26-4: Two Nations live on the Edge

1. The USSR exploded its first atomic bomb in 1949 – An arms race begins How did the U.S. react and why? The U.S. reacts with fear because the Soviet Union’s development of the atomic bomb took away the U.S. advantage in weapon strength The U.S. decides to develop the Hydrogen bomb (H-bomb) in order to regain military superiority

Brinkmanship Rules U.S. Policy In 1952, the U.S builds a hydrogen bomb. The H- bomb was much more powerful than the A-bomb. By 1953 the Soviets had an H-bomb too. In 1953 Eisenhower was President. His Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles was anti-communist. He said America must not compromise, and the U.S must be prepared to use all of its nuclear weapons against any aggressor. This willingness to go to the edge, or brink, of war was called brinkmanship

U.S. in world-wide competition with the Soviet Union President Eisenhower began to rely on the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The CIA used spies to get information abroad, and carried out secret operations or covert actions to overthrow governments unfriendly to the U.S.

2. In 1951, the Iranian prime minister placed the oil industry in Iran under the Iranian government’s control. How did the U.S. react and why? The U.S. used a covert (secret) CIA action to bring down the Iranian government in order to establish a government more favorable to U.S. interests

3. The Guatemalan head of government gave American-owned land in Guatemala to peasants How did the U.S. react and why? The U.S. used a covert (secret) CIA action to topple/bring down the Guatemalan government in order to establish a government more favorable to U.S./Western interests The ragtag rebel army funded by the CIA

1953: Josef Stalin Dies At first there is a thaw in the Cold War Nikita Khrushchev becomes the new Soviet Leader But when West Germany joins NATO, the Soviet Union formed a military alliance with its satellite nations in 1955, called the Warsaw Pact

4. In 1956, Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt and occupied the Suez Canal How did the U.S. react and why? The U.S. reacted with shock because the situation didn’t seem to call for aggression To end the crisis the U.S. asked the U.N. to order a cease-fire and the withdrawal of troops to protect Egypt U.S. then warned the Soviets not to get involved. The warning, known as the Eisenhower Doctrine, said that the U.S would defend the Middle East against communist attack

5. Soviet tanks invaded Hungary and fired on protestors in 1956 How did the U.S. react and why? The U.S. protested the invasion and sent food and medicine to help the people of Hungary The U.S. also allowed Hungarian refugees to enter the U.S.

6. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik and the Space Race begins How did the U.S. react and why? The U.S. is shocked. Americans fear nuclear attack, and feel inferior to the Soviet’s in science and technology To regain superiority the U.S. worked to improve education and develop satellites and better weapons and weapon delivery systems

7. In 1960, the Soviet Union brought down an American U-2 piloted by Francis Gary Powers How did the U.S. react and why? The U.S. lied about the purpose of the flight to keep our spy activities a secret, but then publicly admitted guilt to salvage an impending summit conference on the arms race