Cold War Events: Berlin Airlift & Korean War

The Soviet Union attempted to take control of West Berlin by cutting off all land access to the city. The Western Allies responded by airlifting supplies to West Berlin for over a year, preventing the city from falling under Soviet control.

The main reason for the United Nations sending troops to Korea in 1950 was to prevent North Korea from conquering South Korea.

The 38th Parallel served as the border between North and South Korea, both before and after the Korean War.

China's involvement in the Korean War was a major turning point, boosting North Korea's forces and prolonging the conflict. North Korea's forces were nearly defeated until China intervened, pushing back UN and South Korean troops, and changing the course of the war.

The Korean War, often labeled the "Forgotten War", was a major conflict during the Cold War, lasting from 1950 to 1953, and leaving the Korean peninsula divided.

Sarah Palin emerged as a prominent figure in the Republican Party during the 2008 Presidential Election, gaining significant attention as John McCain's running mate.

The economic crisis of 2008, known as the Great Recession, was the most pressing issue facing President Obama upon taking office in 2009.

The political divide during Obama's presidency was fueled by issues like race relations, immigration, and gun control, leading to intense debates and polarization.

Following the Republican victory in the 2014 Congressional elections, a grand deal was proposed between Republican leader John Boehner and President Obama, focusing on raising taxes and cutting entitlement programs.

Glenn Beck, a conservative commentator, publicly critiqued Obama's approach to governance, accusing him of excessive government intervention in society.

The policy of containment was a cornerstone of US foreign policy during the Cold War. Its aim was to stop communism from spreading to other countries, based on the assumption that it could eventually threaten global stability.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the United States established a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent Soviet ships carrying nuclear missiles from entering Cuban waters. This was a key step in the escalating events that led to a tense standoff between the US and the USSR.

The Domino Theory was a Cold War era ideology that predicted that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would inevitably follow suit. It fueled US involvement in various conflicts to prevent the spread of communism, particularly in Vietnam.

The Bay of Pigs Invasion, a failed attempt by US-backed Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro's government, significantly pushed Cuba towards the Soviet Union. This event sparked a need for military protection, leading Cuba to accept Soviet nuclear missiles on its territory.

The Vietnam War was a major conflict during the Cold War, deeply impacting both Vietnam and US politics. It involved a communist North Vietnam attempting to unify the country by taking over the US-backed South Vietnam. The war ended with North Vietnam's victory in 1975, leading to the unification of Vietnam under communist rule.

The 17th Parallel was a geographical marker dividing North Vietnam and South Vietnam. This artificial border, set after the French withdrawal, became a flashpoint for the conflict, as North Vietnam sought to reunite the country and South Vietnam received US support to resist communist ambitions.

The Tet Offensive was a major turning point in the Vietnam War, where North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launched a coordinated attack on cities and US military bases across South Vietnam. Although a military defeat for the Viet Cong, the offensive shook the US public’s confidence in the war and increased anti-war sentiment.

The US involvement in the Vietnam War escalated significantly after the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964. This event involved alleged attacks on US warships in the Gulf of Tonkin by North Vietnam, though later evidence questioned the validity of the claims. The incidents provided justification for sending more US troops to Vietnam, leading to a major expansion of US involvement.