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House of Un-American Activities Committee
This was created to investigate for disloyalty and communism within our own country. Out of this came the Hollywood Ten. It was ten celebrities who refused to testify against being communist and became blacklisted. Spies were uncovered such as the Rosenbergs. They were carrying Atomic secrets and were executed for their crimes. This created paranoia within the US> -
GI Bill
The GI Bill created benefits for military veterans. This helped with furthering their education, low income housing, low interest loans. This was a readjustment for the people and eased tension off of military personnel. -
Berlin Airlift
The Soviet Union tried to cut off the US from their occupation zone but instead the US provided supplies by dropping them from planes above the opposing side. -
NATO
NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This treaty included the US and Western Europe. In spite, the Soviet Union and the Eastern European Nations. It was to unite the communist nations. -
Brinkmanship
The Soviet Union and the US were pushing each other to the verge of war in hopes that either one would back down. Both nations carried Hydrogen Bombs and said they were to never be used but only kept in case either of them decided to fire it. This led to the arms race and massive retaliation. A common saying became MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction). Out of this came Military Industrial complex's. They were industries that benefited from war production. -
Korean War
It was started when North Korea, which was controlled by the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea, which was controlled by the US. The UN sent in troops to help resolve this issue. The Inchon invasion saves the South from loosing and invasion. We enter a stalemate when China enters the war. The war drags on for two more years. The 38th parallel armistice ends the war with a split. -
Warsaw Pact
A treaty between Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Soviet Union. This united communist nations in spite of NATO. This was the opposing sides treaty with the US and Western Europe. -
Interstate Highway System
Eisenhower created the interstate highway system to connect the nation for an optimal defense system. This expansion became the most expensive project recorded. Making the highway created ghost towns due to the highway not intercepting the towns that the original roads ran through. -
Eisenhower Doctrine
The US decided they should defend nations against communism. One nation in particular would include Hungary. Hungary tried to revolt but failed to break away from the Soviet Union. This is when the US realized it was time to step up. -
Sputnik
It was the first satellite that was launched into space. The Soviet Union and the US were on a space race and the US lost it. The US felt embarrassed and began to focus on their education, especially math and science. -
U-2 Incident
The US sent a spy plane over the Soviet Union. The "undetectable" plane was shot down. The US denied all association with the spy plane even though they clearly sent it. The Soviet Union put it on display and embarrassed the US but making it public. In doing this, it cancelled the Paris Submit. This was to reduce arms with the Soviet Union but ended up never happening. -
Bay of Pigs
This was a failed attempt attempt to overthrow Cuba's dictator, Castro. The US provided military aid to Cuban exiles. This was a huge US embarrassment. Cube ended being pushed to the Soviet Union. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Soviet Union began placing weapons in Cuba. John F. Kennedy demanded that the Soviet Union take out the weapons out of the US's territory. To prevent any more weapons in coming in the US blockades Cuba. The high tension led both nations to the brink of war. The USSR decides to back down and the US promises not to invade them. -
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
This "ban" said that no nuclear testing was allowed above ground. John F. Kennedy saw this as one of his biggest accomplishments. Of course loop holes were found; instead of testing above ground, the testing was now done in the water. -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall as created over night by the Soviet Union and was built so separate the East and the West. The US was on the West side while the Soviet Union was on the East side. The wall was labeled as a symbol of communism by the Soviet Union.
