Creating Modern America in the 50s & 60s The Early Cold War and the Eisenhower Years:

Themes of the 1950s/ Ike’s Administration: –American Identity: Democracy & McCarthyism –Culture: Conformity & Social critics –Demographics: Baby Boom & the suburbs –Economic Transformation: Defense industry, Interstate Highways, Prosperity –Politics & Citizenship: Civil Rights Movement –War & Diplomacy: Cold War & Covert Action

Eisenhower’s Policy - Political Brinkmanship Domino Theory Eisenhower Doctrine SEATO Relaxing of tensions with simultaneous CONTAINMENT

Secretary of State John Dulles Brinkmanship –John Dulles: Foreign Policy Hard-line: “Massive Retaliation” led to greater reliance on nuclear weapons & air power, less on army & navy Effective for superpowers, not for “brush fires”

Unrest in Third World Collapse of Colonial Empires!!! dozens of new nations formed in Asia and Africa Guatemala 1954_CIA Korean armistice never signed (1953) France & Indochina –French, US (Truman & IKE) V Ho Chi Minh, China & USSR –French surrender in 1954 when IKE refuses to give full invasion support.

Geneva Conference 1954: –Vietnam temp 17 th until general election in 5 years. –Election never held & 2 rival armies formed. –North – Communist & South = mixed anti - communist Domino Theory – 1 billion to South Vietnam (IKE) SEATO –Prevent “fall” of South Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos GB,F,A,NZ,Phil,Thia & Pakistan

Suez Crisis: Egypt want $$$ for dam on the Nile, US = No, So Soviet = Yes$ >Nassar needs &&& so - Nationalizes the Suez which blocked western flow of oil = Western Europe FREAKS out and attacks Egypt – takes canal - US Condemns & UK & France withdraw.

Eisenhower & Unrest in Middle East How to balance oil interests & support newly created state of Israel? (1948) –Iran 1953 – US CIA helped to overthrow elected gov & reinstalled the Shah. –Immediate & constant source of tension in the region Unwanted by Palestinians, Egyptians and virtually the entire Middle East.

Eisenhower Doctrine $$ and aid to any Middle Eastern Nation resisting Communism $$ and military aid for any Middle Eastern Country threatened by communism: Lebanon 1958 IKE sent ~14,000 to stop civil war b/w Christian & Muslims OPEC – 1960 Organization of Petroleum Exporting Nations = Oil Control!!! –Saudi Arabia –Kuwait, Iraq, –Iran, Venezuela –PROBLEMS IS>>>> Western Dependence!!! Arab Nationalism!! ECONOMICS!!!!!! Israel!! ALL creates conflict !!!!!

Eisenhower & US Soviet Relations Spirit of Geneva 1955 – “atoms for peace”: first thaw in Cold War (short) Eisenhower proposes “open skies” to Khrushchev - rejected Khrushchev 1956 –Denounced Stalin’s Crimes –Suggest more peaceful coexistence w/ west Hungarian Revolt –Wanted out of WARSAW & Soviet Dominance –U.S. took NO action solidifies Soviet Sphere Sputnik I & II shock-1957 –U.S. embarrassed & unprepared

Premier Nikita Khrushchev About the capitalist states, it doesn't depend on you whether we (Soviet Union) exist. If you don't like us, don't accept our invitations, and don't invite us to come to see you. Whether you like it our not, history is on our side. We will bury you. you De-Stalinization Program

Response to Sputnik National Defense & Education Act (NDEA) – science & foreign language National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) 1958 BILLIONS spent on new space race

Eisenhower & Soviet Relations 2 nd Berlin Crisis-1958 –“ We will bury capitalism” Khrushchev –Gave U.S. 6 months to get out of Berlin! –Camp David meeting eased tensions & were to meet in Paris in 1960, but… U2 – Incident –U.S. Spy Plane shot down over USSR = not good for relations

Eisenhower & Communism in Cuba Castro overthrew Batista in 1959 Nationalized US owned business Eisenhower then cut off US trade Set up a Marxist Totalitarian State –Castro then turned to the Soviets for support. –IKE authorizes CIA training of Cuban exiles to retake Cuba……

Impact of Cold War on America Imminent threat of nuclear war Rise of Sunbelt Changing attitudes – racial segregation & discrimination stood out as glaring wrongs that needed to be corrected IKS’s Farewell Address –Warns of dangers of “Military Industrial Complex”