The attempt of one nation to block another nation from spreading its influence to other nations.
The United States attempts to stop the spread of communism during the Cold War era. Developed by U.S. diplomat George F. Kennan

In 1947, Secretary of State George Marshall proposed an economic plan to rebuild Europe after WWII. The nations that accepted United States aid had to remove all trade barriers and agree to cooperate economically with each other.

The United States gave Greece and Turkey over $400 million in aid to prevent the spread of communism in Europe. The U.S. pledged to fight communism worldwide.
After WWII, Great Britain attempted to send economic and military aid to save the Greek and Turkish governments to prevent Communist takeovers.

The threat of using atomic or nuclear weapons in retaliation of any attack. Fear of global destruction.
Also known as MAD-Mutually-assured destruction. Prevented World War III.

A nation's willingness to go to the edge of total war to force the other side to back down.President Eisenhower threatened nuclear war to maintain world peace during a crisis.

In June, 1948, the Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin from the rest of West Germany. The West responded by flying food and medicine to West Berliners.
Lasted from June, 1948 through May, 1949. Stalin lifted the blockade without war.

Created in 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was a military alliance between the U.S. and 11 western European nations
An attack on one is considered an attack on all. Formed out of fear of Soviet aggression and expansionism.

Created in 1955 in Warsaw, Poland, it was a military alliance between the Soviet Union and its eastern European satellite nations. Formed after the U.S. and its allies allowed West Germany to rearm and join NATO.

Korean Peninsula was divided at the 38th parallel after WWII. USSR created a communist government in North Korea. U.S. created a democracy in South Korea. Backed by the USSR and China, North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950. U.S. and the United Nations intervened. An armistice ended the fighting in 1953. Korea remains divided and volatile today.

In 1945, Americans began to fear that Communists were secretly working to subvert the American government. The nation whipped up into an anti-communist frenzy as in 1921

President Harry S. Truman's presidential policies. Congress raised the minimum wage and expanded Social Security. Congress passed the National Housing Act with provided low-income housing.

After Japan withdrew from China, Communist forces under Mao Zedong resumed the fight to overthrow Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek. U.S. backed Chiang; USSR backed Mao. Communists won in 1949. Birth of People's Republic of China. Chiang's Nationalists fled to Taiwan.

In 1956 Egyptian president Gamal Nasser seized the Suez Canal from the Anglo-French company that owned it. British, French, and Israeli troops invaded Egypt. The USSR offered military support to Egypt and threatened to launch nuclear missiles at Britain and France. Eisenhower pressured Britain and France to withdraw their forces.

Required labor union leaders to take oaths swearing to not be communists Labor unions launched their own efforts to purge communists from their organizations.

Wisconsin senator Joseph McCarthy was chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on investigations and led an anti-Communist "witch hunt." He used tactics of damaging reputations with vague and unfounded charges. He was censured by the Senate and he died in 1957

Pres. Eisenhower delivered a farewell address in January, 1961 in which he pointed out a new relationship between the military and the defense industry. He warned Americans to be on guard against the immense influence of a military-industrial complex in a democracy. He believed it could lead to more wars.

HUAC focused on the film industry as a powerful cultural force that Communists might use to manipulate Americans. Ronald Reagan testified that Communists were in Hollywood. Ten screenwriters used their Fifth Amendment right to protect themselves from self-incrimination and refused to testify before HUAC.

On October 4, 1957, the Soviets launched the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth. This alarmed Americans who believed the USSR was ahead in missile technology. Started the Space Race. Congress created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and provided funds for education and training in math, science and foreign languages

The House of Representatives Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated Communist activities in the U.S. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover urged HUAC to hold public hearings on Communist subversion.