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United nations formed
This was an organization aimed at maintaining international peace/ preventing another world war and achieving cooperation on world problems. This organisation replaced the league of nations which was created to prevent another world war after the first world war but failed due to the lack of support from multiple countries. -
The Truman doctrine
Harry Truman stated that the United States would help Democratic nations if they are under threat from internal or external forces. This was aimed at preventing the spread of communism throughout the world. -
Hollywood ten
Popular screenwriters and directors known as the Hollywood ten were sent to jail for contempt of congress. The Hollywood ten had ties to the communist party and they refused to testify to the HUAC so they were charged and sent to jail. After they got out of jail they were blacklisted and some left the country to continue working. -
Marshall plan
This was a plan for economic assistance that would provide aid to European countries after the war. This would help rebuild countries in Europe and prevent communism from spreading throughout Europe. -
NATO formed
12 countries signed the North Atlantic treaty that created a military alliance against the Soviet Union and any other possible threats. This organization was created to secure peace in Europe and other places around the world. -
Korean war
The war began when North Korea invaded South Korea. Within the next month of the war the United States supported South Korea, the North was supported by the Soviet Union. The United States wanted to come to some kind of agreement of peace but the war ended in July of 1953 and North and south Korea are still divided today. In the war over 5 million soldiers lost their lives and the war became known as the forgotten war. -
Space race/ sputnik
This was a competition between USSR and the United States over who could get to the moon first. This was started by the launch of the first artificial satellite named sputnik that was launched by the soviets in 1957. -
Bay of pigs
This was a failed invasion on Cuba that was launched by the CIA in an attempt to push Fidel Castro the Cuban leader from power. April 17, 1961 – April 20, 1961 -
Berlin wall goes up
The Berlin wall was put up by the GDR(German Democratic Republic) or East Germany to prevent Western Fascists from entering East Germany. East German soldiers guarded the wall to stop people from crossing over. -
US officially enters Vietnam war
Dwight D. Eisenhower made a speech in 1954 that stated that the defeat of the french to the communist North Vietnam would create a domino effect. In 1955 the United States backed South Vietnam. In 1961 JFK sent Green Berets to Vietnam for secret operations. In 1962 the United States began spraying Agent Orange over South Vietnam. The United States sent the first US combat troops to Vietnam on March 8, 1965 officially entering the United States in the Vietnam war. -
Soviets invade Afghanistan
This event started the soviet Afghan war that lasted over 10 years. The Soviets invaded Afghanistan because they were trying to uphold the Soviet-Afghan friendship treaty. The soviets feared that the leaders in Afghan were turning to The United States causing the USSR to invade Afghanistan. -
Berlin wall comes down
The wall was destroyed by East German border troops and the German people. There were reform movements in east Germany that led up to the destruction of the Berlin wall. When the wall was destroyed Germany was one step closer to being united.