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United Nations Formed
The United Nations (UN) was formed on Oct 24, 1945. It was created after WWII to prevent future conflicts and promote international cooperation on social, economic, and humanitarian issues. There are currently 193 Member States in the UN and it is the world's largest intergovernmental organization. -
Truman Doctrine
President Harry Truman announced the Truman Doctrine in a speech to a joint congress asking for $400 million in military and economic assistance for Turkey and Greece to resist communist influence. This was a turning point for the US by moving away from isolationism and towards an assertive role in international affairs. The Doctrine led to increased US economic and military aid to countries facing communist threats. It later expanded on July 4, 1948 and contributed to the formation of NATO. -
Hollywood 10
The Hollywood 10 were a group of directors, screenwriters, and producers who refused to answer questions from the US House Un-American Activities Committee (investigate foreign and domestic communism in the US.) They were accused of communist affiliations and they used their First Amendment rights against the allegations. They received jail time and were not allowed to return to the Hollywood film industry. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan (European Recovery Program) ran from April 3, 1948 - December 31, 1951. The main purpose of the Marshall Plan was the US taking initiative to help aid Western Europe's economic recovery after WWII. Over 3 years, the total fund for the plan was over $12 billion, and 16 European nations received aid in the form of food, technological assistance, cash, and machinery. -
Forming of NATO
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed on April 4, 1949, as well as the Washington Treaty. The main reason for the creation of NATO was to create military alliances in North American and European Nations to provide collective defense (attack against one is an attack against all) against Soviet aggression in WWII. NATO has evolved since and has adapted to new security measures including terrorism and cyber warfare. -
Korean War
After WWII Korea was divided into democratic South Korea and communist North Korea with conflict fought between the two. The US supported South Korea with China supporting North Korea. The war ended with an armistice in 1953 creating the 38th Parallel dividing the peninsula into the still communist North Korea and democratic South Korea. -
Space Race/Sputnik
Sputnik was the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth, launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. The launch of Sputnik was shocking to Americans due to the US thinking they were technologically ahead of the Soviet Union, which led to the "space Race" between the two countries. The purpose of Sputnik was to determine the capability of sending the satellite into orbit around the Earth. Sputnik orbited the Earth for around 96 minutes and decayed on Jan 4, 1958. -
Bay of Pigs
This invasion was a failed attempt by the US to take down Fidel Castro's government in Cuba from April 17, 1961-April 20, 1961. On April 17, 1961 Cuban exiles supported by the US landed on the Bay of Pigs on the Southern coast of Cuba. The invasion failed and made Castro's control over Cuba stronger. President Kennedy took responsibility for the failure and the captured exiles were released in exchange for a shipment of food and medicine. -
Berlin Wall Goes Up
The Berlin Wall was built on August 13, 1961 by East Germany to prevent Eastern Germans from fleeing to go to Western Germany. It was a guarded barrier starting out as barbed wire and later turning into the wall. -
US official enters Vietnam War
The US officially entered the Vietnam War in spring 1965, sending the first combat troops to South Vietnam after escalating military involvement since 1955. The US entering the war was driven by the Cold War domino theory, containing communism, and supporting South Vietnam against North Vietnam. The US had been providing advisors and aid to South Vietnam in the 50's before officially entering the war. -
Soviets invade Afghanistan
Starting the Soviet-Afghan War, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to support the pro-Soviet government against the Mujahideen rebels. The Soviets provided military and political support to the Afghan communist regime, and Soviet troops reached a peak of 100,000 soldiers occupying major cities and playing a key role in the conflict. The war lasted until 1989 when the Soviet Union withdrew troops from Afghanistan after causing widespread destruction and casualties. -
Berlin Wall Comes Down
The Berlin Wall was torn down on November 9, 1989 because of political changes in Eastern Europe, protests, migration, unrest in East Germany and a false announcement about border crossing regulations. The wall coming down made German reunification happen on October 3, 1990.