U.S. in World Affairs Timeline

By oharris
  • Korean War-American troops help defend South Korea

    Korean War-American troops help defend South Korea

    At end of WWII, Korea divided at 38th Parallel with Soviets in North and U.S. in South. North forces invade South and UN authorize member nations to aid South (Foreign War).
  • Bay of Pigs-U.S. sponsored invasion of Cuba fails

    Bay of Pigs-U.S. sponsored invasion of Cuba fails

    1,500 Cuban exiles armed and trained by CIA tried to stage invasion at Cuba's Bay of Pigs. These are crushed by Castro after President Kennedy refuses to involve US armed forces. Soviets then believe that Kennedy wouldn't interfere with them.
  • Cuban Missile Crisis-U.S. forces Soviet Union to remove nuclear missiles from Cuba.

    Cuban Missile Crisis-U.S. forces Soviet Union to remove nuclear missiles from Cuba.

    American spy plane takes photos of Soviet nuclear missile site. President Kennedy response is to blockade Cuba and threaten to invade unless Soviets agree to remove missiles.
  • U.S. build-up of troops in Vietnam War

    U.S. build-up of troops in Vietnam War

    U.S. aids South Vietnam and Communists aid North. War Powers Act passed in which President who sends U.S. troops to foreign country has to explain to Congree within 48 hours.
  • President Richard Nixon visits China and Soviet Union. Nixon and Brezhnev sign first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT)

    President Richard Nixon visits China and Soviet Union. Nixon and Brezhnev sign first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT)

    Sign SALT which froze deployment of intercontinental ballistic missiles and placed limits on antiballistic missiles.
  • Paris Peace Accords are signed, ending U.S. involvement in Vietnam War.

    Paris Peace Accords are signed, ending U.S. involvement in Vietnam War.

    Follows unsuccessful eight month long offensive by North Vietnamese army to drive Americans our of Vietnam known as Tet Offensive.
  • OPEC places an embargo on oil to U.S. because of the nation's support for Israel in October War.

    OPEC places an embargo on oil to U.S. because of the nation's support for Israel in October War.

    OPEC is group of mostly Arab countries that sell oil to other nations and cooperates to regulate the price and supply of oil.
  • U.S. signs treaty agreeing to return Canal Zone and control of canal to Panama by 1999.

    U.S. signs treaty agreeing to return Canal Zone and control of canal to Panama by 1999.

    President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian dictator Omar Torrijos sign a treaty to transfer control.
  • Camp David Accords-President Jimmy Carter sponsors peace talks between Egypt and Israel.

    Camp David Accords-President Jimmy Carter sponsors peace talks between Egypt and Israel.

    Agreements called for establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and for an end to Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
  • U.S. establishes full diplomatic relations with China.

    U.S. establishes full diplomatic relations with China.

    In response to Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, U.S. places an embargo on sales of American grain to Soviet Union, boycotts Moscow Olympic Games, and delays completion of SALT II.
  • President Ronald Reagan orders invasion of Grenada after a Marxist revolution in that Caribbean nation.

    President Ronald Reagan orders invasion of Grenada after a Marxist revolution in that Caribbean nation.

    Many wondered if the invasion was justified. Reagan was concerned that Cuba and the Soviet Union were establishing a military foothold in Grenada.
  • Iran weapons deal- American public learns that U.S. secretly sold weapons to Iran in hopes of gaining release of American hostages in Lebanon

    Iran weapons deal- American public learns that U.S. secretly sold weapons to Iran in hopes of gaining release of American hostages in Lebanon

    Reagan's image suffers as speculation over the issue ensues, but he soon regains it back.
  • U.S. invades Panama and captures Manuel Noriega.

    U.S. invades Panama and captures Manuel Noriega.

    Noriega was arrested by U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agents. 23 U.S. soldiers and three U.S. civilians lost their lives.
  • Bush and Gorbachev hold summit in Washington, D.C.

    Bush and Gorbachev hold summit in Washington, D.C.

    Followed the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. Summit ended after three days with no clear agreement on the future of Germany.
  • Persian Gulf War- U.S. led multinational force ends Iraqi occupation of Kuwait

    Persian Gulf War- U.S. led multinational force ends Iraqi occupation of Kuwait

    Bush declares ceasefire on February 28. This ends the war.
  • Attack on U.S.- the War on Terror

    Attack on U.S.- the War on Terror

    Al Queda terrorists hijack planes and fly them into the twin towers. Thousands of Americans lose their lives.