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United Nations
The United Nations was founded after 1945 after World War II, to replace the League of Nations. It was to stop wars between countries, and provide a platform for all countries. During the Korean War the United Nations helped the South Koreans fight to keep the spirt of democrasy alive. -
Iron Curtain
"Iron Curtain" is a term used to describe the boundary that separated the Warsaw Pact countries from the NATO countries from about 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991. And played as the major separation between communist and noncommunist ruled countries. The Iron Curtain was both a physical and an imaginary line that represented/divided Europe after World War II. To the east of the Iron Curtain were countries connected to the Soviet Union and the west side were our allies. -
Truman Doctrine and Containment
Was a series of policies that President Truman announced on March 12th, 1947, stating that the US would support European Countries so that they wouldn’t fall into raid of Communism. Basically proposing that the US will try to contain the spread of communism by keeping it away from the countries in Europe. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall plan was a large-scale American relief program to help Small European countries devastated by WWII, to not fall into Communism. It was a result of the Truman Doctrine. George C. Marshall, Truman’s Secretary of State, created the Marshall Plan and the plan was also known as The European Recovery Program. In its three years of existence, the ERP spent almost $12,500,000,000 to protect Eurpoean countries. -
CIA
CIA, Central Intelligence Agency, played an important and active role during the Cold War. It was formed right after WWII, on July 26 in 1947 by President Truman. Its mission was to often infiltrating the Communist countries in order to try to overthrow the currant pro-communist regimes. And, one of its first major undercover assignments was The Bay of Pigs Mission. -
Red Scare and Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy, the famous politician let out a scare. He made the American people fear communism, and basically ruined peoples lives by putting them on trail accusing them that they were Communist. He destroyed many lives by making fake accusations to scare the American people of possible spies living in our society. For example he accused people in Hollywood that they were communist and put them on trail. Hence, it became known as the Red Scare. -
Berlin Airlift
It was anticipated in response to a land and water blockade of the City of Berlin by the Soviet Union. The Soviets thought blocking off the city would make the allies leave the city of West Berlin. But, instead we stayed put in helped them. So in order to help the free citizens of West Berlin, the allies supplied food and necessities by air transportation. Thus, it became known as the Berlin Airlift. -
Joesph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy was an American Politician. (November 14, 1908 – May 2, 1957). He was a Republican Senator from Wisconsin. He was the most visible public face during the Cold war, suggesting an upheaval was occurring within our nation. -
Korean War
The Korean War was a war between the North and South Korean territories. They wanted to join together as one country. The North wanted communism, the South wanted democracy. Their disagreement resulted in a war. The United Nations (mostly aid from The United States) backed the South Koreans to stop the domino affect of Communism which would effect much of Asia. -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was between nationalist forces attempting to unify the country of Vietnam under a communist government. The United States helped the South Vietnamese who attempted to prevent the spread of communism. Engaged in a war that many viewed as having no way to win. This was took place from 1959 -- April 30, 1975. The U.S. eventually left Vietnam due to 57,000 causalities. -
Hawks and Doves
The "Doves" were against expansion of Vietnam War; they wanted timetables and withdrawal of troops.. The "Hawks" were for further escalation, and more bombing on North Vietnam. Some "Hawks" even advocated war with China, and using nuclear weapons on the Vietnamese and anyone who opposed "victory" in Asia, or anyone against the communists. -
Sputnik
A series of Soviet artificial satellites, the first of which was the first satellite to be placed in orbit (October 4, 1957). At the time, the Americans thought they had more advances in technology, but the Russians had other plans. They started the Space Race. Americans thought the Satellites could spy on them. Causing a lot of Paranoia and fear between these two powerful nations. -
Space Race
The Space race was based off the technological advancements during the cold war. As soon as Russia put Sputnik into orbit, the race to the moon, as well as developing programs to enhance space technology was put to the test between Russia and United States. This “race” to having better technology is what the Space Race is all about. -
Bay of Pigs
As a result of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the United States had a secret mission called the invasion of Bay of Pigs. It was an unsuccessful attack by a CIA-trained force of Cuban natives that migrated to the United States to invade southern Cuba. They did so with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. Launched in April 1961, however the mission was aborted by President Kennedy at the last minute, and the mission failed. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was created when the Soviet Union placed its nuclear weapons in Cuba, facing the United States (90 Miles of the Coast of the Florida). When they were discovered, President Kennedy established a blockade (the best of many bad choices, including an invasion) around Cuba to prevent a further Soviet buildup. However, the mission was called off at the last minute, leading to failure.
