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Korean War
Conflict between communist and non-communist forces in Korea. T the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel into Soviet (North Korean) and U.S. (South Korean) zones of occupation.When North Korean forces invaded South Korea, The UN authorized member nations to aid South Korea. -
Bay of Pigs
1,500 Cuban exiles armed and trained by the CIA tried to stage an invasion at Cuba's Bay of Pigs. The small force was crushed by Castro after President Kennedy refused to involve the U.S. armed forces. -
U.S. Build-up of Troops in Vietnam War
War in Southeast Asia between the government of South Vietnam, aided by the United States, and North Vietnam, aided by the communists. -
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Cuban Missile Crisis
The United States forces the Soviet Union to remove nuclear missiles from Cuba. President Kennedy's planned response to their missile site in Cuba was to blockade Cuba and to threaten to invade unless the Soviets agreed to remove the missiles. The Soviets agreed to remove their missiles if the U.S. would remove their missiles in Turkey. -
SALT
President Richard Nixon visits China and Soviet Union. Nixon and Brezhnev sign the first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT). -
Paris Peace Accords
The Paris Peace Accords are signed, ending U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. -
OPEC Enacts Oil Embargo
The Arab dominated Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announces a decision to cut oil exports to the United States and other nations that provided military aid to Israel in October War. -
Panama Canal Treaties
The Neutrality Treaty, stated that the United States could use its military to defend the Panama Canal against any threat, therefore allowing the U.S. usage of the Canal. The second, called The Panama Canal Treaty, stated that the Panama Canal Zone would cease to exist on October 1, 1979, and the Canal itself would be turned over to the Panamanians on December 31, 1999. -
Camp David Accords
This laid the groundwork for a permanent peace agreement between Egypt and Israel after 30 years of hostilities. These accords were negotiated over 12 days of intensive talks at President Carter's Camp David retreat in Maryland. -
U.S. Establishes Full Diplomatic Relations with China
The United States recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China. That same day, the People's Republic of China accords similar recognition to the United States. Therefore, the United States establishes diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. -
U.S. Response to Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
In response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, The Unites States places an embargo on sales of American grain to Soviet Union, boycotts Moscow Olympic Games, and delays completion of SALT II. -
Invasion of Grenada
After citing the threat posed American nationals on the Caribbean nation of Grenada by the nation's Marxist regime, President Ronald Reagan orders the Marines to invade and secure their safety. -
Iran Weapons Deal
The American public learns that the United States had secretly sold weapons to Iran in hopes of gaining release of American hostages in Lebanon. -
U.S. Invades Panama
The United States invades Panama in an attempt to overthrow military dictator Manuel Noriega, who had been indicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges and was accused of suppressing democracy in Panama and endangering U.S. nationals. -
Bush and Gorbachev Summit
Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet leader, arrives in Washington D.C. to talk to President George Bush for three days. The summit meeting focused on the issue of Germany and its place in a changing Europe. -
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Persian Gulf War
The Gulf War, codenamed Operation Desert Storm, was a war waged by coalition forces from 35 nations led by the United States against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait. -
9/11
The September 11 attacks were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda on the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001.
