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NATO was created on April 4th, 1949 that provided a collective defense against Soviet aggression in Europe.

Throughout the 1950s, NATO solidified its role in Western defense strategy.

This alliance with NATO expanded and eventually included major Western powers like Canada, France, and the United Kingdom.

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North Korean forces invaded South Korea on June 25th, 1950.

The UN, led by the United States, joined in on South Korea's side.

This was the beginning of future U.S.-Soviet confrontations in Asia.

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The Hydrogen Bomb Test was when the U.S. detonated it's first hydrogen bomb named "Ivy Mike" on November 1st, 1952.

Due to the creation of this hydrogen bomb, it marked a significant escalation in the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union.

The test demonstrated the increased destructive power of thermonuclear weapons.

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Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for espionage on June 19th, 1953.

They were accused of passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union.

This case heightened communist fears and infiltration in the United States.

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McCarthyism and the Red Scare (1950s-1954)

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McCarthyism and the Red Scare (1950s-1954)

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Senator Joseph McCarthy led a campaign against alleged communists in the U.S. government.

During this, many American's were blacklisted and lost their jobs due to unproven communist accusations.

McCarthyism ended in 1954 when Joseph McCarthy was censured by the Senate.

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The Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

The decision overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine.

This was a step forward for the Civil Rights Movement.

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In response to NATO, the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc countries formed the Warsaw Pact on May 14th, 1955.

This alliance provided a counterbalance to NATO's military power.

It also solidified the division of Europe into Eastern and Western Blocs.

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On October 4th, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the very first artificial satellite called Sputnik.

This event initiated the Space Race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

The U.S. responded to the release of Sputnik by creating NASA.

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Alaska became the 49th state on January 3rd, 1959. This was partly influenced by its strategic military location because of its proximity to the Soviet Union.

Hawaii became the 50th state on August 21st, 1959. It's location in the central Pacific was used as a U.S. military base for operations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Both Alaska and Hawaii citizens were granted full representation in Congress who gave additional assistance in the Cold War.

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U-2 Incident (1960, with context in the 1950s)

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U-2 Incident (1960, with context in the 1950s)

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A U.S. U-2 plane was shot down over the Soviet Union on May 1st, 1960.

This incident led to a revealed extent of U.S. espionage activities.

This eventually led to the heightening of Cold War tensions and led to the collapse of a US-Soviet summit.