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The Russian Revolution
Revolt against the autocracy previously in Russia that brought forth the Soviet Union. U.S. sent help to anti-communist countries to contain communism. This was the start of the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union. -
Potsdam Conference
Held to discuss and divide post war Europe. US and UN wanted to have political freedom while the Soviets wanted to take control over all of post war Europe. -
Atomic Bomb
America sent a B-29 to drop the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This upset the Soviets because it threatened them but it made Japan surrender. -
The Iron Curtain
A reference to the barrier between the Soviet Union and the rest of Europe. (No actual barrier) -
Truman Doctrine
An order that stated the US would provide military, economic, and political assistance to all who opposed communism. -
The Molotov Plan
A plan made by the Soviets to rebuild Europe. They aided countries who would vow themselves to be apart of the Soviet Union. -
Hollywood 10
The HUAC, House of Un-American Activities Committee was denounced of their tactics, in a film by Hollywood 10 Filmmakers. They were banned from film making and sent to jail for actions against the US government. -
The Marshall Plan
A recovery program funded by US helping Western Europe to recover from WW2 -
The Berlin Blockade
A Soviet created wall to stop Western influence from getting into Eastern Berlin and providing aid. Soviets became angry that the Western forces still managed to provide aid. -
Berlin Airlift
Plan by Western powers to provide aid for East Berlin through airdrops. -
N.A.T.O.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization was an alliance created to slow down Soviet influence and provide support to one another through military presence. -
Soviet Bomb Test
Soviets first nuclear bomb test. (Code named RDS-1) -
The Alger Hiss Case
Whittaker Chambers charges Alger Hiss as a communist conspirator. -
The Korean War
A battle when North Korea invades South Korea to try and enforce communism. The US and UN provide aid to South Korea as an attempt to halt communism. -
Rosenburg Trial
Trial where Julius Rosenberg and wife Ethel Rosenberg were sentenced to execution for "Conspiracy to Commit Espionage". -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Conflict between France's east corps and Viet Minh Communist-Nationalist revolutionaries. France was defeated and led to negotiations about future Indochina. -
McCarthy Hearings
Legal hearings to investigate senator Joseph McCathy's exposing of American Communists. He turned out to have just been falsely accusing Americans. -
Geneva Conference
Conference in Switzerland in an attempt to settle foreign issues and keep peace in Indochina. Attendees were the Soviets, the US, the UK, France, and China. -
Warsaw Pact
A treaty between Soviet Union and their satellites to maintain military forces and rival NATO -
Hungarian Revolution
Hungarians revolted against the soviets and their policies. -
U2 Incident
When the Soviets shot down an American spy plane. -
Berlin Wall
A wall that divided East Berlin and West Berlin. West Berlin was controlled by western powers while East Berlin was trapped under Soviet rule. This served as the "Iron Curtain". -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
When American trained refugees in Cuba invade communists. Americans suffered many casualties and didn't succeed in taking back Cuba. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Conflict between Soviets and US. Soviets had set up missiles in Cuba pointing at the U.S. This angered the US and we demanded they be moved. they eventually took down the missiles. -
Assassination of Diem
Turning point in Vietnam War. CIA mission lead to a success for the US backed South Vietnam -
Assassination of JFK
Assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in downtown Dallas. Oswald was shot before he could even be put on trial. -
Tonkin Gulf Rsolution
North Vietnamese attacked US ships off the Tonkin Gulf. President Johnson wanted to fight back using planes to ward off the attackers. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Campaign for aerial bombings going on constantly on Vietnam. US wanted to boost morale of the Saigan regime, cease support of communism, destroy North Vietnam transport, stop supplies and people from entering South Vietnam. -
Tet Offensive
Surprise military attacks against civilians throughout South Vietnam. US, South Vietnamese, army of republic of Vietnam fought the North Vietnamese (communist). -
Assassination of MLK
James Earl Ray assassinated the Civil Rights Activist Martin Luther King. King practiced peaceful protests and was killed for doing so. -
Assassination of RFK
Leading Democratic Candidate Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated after being the lead democratic nominee. -
Invasion of Czechoslovakia
Soviets led an invasion on Czechoslovakia to stop liberal reforms from taking place. -
Riots of Democratic Convention
In Chicago thousands of Vietnam protesters protest against the war in Vietnam during the Democratic National Conference. Democrats begin to disagree about the war in Vietnam. -
Election of Richard Nixon
In 1968 Richard Nixon was elected as President. He won after a year of multiple political assassinations but ended up resigning later on due to the Watergate scandal. -
Kent State Shooting
At a college in Kent, Ohio unarmed Ohio students were shot at by the national guard. This results in nine injuries as well as four deaths. -
Nixon visits China
Nixon meets with Mao Zedong in Beijing. It helped fix the relationship between the US and China. -
Cease Fire in Vietnam
Longest war in American history, the Vietnam war was finally over. Nixon calls for a cease fire and the opposing parties agree. -
Fall of Siagon
Capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam by the people's army of Vietnam. This was the final act that ended the Vietnam War. -
Reagan is Elected President of The United States
Reagan beats Democrat Jimmy Carter and takes over as President in 1980. Reagan wants a complete demolish of communism. -
SDI Announced
"SDI" was the Strategic Defense Initiative set up to protect the U.S. from nuclear attacks. Nick named "star wars" because of how absurd it sounded. -
"Tear Down This Wall" Speech
Speech made by Ronald Reagan in front of the Berlin wall telling Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall" between East and West Berlin. A wall that has been up since 1961, over 20 years ago. -
Geneva Conference with Gorbachev
An agreement to take out Soviet influence in Afghanistan and that US would help as a guarantor for Afghanistan and Pakistan. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall is finally demolished in 1989 and East and West Berlin are reunited once more. The communists of East Berlin no longer could enforce the wall of communism. This brought down the Iron Curtain and an end to the Cold War.
