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United Nations
Formed in 1945 after WWII creating their charter in San Franciso, CA. An international organization made up of 193 member states to promote peace, security, human rights, and friendly relations among nations. -
Truman Doctrine
U.S. foreign policy advocating for the containment of communism through military and economic assistance. Moving away from isolationism initially to support Greece and Turkey from Soviet influence, it later expanded U.S. foreign policy support to other countries. -
“Hollywood Ten”
10 motion picture writers,directors, and producers refused to answer questions about possible communist affiliations. They were people in the movie industry accused of being communist supporters by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). They were sentenced from 6 months to 1 year in prison for being in contempt of Congress. They were then blacklisted from the film industry and most never worked in Hollywood again. -
Marshall Plan
A U.S. initiative designed to rebuild western Europe after World War II (April 3, 1948 - Dec 31, 1951). This was an effort to prevent the domino effect of spreading communism by helping to strengthen the economies of European countries. 16 countries were assisted by this plan. -
NATO
A formed military alliance of 32 countries to provide collective security. These countries pledged to defend others from outside attacks. It was first created to bring together the US, Canada and much of western Europe to defend against the Soviet Union. NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. -
Korean War
A conflict between communist North Korea backed by the Soviet Union and Chinese and capitalist South Korea backed by the U.S. The war ended on July 27, 1953 without a real resolution. Today North and South Korea are still divided with a patrolled border and a communist North Korean government. -
Space Race/Sputnik
Sputnik was the first Russian satellite launched into orbit starting the space race, a race between the U.S. and Soviet union to develop better space technology. -
Bay of Pigs
A failed military operation to invade Cuba by a group of Cuban exiles trained by CIA Operatives. The invasion was lead and financed by the U.S. government. -
Berlin Wall Goes Up
Berlin wall dividing communist east and capitalist west of Berlin. It was put up to prevent citizens from escaping from communist east Berlin to west Berlin. -
U.S. officially enters Vietnam War
The first deployment of U.S. troops to Vietnam. It was a war between communist North Vietnam mostly backed by China and the Soviet Union and South Vietnam mainly supported by the U.S.. President Nixon began withdrawing U.S. troops from Vietnam in July 1969. In April 1975, South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam. The US lost the war. More than 58,000 US soldiers died and millions of Vietnamese died over the conflict. -
Soviets Invade Afganistan
Soviets sent troops to support the rising communist regime in Afghanistan (Dec 24, 1979- Feb 15, 1989). There were heavy casualties and consequences on both sides and it eventually lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War. -
Berlin Wall Comes Down
The wall dividing the communist east and capitalist west came down in Berlin. Pressures from democratization of nearby eastern European states forced out eastern German leaders and thus Germany was able to re-open their east-west border.