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The Red Scare
Communism was beginning to spread more and more in Eastern Europe and China and Korea. People were scared that communism could influence the United States and were scared of anyone who may side with the communists and help the Soviets get secret information about the United States -
United Nations
The United States and Soviet Union both held vetoes, which meant that the Security Council could not do anything without both of them agreeing. This limited U.N. efforts to keep peace in situations where the national interests of the superpowers were not in conflict. -
Yalta conference
Yalta conferences purpose was to discuss agreements to plan the final defeat of Germany. Many agreements were made but the Soviet Union broke some of them. One agreement was after WW 2 Poland would get free elections, but when it came time Soviets denied them their free election. Another agreement was the Declaration of Liberated Europe, it was supposed to allow Europe to choose their own government. But The King of Romania said that he was pressured by Soviets to have a communist government. -
Iron Curtain
Boundary that divided Europe both militarily and politically. Ran from North to South.During the Iron Curtain's time, many countries were forced into communism by the Soviet Union. The Curtain was defended against the West by the Warsaw Pact, which was a combo of old Soviet troops and new communist supporters. The curtain also kept people in East from going West. The Curtain was created by very strong steel fencing. -
The Long Telegraph
Sent by George Kennan from U.S Embassy to Washington. Gave the U.S an understanding of how Soviets saw itself in the community. They didn't see a possibility for long term peace in the capitalist world. U.S feared Soviet Union was going to try and spread communism worldwide. -
Truman Doctrine
Truman doctrine was a policy that would help Greece and Turkey. Truman told congress it was supposed to support free people from being controlled by minorities and outside pressures. Policy eventually won support of Republicans and spent $400 million dollars. in 1952 both Turkey and Greece joined NATO. The doctrine was extended to become basis of American Cold War policy. Shifted american policy toward Soviet Union from tension to policy of containment of soviet expansion. -
Marshall Plan
Marshall plan was economic support funded by U.S. They gave money to countries hurt by war to, help rebuild their economy. However, they didn't give the Soviet Union any money. The U.S. did this to provide themselves with trading partners in the east and to exclude the Soviet Union. It increased tensions even more and Stalin invented the COMECON plan, it gave aid to all communist states that felt threaten by capitalism. -
Berlin Blockade/Airlift
Attempt by Soviet Union to limit the ability of U.S , France and Great Britain to travel to their sectors of Berlin. Eventually they used airlift to get supplies and relief to West Britain. Truman's supporters believed that if they lost Berlin, they'd lose all of Germany. A military challenge was considered but then rejected so over the next 321 days, Westerns made 270,000+ flights into West Berlin. They delivered thousands of tons of supplies a day. -
NATO
12 countries in North America and Western Europe signed a "pact" which purpose was for them to defend each other from Soviet Union using communism to take control of their nation. When Dean Acheson signed it, it was an important change in American foreign policy. And since Eisenhower was appointed first supreme allied commander, U.S was a strong force in the organization.Soviet leaders were upset about Germany's involvement , feared they would become a military power concern. -
McCarthyism
McCarthy gave a speech that put him in the spotlight. he waved a piece of paper in the air, which he said had the names of 205 known members of the Communist Party who were “working and shaping policy” in the State Department. -
Duck and Cover
People would drop to the floor, under a desk or something sturdy and lay faced down with their the head and neck covered. It was came up with protect against several dangerous side effects of a nuclear blast. But this method didn't protect against the radiation that happened after the blast. -
The Korean war
North Korea invaded South Korea with the purpose of "reuniting" the country. In the 3 years of fighting, 1,200 commonwealth men were killed and 4,000 more injured and the U.S lost 33,000 men and almost 500,000 South Koreans were killed. The war further more divided Korea and now families were split among both sides; communism and non communism. Soviet Union lost 1,500 sq. miles of their territory. U.S now feared domino effects of communism , showed how U.S will do anything to stop spread of it. -
The Rosenbergs
A couple accused of selling nuclear secrets to the Russians. They could not be charged with treason because the United States was not at war with the Soviet Union. They were offered a deal, their death sentences would be reduced in return for an admission of their guilt. They refused and were executed. -
Warsaw Pact
Created as a response to NATO. Mainly inspired by Germany's involvement in NATO. Felt worried about Germany becoming a military threat again, something both sides saw. In mid 1950's some NATO members advocated making West Germany part of alliance and allowing it to form an army under tight restrictions. -
Suez Canal
Israeli forces invaded Egypt, toward the Suez Canal after Gamal Nasser nationalized the canal earlier in the year. They were soon joined by British and French forces, almost bringing Soviet Union into the conflict and damaged their relationship with the U.S -
Eisenhower Doctrine
Established the Middle East as the Cold War Battlefield. U.S believed problems in Middle East ended badly and the Egyptian leader was much to blame. Eisenhower asked for authorization to begin new military and economy programs in the region. Also asked to use U.S. troops to secure and protect the integrity and independence of the nation.Doctrine was first put in action in the summer of 1958. Nearly 15,000 U.S. troops were sent to help stop trouble in Lebanon. -
U-2
USSR shot down an American U-2 spy plane in Soviet air space and captured its pilot. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was forced to admit to the Soviets that the U.S. CIA had been on the USSR for several years. The Soviets convicted the pilot on espionage charges and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. After serving less than two years, he was released in exchange for a captured Soviet agent in a U.S. and USSR spy swap. The incident raised tensions between the U.S. and the Soviets.
