Bikini Atoll
This was an area where Americans tested 23 atomic bombs. The area experienced environmental problems due to the excess radiation.
Chinese Civil War
A major "loss" during the cold war was when China fell to communism. The war was won by the Communist Party of China, and that was not taken lightly by the containment aimed Americans.
The U2 Incident
A U-2 American Spyplane was shot down in Soviet airspace. This not only furthered the tensions between the the US and the Soviets but it also let Americans know that they were vulnerable.
Cuba
Cuba's fall to communism was a scary thing for America. The actions of the island country were unpredictable with Fidel Castro as its new leader. In one of the most embarrassing moments in American history, troops were into Cuba, who were mercilessly killed. It was unexpected for Castro's troops to prevail over ours, and the operation was given the name the Bay of Pigs.
The soviets began to move missiles into Cuba to "support" their new found ally. This began the most tense time of the cold war, or the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviet weaponry in Cuba did include ICBM's that if shot from Cuba, could reach all the way to Washington, D.C. Due to the possibility of complete nuclear war, direct war like activities had to be avoided with the soviets at all cost. The Cuban Missile Crisis began a period called the Thirteen Days, which was the closest to Hot War, or actual mobilization of troops, the United States came with the Soviets. A blockade, in military terms, is used to describe when one nation's ships block another's from entering a certain county's water-space. This is considered to be an act of war, and was the least aggressive of the American plans of action. In order to avoid war, the United States decided to, under the leadership of John F. Kennedy, "quarantine" Cuba. The American Navy was sent out to to surround Cuba and inspect all ships entering the area for missiles. After Soviet ships heading toward Cuba do not respond to the American Navy, The Navy prepared for battle, and were even given orders to be ready to fire. At the last second, Soviet ships turn around and head away from Cuba, preventing the possible breaking point in the Cold War.
The soviets began to move missiles into Cuba to "support" their new found ally. This began the most tense time of the cold war, or the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviet weaponry in Cuba did include ICBM's that if shot from Cuba, could reach all the way to Washington, D.C. Due to the possibility of complete nuclear war, direct war like activities had to be avoided with the soviets at all cost. The Cuban Missile Crisis began a period called the Thirteen Days, which was the closest to Hot War, or actual mobilization of troops, the United States came with the Soviets. A blockade, in military terms, is used to describe when one nation's ships block another's from entering a certain county's water-space. This is considered to be an act of war, and was the least aggressive of the American plans of action. In order to avoid war, the United States decided to, under the leadership of John F. Kennedy, "quarantine" Cuba. The American Navy was sent out to to surround Cuba and inspect all ships entering the area for missiles. After Soviet ships heading toward Cuba do not respond to the American Navy, The Navy prepared for battle, and were even given orders to be ready to fire. At the last second, Soviet ships turn around and head away from Cuba, preventing the possible breaking point in the Cold War.
Kennedy Assassination
In 1963 Lee Oswald assassinated John F. Kennedy. JFK was shot while riding in his car, and the direction of the bullet, and different reports about the number of gunshots led to the creation of conspiracy theories, including the possibility of more than one assassin. Before Oswald could be questioned, however, he was murdered by a man named Jack Ruby, a supposed Patriot, who in turn received a life-time sentence to prison.
the Gulf of Tonkin
Lyndon B. Johnson became president after the assassination of JFK and within his first year in office the Gulf of Tonkin Incident occured. American ships stationed outside of Vietnam in the gulf reported that they were attacked. The damage was light, and the enemy was unclear, however it was immediately assumed that the Vietnamese were responsible. Congress approved the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which was essentially a blank check given to President Johnson to "Do whatever it takes to take care of the incident." Johnson took advantage of the resolution and this ultimately led to American troops in Vietnam. This was a terrible bloody war that caused Americans to go insane. Children were armed and used in the National Liberation Front, or the Vietcong. This made it impossible to discern who the enemy was in urban conflict. Many civillians were killed by American forces.
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
The soviets invaded Afghanistan and this put an end to the United States' Detente policy. In attempt to aid the Afghans and to stop the spread of communism America drops weaponry into Afghanistan for the Afghan people to use to defend themselves, and the Soviets did not expect this. This was a controversial decision however because to this day we are fighting the Afghani resistance forces, or Taliban, that we once provided with weapons.
iran
Rebels in Iran infiltrated the American Embassy and held 54 Americans hostage for over 400 days in the Iran Hostage Crisis it is later revealed that Reagan administration had illegally sold weapons to Iran in the Iran-Contra Affair. The only justification given for this act was that it might help release the Ameriican hostages in Iran.