18.4 Living on the Edge

1. 18.4 Living on the Edge

2. Dangerous Times • Soviets get their first A-Bomb in 1949 • U.S. makes more powerful hydrogen bomb in 1952, Soviets in 1953 • Brinksmanship: game of “chicken” with the Soviets, using nuclear bombs • Led to an arms race to see who could build more first

3. Dangerous Times • Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD): idea that, if one of us used our nukes, other would immediately retaliate • We’d both be annihilated

4. Dangerous Times • The CIA would use its spies to keep weaker countries from accepting Soviet help • Would provide money & weapons to anti-communists in Latin American and Middle Eastern countries • CIA has been linked to the assassination of foreign leaders friendly with the Soviets • Eisenhower Doctrine said we would protect the Middle East from communists

5. Back in Europe… • 1955, W. Germany is allowed to rearm & join NATO • Soviets respond with the Warsaw Pact: Communist countries in E. Europe would come to each other’s aid if attacked… • Butbut Soviets would be in charge of all the members militaries

6. To the Skies • Nikita Khrushchev took over when Stalin died in 1953 • Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1957, U.S. in 1958 • U2 spy planes were used by the U.S. to spy on Soviets, they shot one down in 1960 • Soviets were furious, cancelled a summit meeting with the U.S.