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House of UnAmerican Activities Committee
With the threat of communism potentially spreading abroad, the House of UnAmerican Activities Committee was established to investigate potential communist in the United States. Although HUAC, initially sounded like a good organization, not only did it blow the whole issue with communism out of proportion, but it also led to a large number of people being accused of communism. As a result, it increased tensions during the Cold War. -
GI Bill
The G.I. Bill was created to aid veterans of WWII by providing benefits such as, low-interest mortgages, covering tuition and expenses so veterans could attend college, and established hospitals. As a result, the G.I bill increased economic growth, and the middle class by making education more available, and it increases tension. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was one of the many attempts made by America to prevent the spread of communism by providing economic and military aid to nations at risk for communism. Although the Truman Doctrine prevented the further spread of communism, it increased tensions between the U.S. and the USSR. -
National Security Act
The National Security Act was formed in order to strengthen national security and to unify the nation's military establishments. With the National Security Act in effect, tensions increased, and as a result, led to the formation of many organizations that were taken into considerations when the issue of foreign policy was brought up. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall plan was another attempt made by the United States to control communism, in which the plan provided economic relief for worn torn Europe.Viewed as a threat by the USSR, the Marshall plan increased tensions, but also was able t effectively repairi the economy in Europe. -
Berlin Airlift
The Berlin Airlift was a system, in which a series of airplanes would airlift supplies into the territory that was under occupation of the United States, but was located in an area dedicated to the Soviet Union after WWII. The Soviet Union's attempt to cut off the transporting of supplies to the occupies territory under the United States caused the establishment of the Berlin Airlift. Even though the Berlin Airlift prevented the Soviet Union from securing the zone, it added to the tensions. -
NATO
The forming of NATO to take on communism was one of the more important events to occur during the Cold War. As a result, communist nations came together and formed the Warsaw Pact. This increased tensions due to the fact that the formation of NATO presented a threat to communism. -
Korean War
The Korean War was the first ever military action to take place during the Cold War. What caused it was North Korea's attempt to take over South Korea, and expand communism. Even though North Korea was able to push far down into South Korea, American forces intervened, and it eventually led to a stalemate. As a result of the Korean War, tensions increased, and North and South Korea remain divided. -
Brinkmanship
The use of Brinkmanship, a tactic utilized by persuading the opposing side to back down by giving the impression that they are going to war. Utilizing this tactic worsened the relationship between the U.S. and the USSR, and it increased tensions. -
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was the formation of an alliance between the USSR and surrounding communist nations. The Warsaw Pact came about as a result of NATO, and further increased tensions between the United States and the USSR. As a result of the pact Europe became divided. -
Interstate Highway System
The Interstate Highway System was established in order to prevent traffic jams and to make traveling a lot safer. As a result, the Interstate Highway system made traveling at high speeds safer and more efficient, this decreased tensions during the cold war. -
Eisenhower Doctrine
Due to the expansion of communism throughout the Middle East, and fearful of communism corrupting Democratic nations, Dwight D. Eisenhower announces and passed the Eisenhower Doctrine which provided military and economic aid to nations in danger of communism. Although the Eisenhower Doctrine prevented the further spread of communism to other nations, it also increased tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States. -
Sputnik
The launching of the Soviet Union's satellite Sputnik 1 into space not only jump started the international space race, but also caused fear among many Americans, due to the fact that it demonstrated the Soviet Union's technological advances. What inspired the launch was the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union, and as a result led to the Space race. This added to the tensions between the two countries. -
U-2 Incident
The U-2 incident occurred when the Soviet Union shot down an American spy plane, and found out that the United States was sending spy planes over spy planes over Russia the whole time. Although Russia could have killed the captured American pilot, instead they swapped him for a captured soviet agent, and, as a result of the incident, it increased tensions. -
Bay of Pigs
Off of Cuba's southern shores, in an isolated location lay the Bay of Pigs, which was invaded on April 17 by a group of Cuban exile's. The infiltration of the Bay of Pigs was to prove how dedicated the president Kennedy was at winning the Cold War. Although, Kennedy wanted the area to remain a secret, it wasn't for long until Castro and his forces knew about it, and were able to corner the invaders. As a result, tensions increased and soon after, the Cuban missile crisis begins. -
Berlin Wall
Built from concrete and barbed wire August 13, 1961, the Berlin Wall was constructed in order to keep out communism from spreading into Eastern Germany. Even though the wall was effective in keeping out fascists, it caused a large number of people to lose their jobs and lose contact with family/friends that were on the other side of the wall. This added on to the tension. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 2 week scare that caused fear and paranoia in the United States over rumors that there were nuclear missiles installed in Cuba not to far from the shores of the United States. Although this increased tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, there was a compromise between the U.S. and the USSR, which led to the USSR removing the missiles from Cuba. -
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty prohibited the testing of nuclear weapons anywhere, and was the first step towards controlling nuclear weapons. With the prohibition of testing nuclear weapons, tensions decreased. and as a result, was the important first step to controlling nuclear weapons.
