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Harry S. Truman
Containment was envisioned as a mechanism to stop communism and destroy the Soviet influence from the inside of the country. Truman didn’t want to encounter the Soviet Union in direct fight so he started a psychological warfare and a positive propaganda regarding American ideologies. Even though these ideals changed in the curse of his rule, Truman insisted in the promotion of non-direct and non-militarized encounters with the USSR driven by fear of a possible nuclear war. -
Potsdam Conference
The UK, USSR and USA met to discuss several topics regarding the war. The key topics were the partition of Vietnam, the destruction of German industry and the partition of Vienna. The USSR agreed to pay reparations for Poland and to help the Polish government by forming Provisional Government of National Unity. Truman mainly focus was to explain how the USA had developed an atomic bomb and how they would finish the Second World War. -
Potsdam Declaration
The main focus of this declaration was to state the terms of the Japanese surrender. Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, and Chiang Kai-shekt signed it, but there was no representation of the USSR or Japan during the discussion. -
First atomic bomb
The first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. This bomb intended to stop the Japanese from increasing their army and to finish the Second World War. Nonetheless, the bomb damaged more than just the Japanese industry. Many civilians were killed in the act and Japan suffered years later due to the exposure to radioactive components. -
Second atomic bomb
Japan was already suffering and trying to recover from the atomic bomb on Hiroshima until a second bomb was dropped in Nagasaki. The second bomb mainly intended to make the Japanese surrender completely, but many other historians argue that the second bomb was dropped to show the USSR the technology developed in America. -
Marshall Mision
The United States sent George Marshall to China in order to discuss with the two political parties and form a coalition government. The ideal was to promote peace between the Nationalists and the CCP. Jiang Jieshi, Mao Zedong, and Marshall talked about solving the Chinese Civil War but this didn’t work and Mao took over China. The Americans thought they had lost China to USSR sphere of influence. -
Truman Doctrine
The main focus of the doctrine was to stop communist ideologies in countries near the USSR. By aiding countries such as Greece and Turkey financially and socially, the USA tried to expand its Western and capitalist ideologies. The main focus was to contain communist ideals inside USSR and prevent its expansion. United States said they wanted to "free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures." -
National Security Act
The Act had three main purposes. The first one was to unify the Army, the Navy and the Air Force in the Department of Defense, headed by a Secretary of Defense. The second one was to create the Central intelligence Agency (CIA) to control all the nation’s intelligence network and secret missions. The third one was to establish the National Security Council (NSC) to advise the president on foreign policies issues. -
Marshall Plan
The aid program for Europe tried to provide economical aid to countries that shared the Western ideologies. The main purpose for this was to promote the capitalist system and other Western ideals in order to reduce the possibility of communist systems entering other countries in Europe. -
Israel
Truman becomes the first person (and consequently the United States becomes the first country) to recognize Israel as a nation and starts supporting all its internal planning in order to maintain the Asian country in the sphere of influence. He starts to promote the different ideals of the Western Hemisphere and offers to cooperate with the Israeli internal affairs. -
Trizonia
The French, the Americans and the British unified their zones of Germany to create only one side of influence. They shared the military, the government, and the supplies. This was seen as a threat to the USSR due to the fact that now two thirds of Germany were under the American sphere of influence. -
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was a treaty signed by United States, Canada and Western Europe as a mechanism of defense against subversive activities. The main purpose of this was to ally the countries so if one of them was attacked, the other ones could attack. -
Taiwan Strait
Eisenhower decides to send its Seventh Fleet into the Taiwan Strait to prevent further expansion of communist ideals. The main purpose was to defend Taiwan from the increased Korean War. The PRC decided to bombard different zones of Taiwan and the US military developed different protection methods for the Republic of China (ROC). Eisenhower also declared he authorized the use of tactical nuclear weapons against military targets but no bombs were dropped. -
Korean War
Truman saw the war in Korea as prove of the expansionist theories of the USSR. He stated, “if we let Korea down, the Soviet[s] will keep right on going and swallow up one [place] after another”, and with this is mind he entered the war. General Douglas MacArthur managed to stop the North Korean invasion and commanded the US forces to push Mao’s army to the 38th parallel. USA participated actively using the UN as a puppet of its ideals. -
NSC-68
The National Security Council approves and starts to implement a new foreign strategy. This new strategy is based principally in the massive buildup of hydrogen bombs and a higher monetary fund for militants. It highlighted the active part of the policy of containment in places such as Korea. As said by Ernest R. May, NSC-68 "provided the blueprint for the militarization of the Cold War from 1950 to the collapse of the Soviet Union at the beginning of the 1990s". -
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Dwight Eisenhower
Eisenhower along with John Foster Dulles envisioned a cheaper policy than the one stated by Truman. Maintaining the containment ideals, the new president promoted Air-atomic capabilities and psychological warfare as a viable option. He promoted ring-wing dictators because he envisioned them as a way to stop communist expansionism. Eisenhower established the domino theory, meaning that if one country falls to communism the ones around it would also tend to fall. -
Mossadegh overthrow
The CIA contributed to the overthrow of Mossadegh's government because Eisenhower feared they might tilt to the communist hemisphere. The president restored the shah's rule and arranged his allies to take over part of the Iranian oil industry. -
Geneva Conference
The USA, the USSR, the PRC, France, and Great Britain discussed about the Vietnam War and also to talk about the new “peaceful treatment”. Khrushchev rejected the idea of an "Open Skies" policy so Eisenhower instructed the CIA to create and fly across the USSR. Several other themes were held but no agreement was settled. Nonetheless, United States helped a new anti-communist government in South Vietnam and gave financial and military aid in Vietnam. -
Guatemala overthrow
The USA used the CIA to contribute to the counterrevolutionaries in Guatemala to overthrow the government of Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán. They used their economic ties with the United Fruit Company and other tactics to place Carlos Castillo Armas as the new president. Castillo promoted all the anti-communist ideals of the USA but also restricted many rights. -
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)
The United States, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan signed a treaty to prevent communism from expanding to other regions in Asia. They feared the Chinese communist that threatened to invade Thailand. -
Bandung Conference
The principal objectives of this conference were to establish the curse of the Third World countries in the Cold War. Asia and Africa were impoverished due to the war and they wanted to stop relying on any superpower. They wanted political self-determination, sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference, and equality. The different delegates signed the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to ensure peaceful treatment between India and China. -
Eisenhower Doctrine
After the Suez Crisis of 1946, the Middle East started to decline. Eisenhower feared that the influence of the Egyptian President Nasser would become an advantage for the USSR. He offered any country American aid of any kind if it was threatened. This way he intended “to secure and protect the territorial integrity and political independence of such nations, requesting such aid against overt armed aggression from any nation controlled by international communism”. -
“The spirit of Camp David”
President Eisenhower invites Nikita Khrushchev to visit the USA and to talk about ways to end the Cold War. Neither of them reached to an agreement but this gave hopes to everyone around the world of a new peaceful treatment between the USA and the USSR. -
NASA
Kennedy wanted to secure American superiority so he acknowledged Lyndon Johnson as the head for the funding of the space program. Kennedy agreed that the headquarters of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) would be located in Houston, Texas. -
May Day and the U-2 incident
The CIA had launched another plane ride over the USSR to spy on the different military zones with the new U-2 planes. An incident occurred and the pilot crashed. Khrushchev wanted a direct and official apology from Eisenhower but the president denied it and tried to maintain it off the press. -
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John F. Kennedy
Kennedy established a new fiscal and monetary policy to inaugurate the new foreign policy. He wanted to reinforce the armament and to create new forms of oppression of the enemy. Also, Kennedy wanted to economically aid countries in Africa and Asia to prevent communism reaching their governments. His focus on the third world countries also led him to launch the Alliance for Progress in Latin America. -
Peace Corps
The Congress formally recognized the social and humanitarian service of volunteers in order to help in countries such as Ghana, Tanzania and India. The program grew and by the twentieth century they had sent over 170,000 volunteers to over 135 nations. This also contributed to the expansionism of American ideals. -
Bay of Pigs
Kennedy wanted to invade Cuba using CIA-trained anti-Castro refugees. The main idea was to gain power in Cuba due to the communist government held by Fidel Castro. Approximately 1,500 Cuban refugees reached the Bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) on Cuba's coast but the Cuban forces were ready to attack and Kennedy had to retreat full of embarrassment. -
The Summit Conference at Vienna
Kennedy met Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna to discuss the issues happening with Germany. The main topic was the governmental reconstruction of the country and of the city. They couldn’t reach an agreement and Khrushchev felt threatened. -
Alliance for Progress
Implementation of the Marshall Plan inside of Latin America. The United States contributed with $20 billion to help countries in Latin America to grow their economies and to expand their institutions. The main purpose was to develop a better life condition for the Latin Americans and to promote the implantation of American ideologies. -
Special Forces in Vietnam
Kennedy sent advisers to South Vietnam in order to prevent a Communist regime. He also started to implement Special Forces that trained the South Vietnamese in order to maintain them active for an insurgent war. -
Missiles in Cuba
The USSR decided to implement nuclear missiles and Soviet soldiers in the Cuban area as a counterattack on the American missiles in Turkey. The Executive Committee of the National Security Council (ExComm) decided that a naval blockade of the island was the best option. Kennedy said that the purpose was "none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability against the Western Hemisphere" so he needed to protect his country. -
Dominican Republic riots
Johnson supported the right-wing politician, Reid Cabral so he helped him overthrow the ancient governor Juan Bosch. Civilian riots started to occur so Johnson sent Marines to control de situation. What he aimed for was to protect the Dominican Republic from falling into a left-wing dictatorship. -
The Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
The USA, the USSR and the British signed a treaty to stop the nuclear tests on different zones in order to prevent casualties and tension. The treaty prohibited nuclear weapons tests under water, in the air, or in space. It also stated that countries could do nuclear tests underground but they should pledge to end contamination caused by radioactive wastes. -
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Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Johnson reinforced the active component on the containment policy. He maintained Kennedy’s ideals and also provided monetary funds and troops to win the war in Indochina. An expansion of the bombing on North Vietnam was also prompted because Johnson’s main focus was the international image. If he managed to appear powerful and full of recognition, the Soviets wouldn’t attack and the balance of power would tilt to the American side. -
NSAM 273
This was a national security agency memorandum that meant to reestablish the containment theory in Vietnam. It encouraged the government "to assist the people and Government of South Vietnam to win their contest against the externally directed and supported Communist conspiracy". -
Hop Tac
President Johnson approved the OPLAN 34A-64 that aimed to use the CIA in order to infiltrate and develop a series of secret operations against North Vietnam. -
NSAM 288
Johnson asked for the incensement of U.S. involvement in South Vietnamese affairs and more American militants in the Vietnamese land, including a plan for air strikes against North Vietnam. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Johnson authorized a massive bombardment on North Vietnam. US military aircraft attacked targets throughout North Vietnam in order to create tension on the communist leaders and reduce their troops. This operation was very significant because it marked the involvement of the USA in the Vietnam War. -
Vietnam War involvement
Johnson had authorized marines, troops, air forces, and more to win at any cost. Also, he sent logistical support in order to maintain the anti-communist policies and to keep fighting North Vietnam. He wanted to win the Vietnam War. -
Outer Space Treaty
Formally named as Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, is an international treaty signed by the USA and the USSR that states that outer space would only be used for peaceful purposes. -
The Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
Johnson joined an international treaty for disarmament, nonproliferation, and peaceful uses of nuclear power in order to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. -
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Richard Nixon
Nixon and his secretary of state Henry Kissinger decided to stop the active war against the Soviet Union. A more pacifist view was taken so they asked for a détente of the Soviets and rapprochement with China as a solution for the war. If the Soviets declared in favor for self-restraint in Asia and Africa, foreign policy between both countries could’ve worked. Also, Nixon suggested aid for strong allies in the third world as a symbol of recuperation of the impoverished zones in Africa and Asia. -
Secret bombing in Cambodia
Nixon decided he would give the CIA the power to end the war in Vietnam using a secret bombing in Cambodia He said, “No comment, no warnings, no complaints, no protests…I mean it, not one thing to be said to anyone publicly or privately without my prior approval” and approved attacks on the Communist supply lines of Ho Chi Minh Trail in Cambodia. -
Cambodia withdrawals
Nixon began the withdrawals even though he managed to keep the CIA agents active in Cambodia. Finally, a coup in Cambodia replaced Prince Sihanouk with a pro-American military government so Nixon asked for a temporary invasion of Cambodia but people in the USA started to revolt. No one wanted to keep fighting that war. -
Nixon's visit to China
President Nixon wanted to take over the fact that the USSR and China weren’t close allies anymore. He decided to contact Mao Zedong, and later on he decided the two politicians should speak. He traveled to Beijing and called the country the People's Republic of China. This was very important for further relations with China. -
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty and Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev signed the ABM and the SALT treaty to reduce and eliminate arms in order to alleviate the tension existing in both countries. Nixon also wanted to sign different other pacts on science, space, and trade. -
Watergate Scandal
Some people were arrested inside the office of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Some connected the people with President Richard Nixon’s reelection campaign so suspicion started to increase. Nonetheless, Gerald Ford interrupted the situation and dismissed Nixon’s involvement. He was considered weak and not very intuitive. -
Christmas Bombing
When the peace talks between the USA and North Vietnam collapsed, Nixon decided to bombard North Vietnam with 20,000 tons of bombs on the cities of Hanoi and Haiphong. Formally named the Linebacker II, it caused almost 1,600 civilian casualties. North Vietnam returned to the peace talks. -
Paris Peace Accords
The United States, South Vietnam, Viet Cong, and North Vietnam signed to restore peace in the country. The accords included a cease-fire from all the involved and the US total withdrawal. Also, North Vietnam agreed to release all prisoners of war. -
Military coup in Chile
The CIA had an anti-Allende policy that lasted until the coup of General Augusto Pinochet. He replaced democracy with despotism and even though there is no evidence of Nixon’s collaboration, many say that he supported a Wing tyranny rather than a Left tyranny. -
October War
Also known as the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, the Yom Kippur War or the Ramadan War, was a war fought by Egypt and Syria against Israel. The main purpose of the war was to gain oil products and due to the vacuum of power, Soviet and American interest relied on it. The oil industry was really desirable for both superpowers so Nixon intended to take over all the oil industry of the area. -
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Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford maintained most of Nixon’s ideals of containment due to the fact that he asked Henry Kissinger to keep his position. He pursued the détente with the USSR until he managed to encounter a Soviet politician and discuss several thematic regarding the development of the Cold War. He also managed to give an end to the Vietnam War and to revision the CIA structure. His pacifist ideals brought Nixon’s ideals to acts and practical events. -
Vladivostok Agreement
President Ford and Brezhnev discussed the limitations of offensive armament. They already had discussed about other types of arms but this agreement reaffirmed the need to reduce the use of military weaponry. The USSR and the USA thought that this would help them reduce the fear of a war and to welcome world peace. -
Spring Offensive
Was an offensive operation that intended to end the war in favor of North Vietnam. Ford wasn’t willing to keep fighting so he had to retreat his troops and watch many people in the South of Vietnam suffer and get killed due to the atrocities. -
Rockefeller Commission
Commission directed by the vice president Rockefeller with the intention of investigating the CIA abuses. It revealed later that the CIA was spying inside their own country to find communist subversive activities and they were interrupting basic private rights from people. -
Helsinki Accords
Also called Helsinki Final Act, was an agreement signed in Finland, to reduce tension between the Soviets and the Americans. The détente policy taken by Ford made it easier to negotiate the terms of the status quo on Europe. Every European country, United States and Canada signed the act. -
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Jimmy Carter
Carter and Cyrus Vance suggested a direct discussion and agreement with the USSR. Improving relations between China, the Soviets and the USA seemed more important than containment. Nonetheless, the Soviets irrupted in Afghanistan during the 1979 so imbalance of power started to occur. The Americans weren’t fighting the Soviet expansionism while the Soviets were improving their technology and their industry. The Americans seemed to be losing their power and influence. -
Moscow Summer Olympic Games
Carter decides to boycott the Olympic Games. This was seen as an insult for the USSR and it irrupted part of the peaceful treatments. -
Camp David Accords
Agreements between Israel and Egypt that enabled a peace treaty in the war between the two countries. It was developed and signed also by US President Carter. The main objective was to bring peace and to for USA, to establish close relations. -
Joint Communiqué
The United States started to recognize the People's Republic of China and decided to stop entering Taiwan for any cultural, commercial, or other unofficial relations. -
Taiwan Relations Act
Act that allows the American Institute on Taiwan with an American foreign officer experienced in Far Eastern Affairs. They cut all diplomatic ties but they maintained contact. The USA continued to supply Taiwan with armament and other supplies for Taiwan to defend itself from China. -
Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlava
The CIA helped to cause a coup that restored power to the Pahlavi ruling dynasty. The idea was to establish new relations with the new leader in order to gain 80 percent of the oil. -
Carter takes Ayatollah Khomeini as refugee
Carter receives Ayatollah Khomenei in USA and this disrupted the relations with Muslim fundamentalists in Iran. Finally, Islamic student militants loyal to Ayatollah overran the American embassy in Teheran. -
Operation Eagle Claw
The USA operation to try to end the Iran hostage crisis by rescuing 52 embassy staff. Its failure damaged the US prestige and also endangered the relations between Iran and the USA.