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Cold War in the 1950’s

Cold War in the 1950’s. Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes president in 1953 brings in a new Era of the Cold War Secretary of State is John Foster Dulles Harsh, driven anti-communist Disagreed with Truman’s “containment” policy

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Cold War in the 1950’s

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  1. Cold War in the 1950’s • Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes president in 1953 • brings in a new Era of the Cold War • Secretary of State is John Foster Dulles • Harsh, driven anti-communist • Disagreed with Truman’s “containment” policy • Wishes instead to push back Communism from where it already exists

  2. Eisenhower & Dulles • Eisenhower moderates • Going against Dulles, he will not condone interference in Polish, East German, and Hungarian uprisings against the Soviets • Does not want to risk war with the soviets

  3. Southeast Asia • July 1953, as promised, Ike brings an end to the Korean War • Stalin’s death and replacement by more moderate leadership helps • US begins to offer aid to support France in its push to regain control of its colony, Vietnam • International conference divides Vietnam like Korea • North becomes Communist • US provides aid to South Vietnam, but stops there… for now…

  4. Middle East

  5. Middle East • 1930’s – 1940’s, many Jews seek safety in Palestine due to the Holocaust • Biblical home of Jewish people, now controlled by Brits • 1947, increased pressure to turn Palestine into a Jewish state • British turn to the UN for a resolution • UN creates two states • 1 Jewish (Israel) • 1 Arab • Arabs attack to regain their homeland • UN has to mediate new borders again

  6. Middle East • 1952, a nationalist leader gains control of Iran • US fears this new leader may make the oil-rich state vulnerable to Soviet control • US backs Iranian group attempting to overthrow the government • Succeed in re-install a pro-American government to power

  7. Middle East • Suez Crisis (1956) • Egypt’s ruler, Gamal Abdel Nasser, seeks Soviet support • US and GB cut off their financial aid to Egypt • Nassar responds by cutting off access to British controlled Suez Canal • US responds to Soviet’s threat of dire consequences • persuades NATO allies to withdraw from Egypt • Egypt retains control of the Canal

  8. Eisenhower Doctrine • US takes steps toward deal with future Soviet influence in the Middle East • Eisenhower Doctrine • Said the US would use force to “safeguard the independence of any country or group of countries in the Middle East requesting aid against [Communist-inspired] aggression.” • Later used this to justify sending troops to Lebanon to crush a revolt against pro-American government there

  9. Latin America • Support also went to pro-American governments & to suppress Communism in Latin America… why? • Economics, mainly… American companies had large investments in at least 10 nations in the region • For example, the US… • sent support to Nicaragua and Honduras to protect/install leaders who would protect American interests there • helped overthrow the gov’t in Guatemala when its leaders became sympathetic to radical causes, this CIA takeover restored access to valuable fruit plantations • Fueled Soviet perceptions that the US escalated the war • Rio Pact & Organization of American States (OAS) • 1947-48, a regional defense alliance & pledge of cooperation

  10. The Arms Race • Expanding the arsenals • Cold war competition for power only increased in intensity in the 1950’s • Deterrence • policy begun by Truman, aimed to make US (and allied) military power so strong that no enemy would attack, for fear of retaliation • Not 1 year after US developed a Hydrogen bomb, the soviets had as well • Tests of this bomb indicated the radiation could cause severe burns to people over 90miles away • Hydrogen bombs are 750x more powerful than atomic used in WWII

  11. The Arms Race

  12. The Arms Race • Brinkmanship • US began using the fear of nuclear war to achieve their objectives (esp. the Eisenhower administration) • 1956, Secretary of State John F. Dulles • said that getting to the brink of war without going over was a necessary art • “If you are scared to go to the brink, you are lost” • Reaction: • “I am shocked that the SoS is willing to play Russian roulette with the life of our nation.”

  13. The Arms Race • US relied primarily on airplanes to transport the H-bombs to their targets • Soviets are working to make their own H-bombs • Soviets have the Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles • US lags behind on development of missiles • Then uh-ohhh… • Soviets use one of their rockets to launch Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit earth • Americans shocked and fearful of the possibilities

  14. The U-2 Incident (Not such a beautiful day) • May 1960, soviets use a guided missile to take down American spy plane over their territory • The planes were over 15 miles high, thought to be untouchable • This event shattered American confidence • Motivated more Americans that we needed to devote ourselves to the arms race • Eisenhower’s “permanent armaments industry of vast proportions”… i.o.w. the preoccupation with building a war industry and military capacity could threaten peace

  15. “Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action… we recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications.. [in] government, we must guard against the acquisition of the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” -Dwight D. Eisenhower, Farewell Address, 1961

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