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The Truman Doctrine
A warning to the USSR that the United States would intervene to support any nation that was being threatened of being invaded or taken over by an armed minority. -
Marshall Plan
The United States pledged to rebuildEuropean countries for healthy economic purposes as well as for political stability. Proposed by General George Marshall, the US secretary of state. -
Berlin Airlift
USSR held West Berlin hostage. 2.1 million people would run out of food and supplies unless someone could somehow get supplies to them. American and British officials started the Berlin airlift to fly food and supplies into West Berlin. 237 days, 277,000 flights, 2.3 million tones of supplies- food, fuel, medicine, Christmas presents. -
China becomes communist
Communist party encouraged peasants to take over the land. Cars, foreignors, foreign business and beggars disappeared. Bikes became the main form of transportation. Family life changed as well: marriages could no longer be forced; divorce was easier; polygamy, prostitution, and the killing of unwanted female babies was outlawed. -
The Creation of NATO
(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)... Because the Berlin Wall increased tensions, Belgium; Denmark; France; Great Britain; Iceland; Italy; Luxembourg; the Netherlands; Norway; Portugal; the United States; and Canda joined to create a defensive military alliance. "An attack on one is an attack on all." -
The Korean War
North Korean troops started the Korean War by invading south Korea.When this news reached President Truman, he took military action.On June 27th, the UN Security Council and 16 nations sent 520,000 troops to assist South Korea. -
The Creation of the Warsaw Pact
Created by the Soviet Union to avoid future conflict. This mutual agreement put USSR in charge of the armed forces of the member states. Members: Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria. -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was the struggle between nationalist forces attempting to unify Vietnam to prevent the spread of communism. -
Soviet Launches Sputnik
Sputnik was the world's first satellite. It also signified the birth of the Space Age. This event shocked and even frightened some Americans because the Soviet Union was now ahead of the "technologically superior United States". -
Bay of Pigs
1400 Cuban exiles landed at Bahia de Cochinos. An airstrike that lasted two days failed to destroy the Cuban airforce. A group sent to distract Castro's forces never reached their target. When the group finally landed on shore, it faced 20,000 Cuban troops that were backed by Soviet tanks and jet aircrafts. Some were killed and others were taken as prisoners. -
The Berlin Wall Goes Up
Erected to keep German citizens from fleeing to the West to escape communism. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
This event increased tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as brought them closer to nuclear conflict. President Kennedy did not want nuclear weapons on the Cuban Island. -
Nixon visits China
"The week that changed the world." The prime minister urged peace with Vietnam, but did not guarantee North Vietnam's political demands. North Vietnamese officials and peace negotiators feared the US and China would make a deal behind their backs. -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
This event symbolized the reunification of Germany. East Germans could now pass through the wall into Berlin without any visas or passes/permits. -
Collapse of the Soviet Union
A few days before, eleven Soviet republics met and declared they would no longer be apart of the Soviet Union. Instead, they declared they would set up a Commonwealth of Independent States.
