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The Fall of Saigon
During the Vietnam War, the U.S. supported Southern Vietnam in efforts to stop the spread of communism in Vietnam. Despite President Nguyen Van Thieu and President Nixon's peace treaty, the north and south continued to fight. Eventually, on April 30, 1975, the Communist Northern troops defeated the South and conquered Saigon. The city was later named after their previous later, Ho Chi Minh. -
Normalization of US-China Relations
The U.S. and China set out to form Diplomatic relations on January 1, 1979. President Jimmy Carter signed the Joint Communiqué, which would establish that the US would also recognize Taiwan as part of China. This allowed the US to enact the Taiwan Relations Act, forming the American Institute in Taiwan, an embassy surrogate, and pledging to continue to defend and supply arms to Taiwan. To this day the China and the US carry out the same relations. -
Signing of SALT II
In the middle of the Cold War, treaties were signed pertaining to the recognition and buildup of nuclear weapons under the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty. On June 18, 1979, President Jimmy Carter and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Brezhnev both signed SALT II. The Soviets had been focusing on larger warheads while the US prioritized accurate missiles; each Superpower was limited to 2400 weapon systems. The treaty was never ratified. -
Iran Hostage Crisis
To stop the nationalization of Iran's oil industry, Shah Pahlavi of Iran received economic and military support from the US. Shah Pahlavi sought economic and social reform for Iran, after weeks of violence the Shah fled Iran. He was now despised, this grew hatred for the US. On November 4, 1979, 500 Muslim students seized the US Embassy in Iran; with 60 of the 90 people hostage. Carter signed a deal to release the hostages; in response to the Shah's death. They were released on January 20, 1981. -
Soviet-Afghan War
The Soviets began challenging the Mujahideen on December 25, 1979. These anti-Communist Muslim guerillas were spreading throughout all parts of Afghanistan. Originally, the Soviets thought to leave it to the national Afghan army to silence this militia; when they had failed the Soviets intervened. The Soviets had 100,000 soldiers in the country, making guerilla tactics ideal for the Mujahideen. In 1988 the US signed an agreement for the withdrawal of Soviet troops with Pakistan and Afghanistan. -
Creation of Carter Doctrine
On January 23, 1980, President Carter of the US introduced the Carter Doctrine policy in the middle of his State of the Union Address. Carter emphasized the importance of protecting the United States' interest in the Persian Gulf by stating that the US would use military force if needed. The Doctrine also had a purpose of preventing the Soviets from seeking control over the Persian Gulf. Carter expressed that the Soviets shouldn't have control over two-thirds of the world's exportable oil. -
Creation of Strategic Defense Initiative
On March 23, 1983, President Ronald Reagan initiated a Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). Reagan enacted SDI to form an anti-ballistic missile system. Being at a high tension point in the Cold War, it was mainly created with intent to prevent nuclear attacks from the Soviet Union. With heavy foreign and domestic political pressure, SDI eventually failed. Although, SDI was revolutionizing and set a standard for anti-ballistic missile systems (ABM) and it was nearly impenetrable. -
Iran Contra Affair
In 1985, while Iran and Iraq were still at war, President Reagan thought if the US supplied Iran with weapons it would improve our relationship with them and Lebanon; making the US' presence stronger in the Middle East.Thirty million dollars had been gained from Iranian hands, with only 12 million of that going to the right hands. Most of the money went to support American contras fighting the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. Reagan claims he didn't know of what was happening in Nicaragua. -
Signing on Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
On December 8, 1987, President Reagan and Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty). The treaty stated that the Soviet Union and the US had to get rid of any nuclear and conventional missile (including their launchers) that has a range of 500-1,000 kilometers. This treaty didn't include missiles launched from sea. -
Fall of The Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall had divided West and East Germany. At the time, Eastern Germany had been controlled by Communist and West Germany was U.S. friendly. On November 9, 1989, Communist Leader of Eastern Germany, Gьnter Schabowski, said ''At 7:00 pm the border will be open for private trips abroad.'' Demolition lasted from November 10-December 22. The influence of Communism would weaken when on July 1, 1990, a social union between East and West Germany was enacted; eliminating all concerns of travel. -
Malta Summit
The Malta Summit was a meeting that involved President George Bush and the Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev. The meeting took place from December 2-3, 1989 and was soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall. In the end, President Bush and Premier Gorbachev decided that both Superpowers would put an end to the Cold War; they would ensure tranquility between the nations. -
The Fall of The Soviet Union
Prior to December 1, 1991, The Soviet Union was a superpower consisted of 15 countries. So it was a surprise to the world when the Iron Curtain fell, sufficing to Capitalism. The people of Western Europe realized the supremacy of capitalism and democracy over communism itself. Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, had established an economic reform, giving the people this new freedom that deserted communism. This also ended the Cold War. Although, the Cold War led to modernization.
