Cold War Era Events and Policies

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What was the Marshall Plan?

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The European Recovery Program, known as the Marshall Plan, was the U.S. program for rebuilding Western Europe and opposing communism after WWII, spending $13 billion on economic and technical assistance.

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What was the purpose of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?

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NATO was formed by the United States and non-communist European nations to halt the spread of communism from Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe.

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What is the Truman Doctrine?

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Proclaimed by President Truman in 1947, it stated that the U.S. would supply any nation with economic and military aid to prevent falling under Soviet influence.

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What triggered the Korean War?

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The Korean War began in 1950 when communist North Korea, aided by China, invaded South Korea. The U.S. intervened to contain communism.

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What was McCarthyism?

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McCarthyism was a period of intense fear of communism in the U.S., marked by Senator McCarthy's claims of communist infiltration in the government, leading to civil rights violations.

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What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

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In 1962, the discovery of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba led to a U.S. blockade and a standoff, resolved when the Soviets agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for the U.S. removing its missiles from Turkey.

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What was the Vietnam War about?

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The Vietnam War was a conflict for control of Vietnam, with the U.S. supporting South Vietnam against communist North Vietnam and the Vietcong, fearing the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.