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Korea Divided at the 38th Parallel
In August of 1945, the US and the USSR decided to divide Korea into two sections along the 38th parallel (after the japanese surrendered the land). One section was controlled by the Commmunists (USSR) and the other was controlled by the US. They planned to reunite the two countries under elections later, but that plan would fail. Info:http://www.wilsoncenter.org/coldwarfiles/index.cfm?thisunit=0&fuseaction=events.list Picture : http://www.lietuvas.com/781px-Crossing_the_38th_parallel.jpg -
Formation of Israel
Sympathies steming from the Holocaust, led the UN General Assmebly to create the land of Israel. Great Britian then gave up thier Palestine mandate. Israel created a homeland for the Jewish, but left the Palestinians/Arabs with none. The decision has led to many wars with Arab countries like the Six Day War, etc. Info: http://www.theocracywatch.org/christian_zionism_israel_forms.htm Pic: http://www.eve-tal.com/PicsFiles/History/250px-19480516_PalestinePost_Israel_is_born.jpg -
Berlin Blockade/Airlift
The Soviets cut off Berlin from the rest of the world by not allowing any trains, trucks, etc into East Berlin. The action was in response to the threats from the US, Great Britain, and France who wanted to combine thier zones into one large one. The blockade lasted for 10 months, in which time the US and great Britain airlifted 1.7 million tons of supplies inside, to the people of Berlin. Info:http://www.wilsoncenter.org/coldwarfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.details&thisunit=0&eventid=9 -
NATO formed
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed by the countries of Western Europe to fend off a Communist attack on any country invloved. By attacking one country in the alliance, the USSR would basically be attacking every country in the alliance, a risk they most likely would not take. Info: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/coldwarfiles/index.cfm?thisunit=0&fuseaction=events.list -
General MacArthur's Retirement
General MacArthur was relived of his duty as a general after he encouraged continuously the use of weapons against North Korea/China. The people still supported him despite his mistake. He was replaced by General Ridgway. Info: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/coldwarfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.details&thisunit=0&eventid=419
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1607.html -
Death of Eva Peron
Eva Peron died of cervical cancer at age 33. She was the wife of President Peron in Argentina. She was beloved by the public and she worked on creating womens groups and unions. She also gave more power and wealth to the descamisados. Her death untimatley led to the overthrow of Peron. Info: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/26/newsid_3660000/3660875.stm Pic: http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/eva-peron-body-1.jpg -
The Death of Stalin
Stalin died on March 5, 1953. After 25 years of ruling, 10 leaders were his sucessors until one, Khruschez emerged as the head of the USSR after a power struggle. Info: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/coldwarfiles/index.cfm?thisunit=0&fuseaction=events.list -
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Dien Bien Phu
The battle was the last for the French. Vietnam's win in the war lead to the division at the 17th parallel. It was a military and pyschological defeat for the French who lost about 2,293 men.
Info: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/vietnamwar/p/dienbienphu.htm -
Peron Exiled to Spain
The adored leader of Argentina, Juan Peron, was exiled when the military seized control of the government. His presence in society remained strong however, and after the military government failed, he returned and became president again. Info: http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/thehistoryofargentina/p/09juanperon.htm Pic: http://www.dictatorofthemonth.com/Peron/juan-peron.jpeg -
Nationalization of the Suez Canal
Nasser, President of Egypt, nationalized the Suez Canal. He believed they did not profit enough from it and they lost many men building it. This lead to the Suez Canal Crisis in which Israel, Great Britian, and France attacked Egypt. The US and USSR supported Egypt; they won. Info: http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/evans/his135/Events/Suez56.htm
Pic: http://cp91279.biography.com/1120330742/1120330742_1738733443_hearst1-egypt1950s-188.jpg -
Launch of Sputnik
The USSR launched Sputnik into orbit, This was a major milestone in the space age and made the US nervous. The US was afraid of missles from space, spying, etc.
Info: http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal100/sputnik.html
Pic: http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/SPACEFLIGHT/Sputnik/SP16G4.jpg -
Alliance for Progress
The Alliance for Progress was suggested by JFK to the Latin American countries. It was proposed to help Latin American countries avoid Communist takeovers, similar to the Truman Doctrine. It gave $10 billion dollars in aid to the countries for reform, but failed because it went to the rich. Info:http://www.presidentialtimeline.org/html/timeline.php?id=35
and http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/16355/Alliance-for-Progress
Pic: http://www.icdc.com/~paulwolf/colombia/alianzas.jpg -
Bay of Pigs
In an attempt to overthrow Castro, the CIA trained 1400 Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and create an overthrow. Pres. Kennedy also planned 2 air strikes to leave the Cubans defense-less. The plan failed when the second air strike was cancelled when the first left most of the Cuban air force intact, and it was identified as American. When the exiles invaded, they were shot down and many were held hostage for months. The event led to the Cuban Missile Crisis. -
The Berlin Wall is Ordered
The Berlin Wall orders are finally cemented to seperate East Berlin from West Berlin. Walter Ulbrict ( the head of East Germany) ordered the plans for the military to build the wall that would eventually become a symbol of the Cold War and become so heavily guarded that barely anyone could cross. Info: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/coldwarfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.details&thisunit=0&eventid=20 -
JFK Berlin Speech
JFK traveled to Berlin where he gave the famous speech to the people of Berlin to show the West's support. In the speech he said the famous line, "I am a Berliner." Info: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/coldwarfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.details&thisunit=0&eventid=21 Pic: http://www.orwelltoday.com/jfkberlincrowd.jpg -
The Founding of the PLO
The PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) was founded in May 1964. Its most well known leader was Arafat and the group is most widely known for thier acts of terror against Israel. However, thier goal is to suceed in creating a home for the Palestinians and the destruction of Israel. Info: http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_1948to1967_plo_backgd.php Pic: http://www.womeninworldcinema.com/uploaded_images/Last_Days_of_Yasser_Arafat_01-786262.jpg -
Gulf of Tonkin
On the night of August 4, 1964,supposedly the USS Maddox and Turner Joy were attacked by the North Vietnamese. The attack led to the full scale Vietnam War and the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. The Resolution gave the president power to attack anyone without Senate approval. Info: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq120-1.htm -
TET Offensive
Even though a cease fire was called on the lunar new year (Tet) for the war, the North Vietnamese and the Vietcongs, attacked numerous cities in the South Vietnam. The suprise attack was a military loss for the communists, but a pyshological victory, The Americans believed they were winning the war, but the attack shocked them into thinking otherwise. Info: http://history1900s.about.com/od/1960s/qt/tetoffensive.htm Pic: http://www.barking-moonbat.com/images/uploads/hue.jpg -
My Lai Massacre
Hundred of innocent Vietnamese were murdered by US troops. My Lai was a Viet Cong center. It was kept secret for months, but a veteran named Richard Ridenhour came forward with the story. American soldiers were charged with war crimes. Info: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,840403-4,00.html Pic: http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/june2006/my_lai.jpg -
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Bombing of Cambodia Supply Routes
President Nixon thought that supply routes for the North Vietnamese were running through Cambodia. He approved the bombing of the supply routes secretly. About 100,000 Cambodians died and the bombing led more people in the US to disapprove of the war. Info: http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1611 -
Munich Massacre (1972 Olympics)
Eleven of the Israel Olympians were taken hostage by the Black September Palestinian terrorist group. They were held in the Olympic Village. They negotiated to have them flown out of Germany for further negotiations (the terrorists wanted the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel). At the airbase where they were going to be flown away, the prisoners were killed. The terrorists were later released.
Info: http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_1967to1991_munich.php -
Assasination of Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende, leader of Chile and founder of the Chilean Socialist Party, was assinated by General Pinochet and his men. Allende also had nationalized industries like the copper buisness which angered the US. The US, also fearing the growth of Allende's socialist beliefs, supported a military takeover by Pinochet. Allende was shot, although some believe he commited suicide. Info: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3089846.stm -
Camp David Accords
President Carter invited Sadat (Egypt) and Begin (Israel) to Camp David. There they neogotiated in peace talks between the two countries. The neogotiation were secret for 12 days. By the end, the two leaders had agreeed that Israel would resign from the Sinai Peninsula, but it would remain demilitarized. Info: http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace Process/Guide to the Peace Process/Camp David Accords Pic: http://admcleod.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/camp-david_wa.jpg -
Sandinista Revolution
The long ruling Somoza family (US supported) was pushed out of rule in Nicaragua by the Sandinistas (military supported). The Sandinistas were Communist and ruled similarily to the USSR and Castro. The US asked the OAS to send in troops to destroy the revolution, but thier request was ignored. The contras (those unhappy with the government and US supported) also held a revolution against the Sandinistas and won.
Pic: http://totheroots.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/nicaragua-sandinista-1979.jpeg -
Destruction of the Berlin Wall
After freedom of travel was declared by Communists, people on either side of the Berlin Wall began to chip at it, detroy it, and scale it, It was a huge sign of freedom for the people of Berlin.
Info: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/9/newsid_2515000/2515869.stm Pic: http://ashfordresistance.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/berlin20wall20freedom.jpg
