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Truman Doctrine
In February 1947 Britain stopped giving money to Turkey and Greece. The responsibility then got passed to the United States becasue they worried that weak economic and poitcal conditions could lead to communist control. Harry S. Truman asked congress for $400 million in military and economic aid for Turkey and Greese. -
The Marshall Plan
The program was made by the U.S. to help European economies after World War 2. George C. Marshall brought up the issue and the Truman legislation favored it. The U.S. wanted to prevent the spread of communism by the Soviets by helping European countries become stronger. The total financial aid ended up being about $13 billion. The Marshall plan took place over 3 years. -
The Berlin Airlift
After World War II Germany was seperated into four zones. The US, France, Great Britain, and the USSR all had their own zones. Berlin was also separated among the counrties. The Russians wanted Berlin to themselves, so they closed all highways, roads and canals in hopes that the people living there wouldnt beable to get any food or supplies, resulting in the US, Britain, and France leaving the city. Instead, the US and allies supplied there areas of the city from the air. It lasted 1 year. -
Creation of NATO
The Soviets were trying to expand there rule in Eastern Europe. The United States and 11 other countries didn't want the growth of communism, Which lead to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The 12 nations wanted to create a military defence against Soviet advances.They made a military alliance so that an attack on one would be an attack on all of them. Countries included the US, Canada, Great Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Iceland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, and Norway. -
The Korean War
During the Cold War North Korea invaded South Korea and it became very violent. Quickly the United Nations got involved and the Untied States sent over their military and navy. The conflict continued for 3 years. July 27, 1953 the peace negotiations started. -
The Rosenburg Spy Case
The trial of the Rosenburgs began March 6, 1951. They were citizens of the United States and were accused of being spys for the Soviet Union during war time. They were thought to have passed information about the US atomic bomb to the USSR. After being on trial, they were convicted of espionage and executed. -
Creation of the Warsaw Pact
The treaty is also called the Treaty of Friendship, Co-Opperation, and mutual assistsnce. The alliance was created as a result of NATO. 8 communist states from central and Eastern Europe made up the alliace. The main purpose of the group was to provide military assistance. Countries included the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany, Poland, Czechoslavakia, Albania, and Romania. -
Vietnam War
The conflict took place between communist North Vietnam and democratic South Vietnam. The U.S. was allies with the south, while the USSR and China were allies with the north. The U.S. government didn't want the communism to take over South VIetnam. The U.S. involvement in the war ended August 15, 1973 becasue of the Case-Church ammendment passed by congress. -
Soviets Launch Sputnik
The Soviet Union launched the worlds first artificial satellite. It marked the start of the space age and the space race between the US and the USSR. It created new political, military, and scientific advances. -
Bay Of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs was an invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles. The U.S. supported the invasion. The outcome was a huge failure for the U.S. The exiles set out to destroy Cuba's airfoce, but Castro knew they were coming a prepared for the invasion. A local radio station broad casted the whole event, ships were unexpectedly sunk by coral reefs, and back up paratroopers landed in the wrong spot. The exiles surrendered after a day of fighting with 114 killed and 1100 taken prisoner. -
Rise of the Berlin Wall
On the night of August 12, while the poeple of Berlin were sleeping,trucks with construction workers camme through East Berlin. The men cu telephone wire, dug holes to put up concrete posts and hung barbed wire all across the border of East and West Berlin. The people of each side could no longer cross the border for any activities. The 100 mile wall stopped any interaction that could occur. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
This event was the closest the U.S. ever came to a nuclear war with the USSR and Cuba. The conflict lasted about 13 days. At this time the USSR was behind the U.S. in the arms race and needed to put pressure on their enemies. Khrushchev moved the USSR missiles to Cuba secretly. Kennedy immediatly put a quarintine on Cuba. Militaries were on high watch for anything treatening to happen, but ended with an agreement by both sides. The USSR and US took weapons out of Cuba, -
US Sends a Man to the Moon
After the launch of Sputnik by Soviets, the US was suprised and they knew they were behind. 12 years after sputnik, the US gets the first man on the moon. Niel Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the men to accomplish the task. This became a big event in history becasue it ha never been done before hand, and was thought to be impossible. While on the moon they had to get samples from the area for scientific study. -
German Reunification/ Fall of the Berlin Wall
On November 9, 1989 the East German Communist leader made an announcement that citizens from both sides were able to cross the border. People rushed to the wall realizing that the statemement was actually true. People from both sides began chipping away at the wall and passing between East and West Berlin. -
Fall of the Soviet Union
A few days before the fall of the Soviet Union, the representitive from 11 Soviet republics met and decided they would no longer be controlled by the Soviet Union. They all came to the conclusion that they wanted to establish a common wealth of independant states. Leading up to the fall, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, initiated a policy of freedom of speech. This later let out emotions and politcal feeling built up for decades leading to the fall of the Soviet Union,
