Periodization
The ending of World War II did not international tensions. The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences marked agreements with the major Allied powers. Russia would go to war with Japan and Germany would be divided into four sections along with Berlin. Tensions between the USSR and U.S. were high and eventually led the two into the Cold War.
The U.S. had strong sentiments against communism. There was a large fear of its growth. The Vietnam War became a result of the fear of communism. The Domino Theory was present in every person's mind in fear that communism would overtake America as well; however, the Vietnam War was highly unpopular with a majority of Americans. The Cold War was not only a war in nuclear arms, but it was also a race in space. It was during this time period where major space programs were improved and built. It was a giant leap for mankind to enter space and step foot on the moon. The Civil Rights movement was still growing in the U.S. Leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Stokely Carmichael, and Malcolm X arose from the movement. Cases such as Brown v. Board of Education that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson gave hope to African Americans for integration. African Americans received complete voting rights and were on their way having equal rights once and for all. Roosevelt's New Deal inspired Johnson's Great Society as welfare and government aid became a larger part of the U.S., but quickly ended with the election of Nixon as president when he chose to implement more conservative policies; however, he should have thought about that twice when he decided to bug the Democratic National Committee and create the Watergate Scandal. |
Turning Points/Major Events
Yalta Conference (1945)
Yalta - Russia was to declare war on Japan - Russia would obtain the land it hand lost before the war
- Russo-Japanese War
- Communism |
Truman Doctrine (1947)
democratic countries that were being threatened by communism - The U.S. would provide military, economic, and political aid
- USSR and American tensions
- Cold War - Communism - U.S. intervention |
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
was refused - Her parents were angry as heck and sued the school - The case was taken to the Supreme Court and it was said that separate is not equal
- Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson - Increased civil rights
- Integration |
Vietnam War (1955)
Congress - Mainly an attempt to combat communism in the Pacific
- My Lai Massacre - My parents escaped Vietnam and created the gift of the world that is me - Distracted from civil rights efforts in the U.S. - Vietnaminization
- Imperialism |
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
- The weapons were aimed at the U.S. - The U.S. was under constant fear that USSR would fire them at any moment - At the same time, the U.S. placed nuclear weapons in Turkey and were aimed at the Soviets
- Limited Test Ban Treaty
- Cold War - Nuclear arms race |
Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964)
wanted to North Vietnam - He was allowed to take any measures necessary to retain peace in South East Asia
- Just a wee bit more support was given to the war, but not really
- Communism |
Neil Armstrong walks on the moon (1969)
to the moon within the decade - In 1969 NASA launched Apollo 11 to space - Neil Armstrong became the first man on the moon
- First man on the moon - U.S. gained speed in the space race
- Space race |
Watergate Scandal (1972)
- It was assumed they were sent by Nixon since one of them had $25k in his bank account linked to Nixon's federal campaign - This is illegal as heck and not ok
- Nixon resigns - 69 officials are charged
- Butthole Nixon |
Camp David Accords (1978)
- He wouldn't allow either to leave until they came to any sort of compromise concerning the conflict
- Peace was made in the Middle East until el-Sadat was assassinated
|
Iranian Hostage Crisis (1979)
hostages - They let go of any minorities and women - Carter tried to send troops to get them out but the plane crashed (Operation Eagle Claw) - Hostages were taken for 444 days - They were subjected to humiliation and mental torture - They were finally released shortly after Reagan's inaugural address
- Those who were involved in Operation Eagle Claw died
|
Comparisons
NATO & Warsaw Pact
Similarities
|
NATO
|
Warsaw Pact
|
Vietnam War & Korean War
Similarities
|
Vietnam
|
Korea
|
U.S. & USSR in Space Race
Similarities
|
U.S.
|
USSR
|