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Red Scare
The Red Scare was the hysteria in the US caused by the fear of the spread of Communism. Joseph McCarthy made many accusations of Communist infiltrators in the government, universities, and film industry. The HUAC was also created at this time.
This was significant because it fueled tensions and unease during the Cold War. It led the US political environment to become very conservative. It also severely impacted the personal lives of anyone who was accused of being a communist. -
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Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was an American program that occurred after WWII where the US provided about 13 billion dollars to European nations to increase production, promote policies of stable economy, and increase international trade.
This program is significant because it was very successful. However, the Soviet Union rejected the plan for nations under its control because they thought the plan would interfere with their control. -
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Berlin Airlift
The Soviet Union cut off all railroads and canals from the capitalist West Germany to capitalist West Berlin which was inside of East Germany, a communist country. Consequently, the US had to airdrop 8,000 tons of supplies per day to the civilians in West Berlin.
This event was significant because it was the most successful air drop to date. The US won this standoff and it shows a clear example of the conflict between capitalism and communism during the Cold War. -
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was an agreement between 12 countries including the US in response to the threat of the spread of Communism and the Soviet Union. It stated that an attack on any of the countries in the treaty meant an attack on them all.
This treaty was significant because of the tensions in the Cold War. However, the scale of the treaty was important because both sides knew that any attack would lead to a massive war because of how intertwined the countries were. -
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Korean War
The war occurred after WWII when the Soviet Union controlled North Korea and the US controlled the South. The UN wanted the country to reunite but the Soviets refused to let their region vote on a new government so the country was officially split. in 1950 the communist North Koreans attacked the South and started the war.
This war was significant because it was the first major battle over communism. Also, it took the lives of millions of people and Korea is still divided today. -
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Dien Bien Phu
This was a battle in which the French tried to force the Vietnamese into a conventional war by dropping troops behind enemy lines and planning to airdrop supplies. The Vietnamese cut off the French air strip and they were forced to negotiate through the Geneva Conference.
This battle was significant because it led to the end of France's colonial influence in Vietnam. They had already disrupted the social system by educating a small minority of Vietnamese people and elevating them to power. -
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Geneva Peace Accords
The Geneva conference occurred in order to negotiate the end of Dien Bien Phu battle. The Vietnamese proposed a ceasefire, separation of opposing forces, ban on placing more troops in Vietnam, independence and free elections, and the withdrawal of all foreign forces in Vietnam.
The response of the French and the US is significant in this event. They decided behind the scenes to refuse the proposals so the conference didn't lead to any political solution and eventually led to the Vietnam War. -
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Berlin Wall
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Bay of Pigs
After the Fidel Castro overthrew the US-backed president of Cuba, Fulgencio Batista, the US attempted to aid Cuban exiles. The CIA trained them and they invaded the Bay of Pigs but the US did not provide any other support and the mission failed.
This is significant because it was a huge embarrassment to the nation and John F. Kennedy. It also pushed Cuba into the arms of the Soviet Union. -
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Cuban Missile Crisis
In 1959, Fidel Castro overthrew the US backed president of Cuba and the US found evidence of Soviet missile build up in Cuba. The US felt threatened because the whole contiguous US was vulnerable so they decided to try diplomacy, blockade, and possibly invading Cuba. Cuba eventually surrendered their missiles.
This event is significant because it is the closest we've been to using that many nuclear weapons and ending the human race. Cuba surrendered only 2 days before the planned invasion. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Congress granted President Johnson the power to take any measures he needs to support South Vietnam without Congress approval. The resolution essentially gets rid of the check and balance system and Johnson is able to increase troops without Congress declaring war.
This event is significant because it allowed Johnson to increase the military involvement immediately. It is also significant because it was unprovoked. The US was the one to leave international waters and fire at nonexistent enemies. -
Tet Offensive
This event was a series of surprise attacks by the Vietcong during Tet, a Vietnamese holiday. The attacks were launched on over 100 cities and led to many more deaths for the communists in comparison to South Vietnam.
This event was very significant because it was a turning point in the war, for the communists. There were many deaths for the communists, but they were able to infiltrate southern areas for propaganda. Also, it led Americans to question their military and when the war would end. -
My Lai Massacre
This event was a massacre by US troops of over 500 unarmed civilians in the village of My Lai. The troops were sent on a search and destroy mission but when they found only unarmed women, children, and elderly they were still ordered to kill them.
This event was very important because horrific incidents of the Vietnam War. Also, the army officers covered up the massacre for an entire year before the press found out, which fueled anti-war support in America. -
Kent State University Shooting
In this event, 4 Kent State University students were killed when Ohio National Guard opened fire on a Vietnam War protest. The national guard was deployed because of threats from radicals against the town and university and they had already set a school building on fire.
This event had a great impact on schools nationwide. Hundreds of colleges were forced to close due to student protests and this event signified the political and social divisions in the US around the Vietnam War. -
Pentagon Papers
The Pentagon Papers was the name for a secret Department of Defense study of U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967. Daniel Ellsburg believed that the data should be available to the public. In 1971 he secretly shared it with the NY Times who published report.
The publishing of this study was significant because it confirmed the American public's suspicions about the US government's involvement in the war. It also embarrassed Nixon when he was up for reelection. -
Paris Peace Accords
The Paris Peace Accords was a peace treaty signed by the US, South Vietnam, and North Vietnam to end the Vietnam war. The agreement included a ceasefire, a withdrawal of all American troops, and the release of all prisoners of war.
This event was significant because it was Nixon's way of getting the US out of the war after dragging it on for 4 extra years without making it too obvious that they had lost. North Korea took over South Korea 2 years later and America refused to send troops to help. -
War Powers Act
The War Powers Act was a federal law passed in order to limit the president's ability to initiate military actions abroad. Nixon was against the act and vetoed it but Congress overrode his veto.
This law is significant because it is a response President Johnson's actions in the Vietnam war. It was intended to avoid another long unnecessary war like the Vietnam War -
Fall of Saigon
In the fall of Saigon, the Vietcong took over the South Vietnamese capital and unified Vietnam. The Vietcong received little opposition from South Vietnam when US Congress decided not to provide the aid that Nixon had promised in this scenario.
This event was important because it signified the reunification of Vietnam and the end of the war. 2 million Vietnamese were killed in this war.