The Cold War
By Gavin Waple
Containment
Containment was the policy that the United States and other NATO forces followed. Containment entailed that they would contain Communism in the countries that it was already in, and not let it spread any more.
The Iron Curtain
The Iron Curtain was the "curtain" separating the non-communist and Communist countries. It was a very common term that people referred to during the war.
Brinksmanship
Brinksmanship was the term used when countries pushed it to the limit, and there was no resulting conflict.
Truman Doctrine
With the Truman Doctrine, President Truman promised aid to countries who were threatened by Communism. This doctrine also helped the threatened countries to stay with the United States, and resist Communism.
Marshall Plan
Also passed under President Truman in 1947, this plan stated that the United States would help countries who had been destroyed, rebuild.
McCarthyism
Senator McCarthy created a Communist scare in the United States. He accused many of being alleged Communists, even those who held an office. Because of this scare, McCarthy created a Witch-Hunt, and people were being tried as Communists. However, he eventually lost political support, and died in 1957 from Hepatitis.
The Berlin Airlift
Russia wanted control of the city of Berlin when Germany was split into sections. To ensure absolute control, they blocked off roads and canals. However, the United States wanted the citizens to have their supplies. In order for them to do this, they dropped them from the air.
The Korean War
The Korean War was one of the bigger pieces of violence in the Cold War. The war was between the North Koreans (supported by the Chinese and Soviets), and the South Koreans (Supported by NATO). Even though the South Koreans were supported by NATO forces, the vast majority of these troops were Americans. After lots of fighting, both sides agreed to stop the violence, and the borders separating North and South Korea, which still remain, were drawn.
The U-2
The U-2 Incident involved an American U-2 spy plane that was over the Soviet Union getting shot down. The pilot was captured, and was sentenced 10 years in prison. However, the United States had captured a Soviet spy, and exchanged the two. This incident was actually the plot of the award-winning film Bridge of Spies.
The Space Race!
Space was a new territory to be explored in the sixties. So when the Soviet Union launched their first satellite into space, Americans were furious, and needed to go one step further. So America focused on getting the first man on the moon. America successfully accomplished this in 1968, with Neil Armstrong being the first man to walk on the moon.
The Bay of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs invasion was an attempted invasion of Cuba. When Castro came to power, some Cubans fled, or were exiled. So the United States trained the rebels. Afterwards, the Cubans invaded a place known as The Bay of Pigs. However, the invasion failed, and the surviving rebels were taken prisoner.
The Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis lasted for 13 days, and began when the Soviet Union placed their missiles in Cuba, who they were allied with. However, the United States did not like this, and put a blockade around Cuba. An agreement was reached, and the Soviets removed their missiles, and the United Stated agreed to never invade Cuba again.
Eisenhower Doctrine
The Eisenhower Doctrine was made to discourage Soviet activities in the Middle-East. It allowed Middle-Eastern countries to ask for the United States' help, if threatened by Communism.
The Cold War
What was the Cold War? The Cold war was a very long-lasting war between Anti-Communist Countries (NATO), and Communist Countries. NATO stood for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. After the Soviets discovered this, they created a pact with all the surrounding Communist countries. All the countries involved in NATO were Anti-Communist, and were trying to prevent the spread of Communism. However, the Communists were spreading Communism to surrounding countries. Even though this war was a very long war, it contained very little fighting, given the amount of years it took place.
Links:
"Berlin Airlift." History.com. A&E Television Networks
"The Iron Curtain" Britannica.com
"Joseph R. McCarthy." History.com. A&E Television Networks
"Korean War." History.com. A&E Television Networks
"Bay of Pigs Invasion." History.com. A&E Television Networks
"Cuban Missile Crisis." History.com. A&E Television Networks
"U-2 Spy Incident." History.com. A&E Television Networks
"The Cold War." Wikipedia.org.
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