COLD WAR CONFLICTS

U.S vs. U.S.S.R.

Learning Objectives:Section 4 - Two Nations Live on the Edge

1. Explain the policy of brinkmanship.2. Describe American and Soviet actions that caused the Cold War to spread around the world.3. Summarize the impact of Sputnik and the U-2 incident on the United States.

SECTION 4: TWO NATIONS LIVE ON THE EDGE

After World War II, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. competed in developing atomic and hydrogen bombsThe Soviets tested their first atomic bomb in 1949 The U.S. began work on a bomb 67 times stronger than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima – the hydrogen bomb

An H-bomb test conducted by America near Bikini Island in

Pacific Ocean, 1954

GUIDED READING:How did the United States react, and why?

The Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb in 1949.

With fear and horror because the Soviet Union's development of the atomic bomb took away the U.S. advantage in weaponry; decided to develop the H-bomb before the Soviets did in order to regain military superiority

By the time both countries had the H-bomb (1953), President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his Secretary of State John Foster Dulles made it clear they were willing to use all military force (including nuclear weapons) to stop aggressionThe Soviets followed suit This willingness to go to the edge of all-out war became known as brinkmanship

Some Americans created shelters in their backyards in case of nuclear

attack

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS

A – How did the U.S. and the Soviet union start the arms race?

By developing more powerful weapons, including the H-bomb.

THE COLD WAR SPREADS

As the Cold War heated up, the U.S. depended more and more on information compiled by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)The CIA began attempts to weaken or overthrow governments unfriendly to the U.S.

COVERT ACTIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

One of the first covert operations occurred in the Middle EastIn Iran the U.S. orchestrated the return of the pro-U.S. Shah of Iran in 1953

The last Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza

Pahlavi

GUIDED READING:How did the United States react, and why?

In 1951, the Iranian prime minister placed the oil industry in Iran under the Iranian government’s control.

Used covert CIA action to topple the Iranian government in order to establish a government more favor able to Western interests

COVERT OPS IN LATIN AMERICA

In 1954, the CIA also took covert actions in Guatemala (a Central America country just south of Mexico)The U.S. believed Guatemala was on the verge of becoming Communist, so the CIA trained an army which invaded the small country The actions eventually failed as a military dictator rose to power

GUIDED READING:How did the United States react, and why?

The Guatemalan head of government gave American-owned land in Guatemala to peasants.

Used covert CIA action to topple the Guatemalan government in order to establish a government more favorable to Western interests

B – What was the role of the CIA in the Cold War?

To gather intelligence and to carry out secret operations against unfriendly govts.

THE WARSAW PACT

To counter the U.S. defense alliance (NATO), in 1955 the Soviets formed their own mutual defense alliance known as the Warsaw Pact

NATO

WARSAW

NEUTRAL

THE COLD WAR TAKES TO THE SKIESThe Space Race was initially dominated by the SovietsOn October 4, 1957, they launched Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satelliteSputnik traveled around earth at 18,000 miles an hour, circling the globe every 96 minutes

Increase Educational Goals

Sputnik I↓National Defense and Education Act↓National Aeronautical and Space Agency (NASA)resulted in

increased government funding for scientific research.

SUEZ CANAL

The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War, or Second Arab-Israeli War

on 26 July 1956 Egypt nationalized the Canal A diplomatic and military confrontation between Egypt vs Britain, France and Israel. The United States, the Soviet Union and the United Nations played major roles in forcing Britain, France and Israel to withdraw.

Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel, and then began to bomb Cairo.

Despite the denials of the Israeli, British and French governments, evidence began to emerge that the invasion of Egypt had been planned beforehand by the three powers.Anglo-French forces withdrew before the end of the year, but Israeli forces remained until March 1957, prolonging the crisis. In April, the canal was fully reopened to shipping, but other repercussions followed.

C – What were the results of the Suez War?

Great Britain, France, and Israel withdrew from the Mediterranean end of the canal and control of the canal passed to Egypt.

GUIDED READING:How did the United States react, and why?

In 1956, Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt and occupied the Suez Canal.

With shock because the situation didn't seem to call for aggression; to end the crisis, asked the UN to order a cease-fire and the withdrawal of troops.

VS

D – Compare Joseph Stalin and Nikita Khrushchev. How were they alike? How were they different?

They both believed that communism would take over the world.Unlike Stalin, Khrushchev believed communism could triumph peacefully

THE HUNGARIAN UPRISING

Dominated by the Soviet Union since the end of WWII, the Hungarian people rose up in revolt in 1956Led by Imre Nagy, the liberal Communist leader of Hungary, the people demanded free elections and the end of Soviet domination

The Soviets responded to the Hungarian revolt with tanks

The Soviets’ response was swift and brutal – 30,000 Hungarians were killed (including Nagy) as the Soviets reasserted control

GUIDED READING:How did the United States react, and why?

Soviet tank invaded Hungary and fired on protesters in 1956.

Protested the invasion but could do little to help

U-2 PLANES SPY ON SOVIETS In the late 1950s,

the CIA began secret high-altitude spy missions over Soviet territoryThe U-2’s infra-red cameras took detailed pictures of Soviet troop movements & missile sites

U-2 SPY PLANE SHOT DOWN OVER USSR

On May 1, 1960, Gary Power’s U-2 spy plane was shot down over Soviet territoryPowers parachuted into Soviet territory, was captured and sentenced to 10-years in prisonBecause of this incident, the 1960s opened with tension between the two superpowers as great as ever

Powers was released in 1962 in exchange for convicted Soviet spy

Rudolph Abel

GUIDED READING:How did the United States react, and why?

In 1960, the Soviet Union brought down an American U-2 piloted by Francis Gary Powers.

At first, lied about the purpose of the flight to keep spying activities secret but then publicly admitted guilt to salvage an impending summit conference on the arms race.