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The Eisenhower Doctrine
Pledges U.S. military and economic aid to Middle Eastern nations threatened by communist aggression. Link text -
The launch of Sputnik and its impact on American society
First artificial Earth satellite, it was launched by Moscow in 1957 and sparked U.S. fears of Soviet dominance in technology and outer space. It led to the creation of NASA and the space race. Link text -
The U-2 Incident
The incident when an American U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. The U.S. denied the true purpose of the plane at first but was forced to when the U.S.S.R. produced the living pilot and the largely intact plane to validate their claim of being spied on aerially. The incident worsened East-West relations during the Cold War and was a great embarrassment for the United States. Link text -
The Bay of Pigs invasion
CIA operation to overthrow Fidel Castro by landing 1200 disgruntled Cuban exiles in the Bay of Pigs. Fails miserably and is a huge embarrassment for Kennedy, who then vows to bring down Castro. Forces Cuba ever further into the arms of the USSR. Link text -
The creation of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin. Link text -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
War between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War and was the moment when the two superpowers came closest to nuclear conflict. Link text
