Welcome!

Welcome to "Significant Cold War Events", a site for, well, Significant Cold War Events!

Go ahead and click on which decade you would like to learn more about.

by: Micah Archambeault
      Teresa Esparza
      Taylor Nevitt

1965- US Sends Troops to Vietnam

In response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident of August 2 and 4, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson, with the authority given to him by Congress in the earlier Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, decided to increase the Vietnam Conflict by sending U.S. ground troops to Vietnam. On March 8, 1965, 3,500 U.S. Marines landed near Da Nang in South Vietnam, they were the first U.S. troops to arrive in Vietnam
 
View Untitled in a larger map

1969- First Man on Moon

Neil Armstrong was the first man to take step on the moon on the Sea of Tranquility. Armstrong reported the lunar module's safe landing at 2017 GMT with the words: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." He said that the surface was like powder and the lander left a hole a foot deep. Armstrong spent his first few minutes on the Moon taking photographs and soil samples in case the mission had to be aborted suddenly.

Nixon and the Watergate Scandal

on June 1972, five men were arrested for breaking into the headquarters of Democratic National Committee. Later, after investigation had started, it was found out that those five men were connected to the White House. Nixon's reelection campaign funds were being used to fund the burglars, who were spying on the democrats. these illegal activities. These men involved in the scandal were employed by the president's committee to reelect the President. Nixon resigned and his political career was over. After the Watergate Scandal, US congress decided to curtail power of the president when it came to deployment of troops, money matters and freedom of information. Also the Freedom of Information Act was strengthened, allowing people to get access to government-related documents, the public became more aware of politicians, distrusting them.
 
View Watergate Hotel in a larger map
watergate

1973 Egypt and Syria attack Israel; Egypt requests Soviet Aid

When Israelis had taken land that was not their own, Egypt was angry so in 1972 Egyptian President Sadat promised a war if America didn't force Israel to return the land. America refused  so Egypt asked Soviet Union and when they refused Sadat kicked Soviets out of Egypt. 
In 1973, Egypt and Syria attacked Israel, but they were supported by Jordan, Palestine, Algeria, Morocco, Cairo, and Soviet Union. USA tried to talk the Soviet Union out of the war and help stop it, but did not work, and so America started to help Israel, attacking opposing countries. UN forced all nations to ceasefire.




View Untitled in a larger map
links
library.thinkquest.org

United States helps overthrow Chile government

In September 1973, President Salvador Allende was overthrown by the Chilean Military and endorsed by the United States. President Allende was involved with the Chilean Communist Party since the beginning, and so President Nixon informed that government in Chile wouldn't be accepted and he wasn't going to let him come into power. On the other hand, the Soviet Union supported Allende's government economically, politically and militarily. The Supreme Court denounced the Allende government's disruption of the legality of the nation in its failure to uphold judicial decisions.



View Republic of Chile in a larger map

North and South Korea Attack 1950

On the 25th of June 1950 the North Korean's attacked the South Koreans. Hoping to unify the Koreas under a single Communist government, the North launched a surprise invasion of South Korea. In the following days, the UN Security Council condemned the attack and demanded an immediate withdrawal. Kim Il Sung hoped to join the two Koreas into one communist nation.
North Koreans were successful. North Korean troops bombarded Yeonpyeong, an island in disputed waters, with dozens of rounds of artillery.The North Korean People's Army easily defeated the Republic or Korea's Army. They captured most of South Korea. On June 27th they persuaded the UN to pass a resolution supporting   South Korea. Americans sent troops to Korea to reinforce the South Korean army of Pusan.
Modern Wold Histrory Book
www.johndclare.net/cold_war10.htm

  
View North Korea Attacks South Korea in a larger map

Invasion of Cambodia

April 24-30, 1970

Cambodian leader Lon Nol refused to be under control of Communist China and Vietnam.U.S. President Nixon Orders a secret invasion of "Parrot's Beak"Cambodia to destroy enemy supply bases on 26 April. He keeps this order a secret knowing that Military officials would oppose to the idea.

On April 30th, US and South Vietnam invade Cambodia to attack North Vietnam military bases. Nixon's decision on attacking Cambodia let the anti-war movement. The news of the bombing was revealed through the New York Times and American college campuses erupt in protest. More than 250 State Department and foreign aid employees signed a letter to Secretary of State William Rogers criticizing U.S. military involvement in Cambodia. President's secret operation angered National Security Council staff who reigned soon after.


history.com


Sources
U.S. History Book
History Commons
U.S. Army Canter of Military History

View Invasion of Cambodia in a larger map

Cuba Taken Over by Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro took over Cuba by a force and remained its dictatorial leader for nearly 5 decades. Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel's movement against the regime of Cuban dictator between 1953 and 1959. Bastista was ousted on January 1, 1959. He was then replaced by Castro's revolutionary government. This government later formed along communist lines. During 1959 and 1960, Castro made radical changes in Cuba, including nationalizing industry, collectivizing agriculture, and seizing American-owned businesses and farms. Also during these two years, Castro alienated the United States and established strong ties with the Soviet Union. Castro transformed Cuba into a communist country. The United States wanted Castro out of power. In one attempt to overthrow Castro, the U.S. sponsored the failed incursion of Cuban-exiles into Cuba in April 1961 (the Bay of Pigs Invasion). Over the years, the U.S. has made hundreds of attempts to assassinate Castro, all with no success.
View Cuba in a larger map

1962-Cuban Missile Crisis

The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world ever came to a nuclear war. In 1962, the Soviets realized how far behind they were in the arms race, so they decided that they could get ahead by planting nuclear missile sites in Cuba to fire at the U.S. if needed. Fidel Castro, scared of another invasion since the Bay of Pigs invasion failed, agreed to this to have better defense against the U.S.. Once the U.S. heard of this he quickly organized the EX-COMM which went and formed a naval quarantine around Cuba.

Sputnik Launches and Space Race Begins 1957

Launches of satellites came from Baikonur Cosmo Dome in Kazakhstan, Russia.The world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a beach ball ( 22.8 inches in diameter), weighed only 183.9 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path. That launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. While the Sputnik launch was a single event, it marked the start of the space age and the U.S.-U.S.S.R space race. Satellites in space could offer spying advantages. Spying advantages was a great use for the Cold War. Americans were fearful of the Satellites Russia sent. Americans then tried to make a Satellite of their own. Once America made their own Satellite a space race started between America and Russia to have the best space technology.The Sputnik launch also led directly to the creation of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In July 1958, Congress passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act (commonly called the "Space Act"), which created NASA.
Modern World History Book


View Sputnik Launch from Russia in a larger map