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

  
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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.
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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


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Rosenberg Case 1953

The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Julius was and electrical engineer who worked for the U.S. army signal corps. In 1942, Julius and Ethel became full members in the American Communist Party. By 1943, however, the Rosenbergs dropped out of the Communist Party to pursue Julius's espionage activities. Early in 1945, Julius was fired from his job with the Signal Corps when his past membership in the Communist Party came to light.  They were indicted for conspiracy to transmit classified military information to the Soviet Union. The trial against the Rosenbergs began on March 6, 1951. From the beginning, the trial attracted a high amount of media attention and generated a largely polarized response from observers, some of whom believed the Rosenbergs to be clearly guilty, and others who asserted their innocence. The government investigated the Soviet spy-rings in the U.S. and more arrests were made. Julius and Ethel were both found guilty for telling the Soviet Union information about the atomic bomb. and received the death sentence.
Library.thinkquest.org/10826/timeline.htm



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McCarthyism 1954

McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty or treason without proper evidence was an American politician originally aligned with the United States Democratic Party and later with the United States Republican Party. McCarthy served as a U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 to 1957. Senator Joseph McCarthy in the United States accused the U.S. army of "Coddling Communists."  As many as twenty million Americans watched the combative senator demolish people who had no chance to defend themselves. On February 20, 1950 McCarthy addressed the senate. He made a list of dubious claims against suspected communists. He had a list of 81 on that day with no evidence and the senate called for a full investigation. Some Republicans in the senate were surprised, but others like Robert Taft and Richard Nixon were for McCarthy. The public rewarded McCarthy for his doings.
US Histroy Book



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