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The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
The committee was established in 1938 to investigate allegations of Communist activities in the United States. They used controversial tactics to undermine well-known citizens. HUAC tainted their reputation because of these actions and lost their influence in the late 1950s early 1960s. In 1969 the committee was renames the Committee on Internal Security. -
The Hollywood Ten
10 prominent screenwriters and directors, who later became known as the Hollywood Ten, publicly denounced the tactics employed by HUAC during its probe of alleged communist influence in the American motion picture business. Due to this, they received jail sentences and were banned from working for the major Hollywood studios, adding their names to the Hollywood Blacklist. The blacklist came to an end in the late 1960s. -
Truman Doctrine
President Truman declared that the United States would assist any country facing Communist takeover with economic and military aid. In order to prepare for this, the U.S. Congress appropriated $400 million for this purpose. -
Berlin Blockade
The Soviet Union's response to the formation of West Germany, formed by France, the U.S., and the U.K. They blocked resources from entering into West Germany. The Western Powers were eventually able to institute an airlift to deliver supplies. The Soviet Union ended the blockade in May 1949, nearly a year later. -
NATO Formed
NATO was established by 12 Western nations. It was a military alliance that provided defense against Soviet aggression. Collectively the 12 nations resisted the Soviet's plan of expansion and increased American influence in Europe. 12 Nations Included:
The United States, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Iceland, Canada, and Portugal. -
The Korean War
The Korean War lasted a little over three years and brought forward the division of North and South Korea. North Korea remained an affiliate with Russia while South Korea became an affiliate with the United States. To this date the division and tension between the two sides still exists. The War ended in July 1953. -
Berlin Wall
East Germany, Communist Germany, began to build a barbed wire and concrete wall between East and West Berlin. The primary purpose of the wall was to keep Western Germans from entering East Germany. They feared that the "fascists" Western Germans from undermining the socialist state. The Berlin Wall stood until November 9, 1989. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, leaders of the U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in a 13-day standoff over the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles on Cuba. President Kennedy set up a naval blockade and demanded the removal of the missiles. War was averted when the Russians agreed on 28th October to remove the weapons.
