Assessment #1: The Cold War by Quintin Caster

1947 - The Truman Doctrine

2152891 — 2024-01-31 04:30:33 UTC

A political strategy proposed to congress by president Harry Truman as a way to slow or stop the spread of communism in Europe. His idea was that the countries were like dominoes, and that once one fell to the Soviet Union's influence, the rest would follow. To mitigate this, he proposed sending financial and economic aid to Greece and Turkey, the two countries most weakened after the war, and therefore most susceptible to communist influence.

1962 - The Cuban Missile Crisis

2152891 — 2024-01-31 04:41:07 UTC

The Cuban Missiles was a 13 day period of pure panic during the Cold War. President John F. Kennedy tried to invade Cuba and overthrow the communist government, this operation was known as "The Bay of Pigs." The invasion failed however, due to bad planning, causing Cuba to ask for help or protection from the USSR. The Soviets obliged and sent nuclear warheads to Cuba to protect themselves with. The US found the missile sites and found that Cuba was arming these warheads, which scared the US military greatly as they could fly to major American cities in just 3 minutes after launch. There was talk of air-striking the missile sites, but before that could happen there was a secret meeting between a US and a Soviet diplomat where they agreed to take the Soviet missiles out of Cuba under the condition that the US remove its nukes from Italy and Turkey and promise to never invade Cuba, possibly avoiding another world war.

1948 - The Marshall Plan

2152891 — 2024-01-31 06:08:03 UTC

An American initiative put into place in 1948 provided economic aid to Western Europe. The United States provided $13.3 billion in economic recovery programs to Western European economies after the end of World War II. George Marshall knew these poor countries would be easy targets for the Soviet Union to take over. He simply believed we should help solve the poverty, hunger, and desperation in Europe after WWII. One problem with his plan is that he said we should provide this aid, but only if the European countries be the one to suggest it and ask for help from the US.

1957 - The Eisenhower Doctrine

2152891 — 2024-01-31 06:23:26 UTC

The Eisenhower Doctrine was the most all-encompassing and accepting of the doctrines. Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed countries could request American economic and/or military assistance from the US if they were being threatened by armed aggression from another state. He put it to the test in Lebanon when they were facing no armed aggression or Soviet influence, this was to send a message to the USSR that the US would act to protect its interests in the middle east.

1961 - The Berlin Wall

2152891 — 2024-02-07 04:24:44 UTC

During the Cold War, the Berlin Wall was built to symbolize the division of the east and west. The provisions of the Yalta Conference merely stipulated that the split would last until free and fair elections could be held. The Berlin Wall's foundation was the barbed wire between East and West Berlin.

1957 - Sputnik

2152891 — 2024-02-07 04:26:43 UTC

When Sputnik revealed that the Soviet Union was able to launch both satellites and nuclear weapons, the United States was deeply concerned. The "open skies" policy refers to the ability to fly above each other's territory without restriction. The hydrogen bomb has 1,000 times more power than the atomic bomb.

1956 - U-2 Spy Planes

2152891 — 2024-02-07 04:31:12 UTC

The purpose of the U-2 spy planes during the Cold War was to gather intelligence about the adversaries. They were able to gather data because of their capacity to fly at very high elevations. The Cuban Missile Crisis and other significant events were the subject of intelligence gathered in large part thanks to the U-2 spy planes.

1950 - The Korean War Begins

2152891 — 2024-02-07 04:35:21 UTC

America got involved when North Korea invaded South Korea without warning after Truman asked for US support.

In retaliation, Truman was granted authority by the UN to designate a general to lead the UN forces. The war ended in a single day due to the assault's surprise.

1953 - The Result of the Korean War

2152891 — 2024-02-07 04:37:59 UTC

Over 3 million people lost their lives in the horrific Korean War. The Korean War caused the North and South to split apart. America delivered a message to stop Communist spread worldwide by getting involved in the fight.

1960 - John F. Kennedy Elected President

2152891 — 2024-02-07 04:42:08 UTC

The Kennedy election was a hotly debated topic in the 1960s. Kennedy's campaign was incredibly well-run, thanks in part to the backing of his affluent family. But some seemed unconcerned, arguing that Kennedy was too young and inexperienced to be elected president. Kennedy got professional speech coaching, and he gave a better speech than Nixon did. All this culminated in Kennedy's eventual victory over Nixon and his electoral victory in 1960.

1961 - Bay of Pigs

2152891 — 2024-02-07 04:45:11 UTC

The Bay of Pigs was widely acknowledged to be a complete failure. Kennedy decided to launch an attack on a secluded region of Cuba. assuming the absence of aircraft and few or no soilders. When the invasion landed in wetlands and the wrong place, it was already off to a poor start. Not every aircraft in Cuba was spared to repel the invaders. Furthermore, it took too long for them to remove the ammunition from the ships, which allowed the Cubans to sink the occupying force. They were apprehended and put in jail.

1963 - JFK Assassination

2152891 — 2024-02-07 04:55:06 UTC

The sad assassination of President Kennedy occurred in 1963. While in Dallas, Kennedy was engaged in his reelection campaign. Traveling in a motorcade, Kennedy insisted on having the roof lifted so he could see the throng and wave to them. That's where a bullet that entered his head and exited his body killed him. It was found that Kennedy and Connally had been shot after three rounds rang out during the parade. There are many of conspiracy theories around Kennedy's murder.

1950 - McCarthyism & Anti-Communist Propaganda Begins

2152891 — 2024-02-07 04:59:34 UTC

One way to recognize a communist was to look at their physical characteristics. There was always anti-communist propaganda, disseminating the notion that communism endangered the American people's liberties.

1938 - HUAC Founded

2152891 — 2024-02-07 05:03:39 UTC

Established in 1938, the House Unamerican Activities Committee (HUAC) was a congressional body tasked with investigating claims of communist involvement in the US. It became well-known during the Cold War by examining notable individuals in the entertainment industry, governmental bodies, and other fields. The methods of the HUAC came under fire for engaging in hunts and violating civil rights with its contentious techniques.

1947 - The Hollywood 10 are held in Contempt of Congress

2152891 — 2024-02-07 05:08:45 UTC

Following trials, the Hollywood 10 were found guilty after HUAC's investigation and were sentenced to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine each. These men were also blacklisted within the entertainment industry, the act of shunning people or groups for engaging in improper activity so that they may no longer work or be respected in that sector.

1951 - Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Convicted of Espionage

2152891 — 2024-02-07 05:12:26 UTC

The Rosenbergs were convicted of giving the Soviet Union access to sensitive information on the atomic bomb. In 1953, they were both executed by the federal government by means of electric chair.