and the United States. Greece, Turkey, Germany, Spain, The Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary were added later. -
Korean War
The Korean War began as a war between North and South Korea. As the North threatened to bring Communism to the South, The United States stepped in to help the South fight back. Eventually, a new government was set up by the United States in South Korea in hopes that Communists would not take over the country. -
Creation of The Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was signed by eight Communist nations during the time of the Cold War. The pact was created as a reaction to the Allies' creation of NATO around the same time. Originally intended to be a treaty of complete equality, the pact quickly became a bargaining chip used by the Soviey Union over their allies. -
The Soviets Launch Sputnik
The launching of the satellite Sputnik both put the Soviet Union ahead in the race to space, and gave them a boost in the arms race. This was a treat to the saftey of other countries, but it was especially important to the United States becuase, being in the middle of the Cold War, they were not on the friendliest of terms. -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a civil war fought between the northern and southern parts of the country. The United States became involved in order to prevent the spread of Communism and to unite the divided halves of Veitnam. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution allowed the president to send American troops into Vietnam. -
Bay of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs was an attack by the United States on Cuba in attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro, Cuba's cruel dictator. After the invasion failed, the hostility and tension between Cuba and The United States continued to build. -
Creation of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was created by the Allied powers as a way to divide Germany after World War II. Originally, the wall was not needed becuase the divided sections of Germany were not agressive. As time wore on, however, circumstances changed and the Wall was built. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a time when both the United States and Cuba were positioned to launch a nuclear war with each other. Tension between the two countries had grown so that they were on the brink of war, but the fighting was avoided. -
The Six Day War
The Six Day War was fought by Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. The conflict began as a result of a surprise attack by Israel on Egypt. By the end of the war, Israel had gained control of the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Goglan Heights. Because Israel had conqured these territories from neighboring counties, hostility in the area and tension between the governments grew. -
The US Lands on the Moon
When The United States sent Neil Armstrong to the moon, they struck a sour note with the Soviet Union becuase of the advancements they had made in the race to space. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Fall of the Berlin Wall came about due to the preceived weakness of the Communists in East Germany. In the following couple years, citizens created exodus points around the wall where people could move between the sides of Berlin. This continued until the entire wall was brought down by the government of East Germany. -
Collapse of the Soveit Union
When the Soviet Union Collapsed in 1991, fifteen new nations were created. Along with the indepence of these countries previously under Soviet control, the dissipation of the Soviey Union marked the end of the Cold War.
