Chapter 16, Section 3
The Cold War Expands
Objectives
1. Describe the causes and results of the arms race between the
US and Soviet Union.
2. Explain how Eisenhower’s response to communism differed
from that of Truman.
3. Analyze worldwide Cold War conflicts that erupted in Eastern
Europe, the Middle East, and other places.
4. Discuss the effects of Soviet efforts in space exploration.
The Cold War Expands
After the Soviet Union tested an
atomic bomb
In 1949, Pres. Truman reports to
the nation that the nature of war
had forever changed.
The Cold War Expands
By 1950, The US and Soviet
Union were the two most
powerful nations in the world.
Conflicting ideologies and
goals led to worldwide
struggle for influence
Policies followed by both
helped shape modern history
of much of world.
-from Latin American to
Middle East
The Arms Race Heightens Tensions
A chg. in the balance of power usually
occur over decades or centuries;
sometimes at the blink of an eye
On September 2, 1949 instruments in
B-29 American bomber flying over
Alaska detected unusual atmospheric
radiation
-cloud drifting eastward from Siberia
American scientist analyzed data,
came to conclusion Soviet Union
set off atomic bomb.
Communist Advance Shocks the
Nation
US believed Soviets years from
developing atom bomb
Americans no longer has
monopoly on atomic weapons
News the Soviets had bomb
followed next month by
communist take over in China
Shortly, Americans sensed
world a much more dangerous
and threatening place
Nuclear Arsenals Expand
Three months later, Truman ordered
Atomic Energy Commission to
produce hydrogen bomb
-developers predicted H-bomb
1,000 times more powerful than
atomic bombs
-hoped to restore US advantage
over Soviets
Nuclear Arsenal Expands
J. Robert Oppenheimer and Albert
Einstein opposed developing H-bomb
-claimed it would lead to perpetual
arms race
Others argued Soviets would continue
to develop more powerful weapons
no matter what US did
1952, US test first H-bomb
One year later Soviets test their
own.
More bombs and tests
followed
-tests conducted above
ground
-spew radioactive waste into
atmosphere
-tests done in American West;
Nevada desert
-led to increased atmospheric
radiation and long term health
problems for people living
downwind
Nuclear Arsenal
Expands
Nuclear Arsenal Expands
Next 4 decades US and Soviets
developed and stockpiled
increasingly powerful nuclear
weapons
-armed planes, submarines and
missiles with nuclear warheads
able to destroy each other many
times over
Both sides hoped the program of
mutually assured destruction
would stop each other from
actually using them
Checkpoint Question
Why did Us government decide to build
a hydrogen bomb?
Eisenhower Introduces New Policies
Eisenhower knew first hand the
horrors of war
-led WWII Allied invasion of
North Africa, Italy, and Normandy
-worked with both top military
leaders and political leaders during
war and spoke their language
-accepted much of Truman’s foreign
policy
-believed strongly in containing
communism
Eisenhower Introduces New Policies
Secretary of State John Foster Dulles,
under Eisenhower was a diplomat that
helped organize the UN after WWII
-endorsed President’s vision of role US
should play in the world.
Ike and Dulles differed from Truman and
Acheson.
Both considered spread of communism
greatest threat to free world
Ike felt Truman approach of endless
series of conflicts threatened to drain
country’s resources
Eisenhower Favors Massive
Retaliation
Eisenhower Favors Massive
Retaliation
Opposed spending billion on
conventional forces and weapons
Focused on stockpiling nuclear
weapons and building planes,
missiles, and subs needed to deliver
them
Ike’s new policy drew criticism
-Conservatives felt downgrading
conventional forces would weaken
American defense
-Liberals feared preparing for
nuclear war made war more likely
Eisenhower Favors Massive
Retaliation
Dulles believed that only by going to
brink of war could US protect allies,
discourage communist aggression, and
prevent war
Dulles’s approach became known as
“brinkmanship”
Stalin’s Death
EasesTensions
March 5, 1953, Joseph Stalin died
Death set off short power
struggle
Nikita Khrushchev soon emerged
as new head of Soviet Union
-a communist
-determined opponent of US
-not as suspicious or cruel as
Stalin
-condemned excesses of Stalin
regime
-inched toward more peaceful
relations with West
Stalin’s Death EasesTensions
July 1955, Khrushchev met
Eisenhower in Geneva
Meeting yielded few results
Did seem a small move toward
“peaceful co-existence of the
two powers
Checkpoint Question
How was Eisenhower’s approach to
foreign affairs different from that of
Truman?
The Cold War Goes Global
Peaceful co-existence was easier to imagine than it
was to practice.
US and Soviet Union deeply divided
Soviet Union would not allow free elections in area
it controlled
-continued to attempt to spread communism
around world
Dulles talked about “rolling back” communism and
liberating countries under Soviet rule
Unrest Explodes Behind the Iron
Curtain
1956, workers in Poland rioted
against Soviet rule
-won greater control of their
government
-did not attempt to leave Warsaw
Pact
-Soviets permitted actions
Unrest Explodes Behind the Iron
Curtain
Hungarian students and workers
organized huge demonstrations
-demanded pro-Soviet officials be
replaced
-wanted Soviet troops withdrawn
-wanted noncommunist political
parties organized
Khrushchev responded brutally
-sent in troops and tanks to crush
revolution
-executed revolution’s leaders
-killed hundreds
-restores hard-line communists to power
Unrest Explodes Behind the Iron
Curtain
Americans could only watch in horror
Eisenhower’s massive retaliation
approach was powerless
Hungarian revolt added a new level of
hostility to international relations
-1956 Olympic Games, held in Nov. in
Melbourne,
Australia, bitter feelings surfaced
-Water-polo match betw, Soviet Union
and
Hungary turned into what
Sportswriters called
“blood in the water” match
The U.S. Defuses the Suez Crisis
US involved in another world
conflict, the Middle East
Egypt’s president Gamal Abdel
Nasser tried to use US-Soviet
rivalry to his advantage
-wanted to construct dam on
Nile River at Aswan
-US and Britain offered to fund
project
-when Nassar recog.
People’s Republic of China and
opened talks with Soviets;
Eisenhower adm. withdrew
offer
The U.S. Defuses the Suez Crisis
Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal;
under government control
-canal connects Mediterranean Sea
with Red Sea
-originally managed by a British-French
company and protected by British
armed forces.
The U.S. Defuses the Suez Crisis
Nasser’s action threatened flow of
Middle Eastern oil to Europe
Britain and France plotted to get canal
back into Western hands
-did not consult US
-joined forces with Israel (young nation
suffered freq, raids along Egypt’s
border)
-Britain and France used Suez Crisis as
excuse to seize control of canal
Eisenhower outraged by this
-rather than support W. allies, criticized
them
-refused to supply them with US oil
Without US support, these 3 nations had
to withdraw troops from Egypt.
Eisenhower Promises Strong Action
January 1957, in response to Soviet
influence in Middle East and elsewhere,
Eisenhower makes statement
-know as Eisenhower Doctrine
-announces US would use force to
help any Middle Eastern nation
threatened by communism
-uses doctrine to justify in 1958,
sending troops into Lebanon to put
down revolt against pro- American
Government
Eisenhower Promises Strong Action
Eisenhower adm. uses CIA in
struggle against communism
-Congress creates CIA in 1947
-intelligence gathering
organization
Eisenhower adds new task
-approves covert operations to
protect American interests
-1953 aided a coup that
installed new gov. in Iran
-1954, similar mission in
Guatemala
Mission successful, but caused
long-term resentment against US
The Cold War Blasts Off Into Space
October 4, 1957, Soviets launch 184-pound steel ball with small transmitter
into orbit of Earth.
Named this “Sputnik 1.
Following month launch larger satellite with a dog in it named “Laika”
-wanted to see how living creature react to life in outer space
-dog dies in orbit
The Cold War Blasts Off Into Space
The Cold War Blasts Off Into Space
Americans shocked, long thought superior technology would keep
US ahead of Soviets
“Would this give Soviets rocket power to launch missiles onto US
cities?”
Congress quickly approves “National Defense Education Act”
-$1 billion program
-produce more scientists and teachers of science
-authorized money for HS and college students to continue
education in science
Congress also created “National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA)
-coordinate space-related efforts of American scientists and
military.
Checkpoint Question
How did the Hungarian and Suez
crises of 1956 raise Cold War
tensions?
Objectives
1. Describe the causes and results of the arms race
between the US and Soviet Union.
2. Explain how Eisenhower’s response to communism
differed from that of Truman.
3. Analyze worldwide Cold War conflicts that erupted in
Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and other places.
4. Discuss the effects of Soviet efforts in space
exploration.