Cold War Pt. 2

Question 1

Bay of Pigs:

Answer 1

The Bay of Pigs invasion, a failed attempt by the United States to overthrow Fidel Castro’s government in Cuba, occurred in April 1961. The CIA-backed operation involved Cuban exiles who landed at Playa Girón (Bay of Pigs) with the goal of igniting a popular uprising against Castro. The invasion was a significant setback for the US and ultimately strengthened Castro’s position and his alliance with the Soviet Union.

Question 2

Cuban Missile Crisis:

Answer 2

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day period in October 1962 when the United States and the Soviet Union stood on the brink of nuclear war. The crisis arose from the Soviet Union secretly placing nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. President John F. Kennedy declared a naval blockade of Cuba to prevent further Soviet shipments of missiles, and the world held its breath as tensions escalated.

Question 3

JFK Assasination:

Answer 3

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy (JFK) is a pivotal and tragic event in American history.
Key Events:
Date and Location: November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas.
Assassination: While riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza, President Kennedy was fatally shot.
Accused Assassin: Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S. Marine, was arrested shortly after the assassination.

Question 4

1950’s Red Scare:
McCarthy

Answer 4

The Red Scare of the 1950s, also known as McCarthyism, was a period of intense fear of communism that gripped the United States, particularly during the Cold War. Senator Joseph McCarthy, a Republican from Wisconsin, played a central role in this period, making public accusations of communist infiltration in government and other institutions.

The Second Red Scare, also known as McCarthyism, was a period of intense anti-communist paranoia that gripped the United States, primarily during the 1950s. Fueled by Cold War tensions and the fear of communist espionage, it was characterized by widespread suspicion, political repression, and accusations against individuals suspected of communist ties.

Question 5

Suburbia:

Answer 5

In the 1950s, suburbia became a prominent feature of American life, fueled by factors like the “American Dream” of affordable housing, the baby boom, and the rise of the automobile. Mass-produced homes, like those built by William Levitt, became symbols of this era, offering a seemingly idyllic lifestyle to a growing population.

Question 6

Korean War Summary:

Answer 6

The Korean War was a conflict fought on the Korean peninsula from 1950 to 1953, primarily between North Korea (communist) and South Korea (non-communist). North Korea, supported by China and the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea, leading to a three-year war. The war ended in a stalemate with an armistice signed in 1953, but no peace treaty was ever established, leaving the peninsula divided along the 38th parallel. The war was a major proxy conflict of the Cold War, with the United States and the United Nations taking the lead in supporting South Korea.