What are the Cold War policies of the 1950s? 1950s: BRINKMANSHIP What are the Cold War policies of the 1950s?

A. 1949: Soviets develop & test their own atomic weapon I. The Arms Race A. 1949: Soviets develop & test their own atomic weapon B. 1952: US develops the more powerful Hydrogen Bomb (H-Bomb), which fuses two atoms together C. Soviets counter with their own H-bomb in 1953, arms race begins D. 50’s is era of brinkmanship. Each country will push each other to the “brink” of war to get an advantage E. 1953: Pres. Eisenhower appoints anti-communist John Foster Dulles as Secretary of State http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNcQX033V_M&safe=active

II. Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) A. Dulles develops the MAD policy: if Soviets attack US’ interests, US will use massive nuclear retaliation 1. US begins increasing number of nuclear weapons & the planes to deliver these weapons 2. US CIA & Soviet KGB increase spying programs B. 1953: Stalin dies, is replaced by Nikita Khrushchev C. Khrushchev continues building up Soviet arsenal, announces development of Vostok rocket 1. This ICBM could deliver a nuke 2. Soviets clearly ahead in “arms race”

III. The Space Race A. Oct 1957: Soviets launch the first unmanned satellite into space 1. Launch of Sputnik began the “Space Race” B. Knowing the Soviets are ahead in science – Eisenhower starts NDEA 1. NDEA puts billions into school science programs C. Nov 1957: Soviets send a dog named Laika into space on Sputnik II D. 1958: US forms NASA, need to win space race IV. Spy Planes A. Eisenhower proposes US & Soviets can fly over each other’s territory (Open Skies Policy) 1. Soviets refuse, debate US on television B. CIA begins sending spy planes called U2s over the Soviet Union 1. Gary Powers U2 flight is shot down, Soviets hold him prisoner – US is behind in technology!