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Key terms Set 4a
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Greek Civil War
1946-1949: War between the Greek monarchy (US backed) and communist rebels.
First real Cold War proxy war; led directly to the Truman Doctrine
Dien Bien Phu
1954: Decisive Vietnamese victory against French colonial forces. Ended French rule in Indochina; led to US support of South Vietnam.
Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Resolution
1964: Alleged attacks on US ships led to Congressional blank check for military escalation in Vietnam. Marked the formal US entry into the Vietnam War.
Tet Offensive
1968: Suprise North Vietnamese attacks during Vietnamese holiday ceasefire. Military loss for communist, psychological defeat for the US. Changed public opinion of the war.
My Lai Massacre
1968: US troops killed over 500 unarmed Vietnamese civilians in the village of My Lai. Sparked global outrage and protests.
US invasion of Cambodia
1970: Nixon ordered a secret expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia to target Viet Cong and North Vietnamese sanctuaries. Intensified protests (Kent State Shootings)
Cambodian Coup
1970: General Lon Nol (US-backed) overthrew Prince Sihanouk, shifting Cambodia toward US and triggering Civil War. Power vacuum led to the rise of Khmer Rouge, who later committed genocide.
Cuban Revolution
1953-1959: Armed uprising led by Fidel Castro that overthrew US-backed dictator Batista. Led to the rise of a Marxist state aligned with the USSR.
Bay of Pigs Invasion
1961: Failed US-backed invasion of Cuba by exiles trying to overthrow Castro. Embarrassment for JFK.
Cuban Missile Crisis
1962: 13-day standoff after US found Soviet missiles in Cuba.
Operation Mongoose
1961-63: Secret CIA campaign to destabilize Castro’s regime via sabotage and assassination attempts (poison cigars, exploding seashells)
Operation PBSuccess
1954: CIA-led coup in Guatemala, overthrowing President Jacobo Arbenz (who had tried land reform that threatened US business interests (United Fruit Company))
Chilean Coup
1973: US-backed military coup overthrew democratically elected socialist Salvador Allende. Installed Augusto Pinochet, who ruled with brutality and torture.
Operation Condor
1970s-80s: Coordinated campaign by right-wing dictatorships to eliminate leftist threats. Backed by CIA (assassinations, torture, etc.)
Salvadoran Civil War
1979-92: US-backed Salvadoran govt fought Marxist guerilla group FMLN. US provided arms, training, etc., despite human rights abuse.
Nicaraguan Civil War
1979-90: US supported Contras, a right-wing rebel group, against the leftist Sandinistas who overthrew the US-backed Somoza regime.
Iran-Contra Scandal
1985-1987: US illegally sold arms to Iran and funneled profits to Nicaraguan Contras. Nearly ruined Reagan’s presidency.
El Mozote Massacre
1981: US- trained Salvadoran military killed 800 civilians in El Mozote village. Covered up by both governments; one of the worst Western Hemisphere massacres during the Cold War.