THE COLD WAREisenhower’s Policies

Eisenhower’s “New Look”

American were ready for change. Many of Truman’s policies were not working.

Soviets had the atomic bomb. Soviets had a hold on Eastern Europe. China fell to communism. American troops had been sent to Korea to fight

in a war.

Eisenhower’s “New Look”

Truman decided not to run again in 1952. Democrats nominated Adlai Stevenson

(IL) Republicans nominated Dwight D.

EisenhowerRichard M. Nixon

Eisenhower wins by a landslide!

“More Bang for the Buck”

A belief in a strong economy. Instead of a large expensive army, the

nation must “be prepared to use atomic weapons in all forms”.

Massive Retaliation

Eisenhower believed that small wars were too expensive and could not contain communism.

Threaten to use nuclear weapons if a Communist state tried to seize territory by force.

Massive Retaliation

Sputnik Crisis

Technology needed!

B-52 could fly across continents and drop nuclear bombs.

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Submarines capable of launching nuclear

missiles. Soviets had already developed their own! 1957 Soviets launched Sputnik.

First artificial satellite to orbit the earth.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

To coordinate research in rocket science and space exploration.

National Defense Education Act (NDEA) Provided funds for education and training in

science, math, and foreign languages.

Brinkmanship

John Foster Dulles- SECRETARY OF STATE. “You have to take chances for peace, just as

you must take chances in war.. “The ability to get to the verge without getting

into the war is the necessary art..”

BRINKMANSHIP

FORCE THE OTHER SIDE TO BACK DOWN!

The Korean War Ends

Eisenhower promised to end the Korean conflict. Too many lives lost. Unpopular with American public. 1953 Armistice signed. Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) No victory- but communism contained.

The Taiwan Crisis

1954 China threatened to seize two islands off China’s coast from the Nationalists.

Eisenhower asked Congress to authorize the use of force to defend Taiwan. American navy would defend Taiwan and

hinted that nuclear weapons would be used.

Brinkmanship!

The Suez Crisis

American help to Egypt to build a dam on the Nile River.

Problem: Egypt had bought weapons from Communist Czechoslovakia.

QUESTION:“Should American support a nation

who buys their weapons from a Communist nation?

The Suez Crisis

Egyptian troops seized control of the Suez Canal – then they would

use the profits to pay for the dam. Britain and France got involved.

Soviet Union threatened rocket attacks on Britain and France and offered to send troops to help Egypt.

Britain and France called off the invasion, but the Soviet Union had won a diplomatic victory- Other Arab nations began accepting Soviet

aid….

Fighting Communism Covertly

Hidden operations done by CIA= Covert Central Intelligence Agency.

Developing Nations looked to the Soviets for how to industrialize.

CIA staged covert operations to overthrow anti-American leaders and replace them with pro-American leaders.

Iran

1953 Mohammed Mossadegh moved against the pro-American Shah of Iran who was forced into exile. U.S. sent agents to organize street riots and

arrange a coup that kicked Mossadegh out and restored the Shah to power.

Guatemala

CIA acted to protect American owned property.

In ‘51 a pro-Communist, Jacobo Arbenz Guzman, came to power. He took over large estates, including those of

American-owned United Fruit Company. In ‘54 Communist Czech was delivering

arms. CIA responded by arming the Guatemala opposition and

training them in secret camps. The CIA-trained forces

invaded and forced Guzman out.

Hungary

1953 Stalin died. 1956 Nikita Khrushchev was the new

leader. Critical of Stalin’s policies. (CIA shared speech

with Eastern Europe). Riots erupted Full scale uprising Tanks rolled into Budapest, Hungary and

crushed the rebellion.