Chapter 18 Section 4

Two Nations Live on the Edge

Race for the H-Bomb

• Atomic Bomb Splits Atoms • Scientists suspected that it would be possible to build a bomb which fuses atoms-a hydrogen bomb • Estimated to be 67 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima

Race for the H-Bomb

• Many questioned the morality of creating such a weapon • Oppenheimer opposed this project • However, now that the Soviets had an atomic bomb, the US had no advantage

Race for the H-Bomb

• Politicians and the military pressed for a more powerful weapon • According to them, we had to develop one before the Soviets did • Truman authorizes work on the H-Bomb

Race for the H-Bomb

• 11/1/52- US explodes the 1 st H-Bomb • 10 times more powerful than they thought it would be • American advantage lasted less than a year • Soviets exploded their own in August 1953

Brinkmanship

• Dwight Eisenhower now President • Secretary of state John Foster Dulles staunch anti communist – Not willing to make any compromises with communism

Brinkmanship

• Dulles proposed a new policy – the US would keep peace by promising to use all its force – including nuclear weapons against an aggressor nation • This policy was known as brinkmanship

Brinkmanship

• This policy placed more importance on nuclear weapons – and the planes that delivered them • So, US trimmed the army and navy, but beefed up the size of the air force • Produced massive numbers of nuclear weapons

Brinkmanship

• Arms race begins • Soviets respond by building more of their own nuclear weapons • Americans convinced that Soviet bombs were pointed at American cities – Kids did air raid drills – Families built bomb shelters – Fear of nuclear war became a constant fear

Cold War Spreads Around the World • National defense now dependent on nuclear arms • Eisenhower relies more heavily on Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for information

Cold War Spreads Around the World

•

CIA used spies to gather information

–

Carried out covert actions

–

Secret operations

•

In attempts to overthrow governmets unfriendly to the US

Covert Actions

• Eisenhower equated Soviet leadership to totalitarian dictatorship of WWII • Soviet leadership was ordering secret operations against its enemies • Eisenhower felt the US was at a disadvantage & should carry out covert actions

Covert Actions – Middle East

• 1951 Iran- Prime Minister placed oil industry under govmt control • To protest, western nations stopped buying Iranian Oil • As Iranian govmt struggled-US feared Iran would turn to Soviet Union

Covert Actions – Middle East

• 1953-CIA urged Shah(King) of Iran to replace Iranian PM with someone pro western • Iranian people remained loyal to the Shah • PM fled

Covert Actions – Guatemala

• 1954- Eisenhower believed Guatemala had communist sympathies – Gave over 200,000 acres of American owned land to peasants

Covert Actions – Guatemala

• In response CIA trained army • Invaded Guatemala • Captured nation ’ s leader (Guzman) and his forces • CIA trained army ’ s leader became new dictator of the nation

A Summit in Geneva

• US/Soviet relations seemed to improve after the death of Stalin in 1953 – Soviets recognize West Germany – Conclude peace treaties with Austria and Japan

A Summit in Geneva

• However… • Soviets grew fearful when W. Germany re armed and joined NATO • Formed its own military alliance-Warsaw Pact-w/ Eastern European satellite nations

A Summit in Geneva

• July 1955-Eisenhower traveled to Geneva, Switzerland – To meet w/ Soviet leaders in the 1 st East West summit conference since WWII

A Summit in Geneva

• Eisenhower proposed an “ open skies ” policy • US& Soviet Union would allow flight over each other ’ s territory – To guard against a surprise nuclear attack • Rejected by Soviets thought it was a trick to find Soviet nuclear weapons

A Summit in Geneva

• Summit accomplished nothing specific • But it seemed to promise a movement toward peace

Crisis in the Middle East

• Cold War affected the Middle east as well as Europe • 1955 US & Britain agree to finance a dam in Egypt at Aswan, along the Nile River • http:// www.history.co

m/video.do?name=mil itaryhistory&bcpid=16 81694250&bclid=172 9287263&bctid=1606 750284

Crisis in the Middle East

• Gamal Nasser, head of Egypt, began to strengthen his ties with communist nations • US & Britain withdrew offer to build the dam • Angry Nasser seized the Suez Canal – Which was owned by Britain and France

Crisis in the Middle East

• British & French angry • Israel also angry at Egypt-which had been making terrorist raids into Israel • Britain, France & Israel invade Egypt October 1956

Crisis in the Middle East

• Soviets threaten to launch missiles against Britain and France • US warns-it would not tolerate such action • UN imposed a cease fire • Canal reopened in 1957-under Egyptian management

Soviet Aggression in Hungary

• Nikita Khrushchev new leader of Soviet Union • Openly criticized Stalin in Feb of 1956 – Said Stalin committed crimes against the Soviet people

Soviet Aggression in Hungary

• People wondered if Khrushchev was going to be less repressive • Eastern European nations began to dream of breaking free of Soviet control

Soviet Aggression in Hungary

• Hungary was an example • Leaders were debating about how much freedom to grant Hungary • Hungary had attempted to either remove Soviets or to reform the government • Khrushchev allowed for a reform minded premier to take control of Hungary

Soviet Aggression in Hungary

• Hungary wanted out of the Warsaw Pact • Soviets respond brutally • Soviet tanks roll in and kill 30,000 Hungarians • Thousands fled to the US

Soviet Aggression in Hungary

• Eisenhower offered no military aid • Protested the invasion • Sent $20 million for food and medicine

Eisenhower Doctrine

• Soviet prestige grew in middle east due to support of Egypt • Eisenhower had to provide a counterbalance • Issued Eisenhower Doctrine- US would defend middle east against any communist attack

Cold War Takes to the Skies

• 1957-US thought they were ahead of the Soviets in military technology • US had warheads that could deliver warheads 1,500 to 3,000 miles • But by August 1957 Soviets developed an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)

Sputnik Launches the Space Race • 10/4/57- Soviets use an ICMB to launch the 1 st unmanned satellite out of Earth ’ s atmosphere • Sputnik traveled 18,000 miles/hr • Circled globe every 96.2 minutes • If the Soviets could do this they could hit the US w/ a missile

Sputnik Launches the Space Race • Americans felt vulnerable to nuclear attack • US seemed to be falling behind in science and technology • Schools attempted to improve math, science, and foreign language classes

Sputnik Launches the Space Race • American scientists frantically tried to catch up • January 31, 1958 US successfully launched its 1 st satellite • Race to built bigger satellites and better weapons systems was on

U2 is Shot Down

• CIA was making high altitude flights over SU • Used U2 spy planes – Could fly higher than Soviet fighters – Beyond the reach of anti-aircraft fire Was able to take detailed photos

U2 is Shot Down

• Eisenhower wanted flights discontinued • Was afraid that if one was shot down if would hurt US/Soviet relations • Dulles persuaded him to authorize 1 more flight

U2 is Shot Down

• May 1, 1960- US spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers shot down over Soviet territory • US said it disappeared while on a weather mission • Khrushchev announced what had happened

U2 is Shot Down

• Shot down 1,300 miles deep in Soviet Territory • Powers was captured alive • Bad moment for the US • Eisenhower took responsibility for the flight

Khrushchev Denounces Eisenhower • Denounced Eisenhower at what was supposed to be a second peace summit at Geneva-then left • U2 incident ended Eisenhower ’ s effectiveness as a peacemaker