U.S. History and Cold War Events: Key Battles, Policies, and Alliances

Baruch Plan (1946)

U.S. proposal for international control of atomic weapons, announced by Bernard Baruch at the United Nations.

Bases for destroyers deal (1940)

President Franklin Roosevelt gave Great Britain fifty World War I vintage destroyers in return for a lease on Newfoundland, Bermuda, and British islands in the Caribbean.

Battle of New Orleans (1816)

American victory over the British, led by Andrew Jackson, fought two weeks after the Treaty of Ghent.

Battle of Tippecanoe (1811)

Battle in Indiana won by William Henry Harrison, giving U.S. full control of the Ohio Valley.

Battle of Lake Erie (1813)

American victory in the War of 1812 that gave control of the Great Lakes to the U.S.

Bay of Pigs invasion (1961)

Ill-fated invasion of Cuba planned by the CIA to replace Fidel Castro, resulting in a disaster.

Beer and Wine Revenue Act (1933)

Taxed the production of alcoholic beverages after the ratification of the XXI Amendment.

Berlin Blockade (1948)

Soviet military cut off transport to Berlin, leading to a U.S. and UK airlift to supply West Berlin.

Berlin and Milan Decrees (1806, 1807)

Napoleon's response to British Orders in Council, seizing neutral ships going to Great Britain.

Black Panther Party (1966)

African American nationalist organization that favored self-defense and operated community programs.

Black Codes (1865)

Laws designed to limit the freedom of former slaves in the Confederate States after the Civil War.

Black Hawk War (1832)

Last attempt of Indians to prevent American encroachment into Illinois.

Blitzkrieg and Sitzkrieg

Blitzkrieg refers to rapid invasion tactics used by Germany; Sitzkrieg refers to the period of no fighting after the conquest of Poland.

Bonus March (1932)

March of 20,000 unemployed WWI veterans on Washington demanding early bonus payment, dispersed by the U.S. Army.

Boston Massacre (1770)

Incident where British soldiers killed five colonists, leading to heightened tensions.

Bread Colonies

Term applied to the Middle Colonies (NY, NJ, PA, DE) due to abundant wheat production.

British-American Convention (1818)

Established the U.S.-Canada border at 49° N Latitude and agreed on joint occupation of Oregon.

Brook Farm (1840)

Briefly successful attempt by Transcendentalists to establish a commune based on manual and intellectual labor.

Buffer Colony

Georgia was established to prevent encroachment from Spanish Florida into South Carolina.

Burr Conspiracy (1805-07)

Scheme by Aaron Burr to create an independent country from Texas and the Louisiana Purchase.

Camp David Accords (1978)

Agreement between Egypt and Israel mediated by President Jimmy Carter.

Caroline and Creole Affairs

Incidents that contributed to British-American tensions involving a U.S. boat and a slave ship.

Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) (1959)

Cold War alliance including Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, the U.S., and the U.K.