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Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japanese bombers staged a surprise attack on the US military and naval forces in Hawaii. The US suffered 3,435 casualties and lost or had severe damage done to many planes and vessels. The Japanese loss less than 100 personnel, 29 planes, and 5 midget subs. The attack united the nation and influenced their collective commitment to winning WWII. -
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Yalta Conference
A conference between Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill. Confirmed what was discussed in the Tehran Conf. about setting up the UN. Stalin had promised to allow democratic elections in countries that were taken by Russia. The Yalta Conf. had reneged promise. -
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Potsdam Conference
The Big Three (Stalin, Churchill, and Truman) met in Potsdam, Germany to negotiate terms for the end of WWII. They discussed on setting up zones of control. They wanted to inform the Japanese that if they refused to surrender immediately, then they would face total destruction. Known for when Truman told Stalin about the US's successful atomic bomb. -
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Berlin Airlift
Berlin was blocked off by the Soviet Union to restrict the Allied forces from sending supplies. US and UK forces began to airlift supplies to Allied sectors. The Allies countered Russia's blockade, causing severe shortages in Soviet sectors, which made the Soviets fear of an uprising. The Berlin Airlift is significant because it demonstrated the US's innovative spirit, efficiency, leadership, and perseverance. -
NATO Created
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created by the US, Canada and several Western European nations. They created it to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. It was a defense alliance. NATO was the first peacetime military alliance the US entered outside of the Western Hemisphere. -
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Korean War
It began as a civil war between North and South Korea, which was established by the USSR and US. It soon became international when, under US leadership, the UN joined to support SK and China to NK. By the end of the war, Korea divided along the 38th parallel. It was an example of the US Cold War of containment and militarization, setting up for further enlargement of the US along the perimeter of Asia. -
Warsaw Pact Created
The Warsaw Pact was created by the Soviet Union in 1955. It included the Soviet Union and seven of its satellites, countries allied with them, in Eastern Europe. It was also a defensive alliance. It was important because it helped promise mutual military cooperation. The Pact had become referred to as the Eastern bloc. -
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Suez Crisis
Abdul Gamal Nasser, Egypt's dictator and a former army officer who led the coup that overthrew King Farouk. nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956. Was attacked by British, French, and Israeli forces. The US then intervened on behalf of Egypt. This event is important because it damaged Britain and France's place as world powers. -
Construction of Berlin Wall Begins
After WWII, the Allied forces occupied Berlin. From 1949-61, about 3 million citizens of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) went to the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) through Berlin. Because of the major economic problems, Germany decided to build the Berlin Wall. The Wall became the symbol of the Cold War. -
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Cuban Missile Crisis
There was confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba. It lasted 13 days until it was resolved. It was considered the closest the US had ever come to having a nuclear war.