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Two Nations Live on the Edge

Two Nations Live on the Edge. Brinksmanship Rules US Policy. After the Soviet Union exploded their first atomic bomb, the nuclear arms race began Truman decides to develop an even more horrifying weapon, the H-Bomb The hydrogen bomb was 67 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

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Two Nations Live on the Edge

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  1. Two Nations Live on the Edge

  2. Brinksmanship Rules US Policy • After the Soviet Union exploded their first atomic bomb, the nuclear arms race began • Truman decides to develop an even more horrifying weapon, the H-Bomb • The hydrogen bomb was 67 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima

  3. The Policy of Brinkmanship • Dwight Eisenhower is elected president shortly after the Soviet Union creates their own H-Bomb • John Foster Dulles is named Secretary of the State (deals with foreign policy) • Dulles proposed that the US could prevent the spread of communism by promising to use all of its force, including nuclear weapons, against any aggressor nation

  4. Brinkmanship- the willingness of the US (under President Eisenhower) to go to the edge of all-out war. • Eisenhower cuts spending on US navy and army, and increases the size of the Air Force (planes will drop the bombs) • Now the threat of a nuclear attack was unlike any ever faced by Americans • Children practice ‘Duck and Cover’ techniques in their schools

  5. Cold War Spreads Around the World • Eisenhower relies heavily on CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) • Spies to gather information abroad • Also secretly weakened or overthrew governments unfriendly to the US

  6. Covert Actions in the Middle East and Latin America • The CIA’s first covert operation was in Iran, located in the Middle East • Iranian Govt. Took control of British owned oil fields • As Iranian economy fluttered, they looked to Soviet Union for aid, the CIA secretly overthrew the Govt and put in place one that was friendly to the United States

  7. The Warsaw Pact • Joseph Stalin dies in 1953, US Soviet relations improve slightly • SU leaves East Germany • However SU was fearful of US Alliance (NATO) • Soviet Union forms its own alliance through the Warsaw Pact • Linked the Soviet Union with seven Eastern European countries.

  8. Summit in Geneva • The US and the Soviet Union met in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss peace talks • Eisenhower proposed an ‘Open Skies’ act • SU and US could fly over each other to check/watch out for a surprise nuclear attack • SU declines offer, however tensions seemed to be cooling

  9. The Suez War • Egypt wants to build a dam, US and Great Braitin agree to help • Egypts president ‘abdel-nasser’ plays US and SU against one another to get money • Egypt took back dam, and did not allow GB

  10. Eisenhower Doctrine • SU gains prestige in the Middle East for helping Egypt out against England • In response, Eisenhower announces the Eisenhower Doctrine- • US would defend the Middle East against an attack by any communist country.

  11. Hungarian Uprising • Hungary was dominated by Soviet Union after WWII • Uprising against the Soviet Union occurred in an effort to start a democratic government, the Soviets response was swift and brutal • Soviets kill 30,000 Hungarians • USA did not help Hungary, and the American policy of Containment failed again • US said Containment did not extend to driving the Soviet Union out of its satellite nations

  12. Khrushchev in Power • Nikita Khrushchev takes control of the Soviet Union • Khrushchev thought communism would take over the world, however it could be done peacefully • Thought US and SU would compete economically and scientifically for world domination

  13. The Space Race • Due to competition between SU and USA, soviets leaped into an early lead launching the first space satellite, Sputnik • USA is shocked its losing the Space Race • First American attempt at launching a satellite was an embarrassing disaster • Finally in 1958 US successfully launched a satellite

  14. A U-2 is Shutdown • USA was flying secret missions in U-2 planes over the Soviet Union • Eisenhower and Khrushchev were going to hold another summit (conference) to discuss ending the arms race • Eisenhower orders the end of U-2 flights, after one last mission • The U-2 is shot down over the Soviet Union

  15. Renewed Confrontation • Khrushchev demanded an apology and the stopping of all future U-2 flights • Eisenhower promises no more flights, but refuses to apologize • Khrushchev angrily called off the summit due to the U-2 incident

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