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Beirut Bombing of Marine Barracks
A suicide bomber attacked a U.S. base in Lebanon, killing 241 servicemen. Showed the U.S. was vulnerable in Cold War proxy regions like the Middle East -
Richard Nixon
Nixon shifted U.S. Cold War strategy with Vietnamization, improved U.S.-China relations, and escalated then ended U.S. involvement in Vietnam. -
26th Amendment
Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, partly due to the Vietnam War—if 18-year-olds could be drafted, they should be able to vote. -
Gerald Ford
Became president after Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal. He pardoned Nixon, which was controversial. -
Cold War
A major Cold War proxy conflict. U.S. support for Israel during this war led to the OPEC Embargo. -
OPEC Embargo
Middle Eastern nations stopped oil exports to the U.S. due to U.S. support of Israel. It led to fuel shortages, inflation, and an economic crisis. -
Watergate
Gerald Ford became president after Richard Nixon resigned in 1974. The scandal eroded public trust in government after it was revealed Nixon tried to cover up a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. -
Fall of Saigon
North Vietnam captured Saigon, ending the war. It was a Cold War loss for the U.S. and led to national reflection on foreign intervention. -
End of the Vietnam War
This marked the official end of the Vietnam War when North Vietnamese troops captured Saigon (the capital of South Vietnam). It symbolized a major Cold War loss for the United States, as communism spread in Southeast Asia despite decades of U.S. military and financial support. It caused deep public distrust in government and redefined U.S. foreign policy for years. -
Jimmy Carter
His presidency focused on human rights and Cold War diplomacy. He faced challenges like the Iran Hostage Crisis and energy shortages. -
Community Reinvestment Act of 1977
Required banks to lend in underserved areas. Part of Carter’s domestic efforts to reduce economic inequality during Cold War-era economic shifts. -
Camp David Accords
Peace agreement between Egypt and Israel brokered by Carter. A rare diplomatic success in a Cold War-dominated Middle East. -
Three Mile Island
Worst nuclear accident in U.S. history. Raised public fears about nuclear energy, a key part of Cold War defense and power strategy -
Ronald Reagan
staunch anti-communist. Increased military spending and adopted aggressive Cold War policies like the Strategic Defense Initiative. -
Sandra Day O’Conner
First woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. A historic moment during Reagan’s conservative Cold War-era reshaping of U.S. institutions. -
Strategic Defense Initiative
A proposed missile defense system in space. Dubbed “Star Wars,” it aimed to defend the U.S. from Soviet nuclear attacks and increased arms race pressure. -
Grenada invasion
U.S. troops removed a communist-backed regime in Grenada. Example of Reagan’s aggressive Cold War intervention policy. -
Ray Kroc
As the businessman who expanded McDonald's into a global fast-food empire, Kroc became a symbol of American capitalism and consumer culture during the Cold War. McDonald’s represented the economic success of the U.S. and was used as a soft-power contrast to the Soviet Union's command economy. His success contributed to the cultural side of the Cold War, promoting the American way of life. -
Challenger Explosion
Space shuttle exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all 7 crew members. Shattered confidence in the U.S. space program during the Cold War tech race. -
Iran - Contra Affair
Secret U.S. arms sales to Iran were used to fund Nicaraguan rebels. The scandal hurt Reagan’s image and highlighted Cold War-era secrecy.