-
Creation of the UN
The UN was a group of 26 countries from around the world. Their goal was to create global cooperation and camaraderie. They also pledged to use their resources against the Axis powers. -
Iron Curtain (Churchill's Speech)
This is the term Winston Churchill used to describe the boundary between Communist, Socialist Western Europe and Capitalist, Democratic Eastern Europe. There was a sharp divide, and tensions were building between the west and east. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was an American foreign policy that was meant to contain communism and stop its spread. It was successful in providing support for European countries threatened by communism. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was an American initiative which gave billions of dollars to help rebuild Western European economies after WWII. It was a success because it reconstructed Western Europe effectively. -
Berlin Airlift
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union blocked all of East and West Berlin from the West. The Allies could have surrendered, but they decided to airlift food and supplies to West Berlin. This act contained communism and was a success for the U.S. and Britain. -
Chinese Civil War (Continuation After WWII)
China was divided into three regions: Nationalist China, Communist China, and areas controlled by Japan. The Communist Party gained momentum. They took more nationalist cities and gained support within the population of China. The Communist Party captured Beijing and declared victory. -
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt lead by Fidel Castro in Cuba. The rebels used Guerrilla warfare against the government. The dictator Fulgencio Batista was overthrown. A new communist government was created and ruled by Fidel Castro. -
Warsaw Pact Signed
The Warsaw Pact was created in response to NATO, an alliance between North America and 29 European countries. The Warsaw Pact included the Soviet Union and several Eastern European countries. The signing of the pact became a Soviet symbol of dominance in Eastern Europe. -
Sputnik
Sputnik, created by the Soviet Union, was the first artificial Earth satelllite. This scared Americans because it showed a gap between American Technology and Soviet Technology. America was officially behind in the space race, and citizens were disheartened. -
U-2 Incident
A United States U-2 spy plane was shot down by the Soviets. It was performing photographic recconaissance. Due to the fallout after the incident, the Paris Summit was canceled. -
Bay of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs, carried out by the American CIA, was a failed military invasion of Cuba . Kennedy called for the invasion because he wanted to overthrow Fidel Castro and his revolution. As a result, the United States had to negotiate with Fidel Castro. -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a guarded concrete wall separating capitalist Democratic East Berlin and Communist Socialist West Berlin. After weeks of civil unrest, The East German Government declared that the two sides could interact and travel to the opposite sides. People from both sides came over the wall and celebrated. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a two-week confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union. It happened because the U.S. had deployed a missile in Turkey and Italy, and in response the Soviet Union deployed a missile in Cuba. The Cuban Missile Crisis ended once the Soviet Union agreed to remove Russian missiles from Cuba in exchange for a promise from the United States to respect Cuba's independence. -
SALT I
This was an agreement signed by the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. SALT I was supposed to stop the arms race between the Soviets and Americans. It placed restrictions of nuclear and balistic missile warfare. -
War in Vietnam (End)
Direct U.S. military involvement ended in 1973 (their sole purpose was to stop the spread of communism in to Vietnam.) North and South Vietnam were reunited after North Vietnam conquered the South. Many people died and the damage was lasting.
