1st Berlin crisis- Berlin is split into 4 zones: British, French, US, and Soviet- Soviets put up a blockade to western powers so we airlifted supplies in, and they lifted the blockade just 6 months later
Red Scare- US was very fearful communists were going to take over our country, Senator McCarthy locked people up who he thought were communism
1950- McCarthy gave a speech saying he had a list of 205 communists in the state department, he started having hearings to try to weed out to "communists" weather you said yes or no you were punished.
downfall of McCarthy- spring 1954- he accused army personnel of being communist but then was censored by the senate because people realized he had no proof. McCarthyism- accusing people with no proof
Bay of Pigs- situation started under Eisenhower, but then left up to Kennedy. We didn't like having Cuba as communist country so close to us. "Cubans" (people that left Cuba and wanted to overthrow them) invaded Cuba and we were supposed to give air support but didn't. It failed horribly. Cuba brought in missiles
Cuban Missile Crisis- 13 days long, we knew that Soviet Union had missiles in Cuba- long range hitting anywhere in US- we said we wouldn't invade if they moved them and we would six months after the fact move our missles from Turkey
Berlin Wall- set up to keep people inside the country because the gov't knew people would choose freedom over equaltiy. seperated family and friends. cross through Charlie Checkpoint if you were allowed.
Korean war- North invaded the South (with the permission of Stollin and Mao), then US got involved(North was afraid of this) and pushed North almost to Chinese border. China got involved. US feared WW3
Security Council- US, GB, USSR-(Russia), France
Amistance agreement- peace treaty not ending the war, still at war officially today but no fighting
Vietnam war/conflict-1950-1975
1. Beginnings- we fought them because they wanted to be independent but we didn't want them too, we were still afraid of communism and didn't like it. Vietnam just wanted big countries to leave them alone. French gained control of Vietnam in a series of colonial wars, Africa is being carved up by European powers during this time. Japanese took control during WW2, but then they surrendered so Vietnam would be independent but we didn't let that happen. France faught to get back Vietnam that was taken from them in WW2. Vietnam defeated French in 1954. Vietnam assumes they will be independent. Ho Chi Minh- went to Paris Peace Conference to get independence for Vietnam, he was turned down. He goes to S.U. to train to create a communist revolution in his country. then fights during WW2. He turned against US. We felt we had to go to war. Geneva Conference- Vietnam was split North/South at the 17th Parallel. North is communist- south is more like democracy. We started helping the south. There was supposed to be an election to get a right leader so they never were unified again.
2. US Involvement- escalation- 1. In 1950's we sent military aid to French. 2. In early 1960's we sent military advisers to help South Vietnamese to make sure they were strong enough to hold off North Vietnam 3. Special forces- green berets 4. Combat troops for defense. 1-4 in early 1960's 5. combat troops for offensive purposes 1964 6. More troops 1968
Sides - US, South Vietnamese
North Vietnamese (Vietcong) or Communist in the North
3. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution- conflict-Several US ships were supposedly attacked by north Vietnam torpedoes in the Gulf of Tonkin- Congress passes the resolution and gave Johnson permission to take any necessary action to protect the US.
4. Tet offensive- pres Johnson and General William kept saying that with more troops we will win the war. It was on a day of celebration so north Vietnam attacked all major cities in South Vietnam. Big blow to war popularity because they were supposed to be crushed and then they had the huge attack. We demolished them though. One of US biggest victory but went down as a loss because it made the war become very unpopular.
5. Unpopular war- Pentagon Papers- NY Times published leaked papers that showed the Gov't was lying to people about the war. Operation Rolling thunder- code name for non-stop bombing in the north. was not successful in making North surrender. We didn't want to invade because China could have gotten into it and caused WW3.
1. tet offensive
2. Pentagon Papers
3. Injuring/killing innocent people
4. supporting bad southern gov't
5. power of the press
Kent st.- riots about war national gaurd came and ended up firing and killing 5 students.
Drafting:
How did they get out of it:
1. Went to Canada or Sweden
2. Went to college
3. Got married
4. Medically unfit for service
5. Joined National Guard or Peace Corps
6. Claimed to be homosexual
7. Being rich
6. De-escalation & "Peace w/ Honor"- Nixon called for the "Vietnamization" of the war. (we are going to pull out our troops gradually and allowed the south Vietnamese to fight their own war. )
Nixon wanted "Peace with Honor"- end the war but with out heads held high.
Nixon tried to win war before we pulled out. - he bombed Laos and Cambodia
7. The end- Jan. 15 1973- Nixon announced the suspension of offensive action in North Vietnam.
Paris Peace Accords were later signed on Jan. 27, 1973 which officially ended US involvement in the Vietnam conflict.
peace agreement didn't last. North Invaded the south 2 years later and went down easily. we didn't live up to our promise to help the south if invaded. on July 2, 1976 they came together and formed the Socialist Republic of Vietman
Why US won/ Soviet downfall reasons:
1. we had close ties with our allies
2. China started siding with US after 1972
3. SU was in shambles:huge deficit, high inflation, corruption, social problems, shortage of basic needs
4. Strong anti-communist presidency of Reagan
5. Gorbachev's willingness for change and reform. : 1. glasnost and perestroika 2. Admitted Soviet mistakes 3. took blame for cold war 4. communsit system had failed 5. Allowed Europe to do what they wanted.
6. Arms Reduction Talks
1. SALT, INF, Reagan-Gorbachev meetings
7. Soviet Mistakes
1. Invasion of Afghanistan
2. Ignoring social concerns
3. Spent everything on military
Post Cold War:
-In 1990's world seemed peacfull. Clinton made military smaller
- 9-11 caught US off guard
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