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President Truman
Harry S. Truman became President of the United States with the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12, 1945. During his nearly eight years in office, Truman confronted enormous challenges in both foreign and domestic affairs. -
Yalta/Potsdam Conference
Held between the big three to negotiate what should happen after WWII -
Truman Doctrine
President Truman established that the US would provide political, economical and military assistance to all democratic nation from authoritarian forces. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan aimed to do two major things: prevent the spread of communism in western Europe and to provide economic assistance to restore the economic structure of Europe after the war. Named after George Marshall. -
Berlin Airlift
Carried 2.3 million tons of cargo into Berlin when imports and exports weren't coming and going. Needed to happen for the people of Berlin to make it through the blockade because resources were so low. -
Iron Curtain
A boundary dividing two European areas the east and the west. This "curtain" was imaginary but none the less was taken seriously by the two sides. -
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization - formed by 12 countries that agreed to help one another if there was a case of attack. The original goal was to challenge Russian Expansion. -
North Korean Invasion
North Korea invaded because of difference in political beliefs between them and South Korea. There was also clashes along the border. This sparked the start of the Korean War. -
Period: to
Korean War
Fought between North and South Korea. -
US/UN Coalition Forces Arrive
The US wanted to not only contain communism but to prevent the domino effect. Truman feared that if Korea fell then the next to fall would be Japan which was crucial in American Trade. -
Chinese Volunteers Join
The Chinese wanted North Korea as a Communist buffer state to protect their northeastern provinces that made up Manchuria and they also felt threatened by the American fleet that lay off their coast. However, they wanted to preserve a North Korean Communist state but not dominate it. -
Peace Treaty
There was never officially a peace treaty signed but it was a proposed settlement to end military hostility in Korea and come to a compromise. -
Domino Theory
The theory that if an event happens in one country similar events will happen in neighboring countries. -
Warsaw Pact
Defense treaty by the soviet union and 7 other Soviet Satellite states. -
Space Race
Competition between the Soviets and the USA for who could complete space exploration first. Included several brilliant minds, space probes, satellites and more. -
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was built to keep western "fascists" from entering East germany and destroying the social state but it caused a LOT of problems including that of preventing it's people from reaching their families and getting to work. -
Brinkmenship
This is when you push the limits of safety before stopping in the case of a dangerous situation. -
1st Man on The Moon
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first people on the moon after they flew up in the Apollo 11 spacecraft. -
Tear Down This Wall (Ronald Reagan)
After the US interfered with Berlin, Ronald Reagan posted himself just within the barrier of the two sides so that both could here his famous speech "Tear Down This Wall" in hope that it would help reunite the people. It was broadcast on several stations for the world to see. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
After several years of being up and several years of citizens missing half their families and jobs, the wall was finally torn down. It was a major party that went on for about 5 days. To this day, people still have pieces of the wall. -
Commonwealth of Independent States
Focussed on cooperation between political, economic and social affairs.