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Truman Creates the H-Bomb
Truman decided in January 1950 to authorize the development of the hydrogen bomb to counter the Soviets. This accelerated the Cold War arms race. In September, Truman approved a National Security Council document (NSC-68) that reevaluated and recast American military strategy. Among other things, NSC-68 stressed the need for a massive buildup of conventional and nuclear forces, no matter the cost. The hydrogen bomb was tested on Bikini Island, now known as Bikini Bottom. -
The Domino Theory
The Domino theory was the idea that if Vietnam fell to communism, the closest neighbors would fall too. This would threaten Japan, the Philippines, and Australia. America took the lead role in containing communism in order to keep democracy dtrong. Stopping the communist from spreading in Vietnam was important to the protection of the entire region. -
Massive Retaliation (Brinkmanship)
In 1954, Dulles announced the policy of Massive Retaliation. This policy states that if Communist threats the United States, we would respond by threatening to use crushing forces even nuclear weapons. This intensified the tensions between the USSR and the U.S. The precedent was set for a possible war using nuclear weapons. This left the country in constant fear. -
SEATO
A new alliance underscored U.S. alliance in Asia. Similar to NATO, the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization was a defensive alliance that wanted to prevent the spread of communism. The countries included Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, France, Britain, and the United States. This added to the United States' foreign goal to limit the spread of communism on any terms. -
Eisenhower Doctrine
President Eisenhower made a statement that became known as the Eisenhower Doctrine. He announced that the U.S. would use force to help any Middle Eastern nation threatened by communism. -
NASA was created
Congress quickly approved the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to coordinate the space-related efforts of American scientists and military. NASA was put in place to orginaze our space efforts to keep up with Russia right after they had just launched Sputnik 1. -
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps were created in 1961 under President Kennedy. It sent American volunteers around the world on "missions of freedom" to assist developing countries. They helped provide technical, educational, and health services. -
Bay of Pigs Invation
President Kennedy decided to implement a CIA-led force of attacks on Cuba. The invasion was badly managed, and the forces had no protective cover. If anything, it strengthened Castro in Cuba. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
In 1962, U.S. intelligence discovered that the soviets were building nuclear missile sites in Cuba to 'protect Castro from another American invasion'. The entire east coast of America could be in range of the missiles. After six days, Khrushchev eventually agreed to honor the blockade and remove the missiles. -
Moon Speech
President John F. Kennedy whipped up support for NASA's fledgling Apollo program in a speech that contains perhaps the most famous words he ever uttered about space exploration. This speech was the beginning of the United States' involvement in the Space Race. It set the precedent that the U.S. will do anything to reach the moon. It raised patriotism within the country and heightened tensions with Russia. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to authorize President Johnson to take any measures he believed were necessary to retaliate and to promote the maintenance of international peace and security in southeast Asia. The resolution gave Johnsontemendous war powers. It enabled him to send troops to South Vietnam without even going back to Congress to ask for a declaration of war. -
Tet Offensive
On January 30, 1968, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launched the Tet Offensive (a coordinated series of attacks on 36 cities and towns in South Vietnam). Though U.S. and South Vietnamese forces managed to hold off the Communist attacks, news coverage of the offensive shocked and dismayed the American public and further weakened support for the war effort. -
Vietnamization
President Nixon would withdraw U.S. forces and have ARVN troops assume more duties. The hope was that with our aid behind them, the ARVN would fight their own battles to secure South Vietnam. Nixon called this approach Vietnamization. -
Nixon visits China and normalizes relations
President Nixon made the trip and toured the Great Wall, the Imperial Palace, and other historical sites in China. Nixon had lengthy discussions with Enalai and Zedong. The visit was very successful and strengthened the U.S. relations with China. -
SALT l
The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty froze the deployment of ICBMs and ABMs. SALT did not alter the stockpiling of MIRVs. Although SALT did not end the arms race, it was a giant step towards it. Tensions weakened after the SALT treaty. Nixon was rewriting our foreign policy with his new ideologies during his visit to China. -
Paris Peace Accords
The United Sates, South Vietnam, the Vietcong, and North Vietnam all signed the Paris Peace Accords. The parties agreed to cease-fire and the withdraw od U.S. troops in Vietnam. North Vietnamese troops would stay in South Vietnam and the noncommunist government would remain. The unpopular war was finally over, and our role as the mediator in the war ended. We were no longer involved in a foreign conflict, but this quickly lead to the increase in tensions in the Cold War. -
War Powers Act
In 1973, the Congress passed the War Powers Act. The act restricted President's war-making powers by requiring him to consult with congress within 48 hours of committing American troops to a foreign conflict. The goal of this was to stop imperial presidency. The president's powers were limited, and the availability of war weakened.
