Two Nations Live on the Edge

H-Bomb 1 Million tons of TNT –67 times stronger than Little Boy U.S. exploded the first H-Bomb on Nov. 1, 1952 Soviets: Aug. 1953

Republicans plan for ’52 Election Truman decides not to run again –Approval rate at an all time low of 23% –Spread of Communism –Korean War Dem. Adlai Stevenson, Gov. of Ill. General Dwight D. Eisenhower

President Eisenhower Ike’s approach: “dynamic conservatism” Conservative w/$ Liberal w/human beings

Brinkmanship John Foster Dulles, Sec. of State –U.S. use all forces (even atomic) against an aggressor Brinkmanship: Willingness to go to the edge of an all- out war. Soviets followed suit.

The Warsaw Pact Stalin dies in ’53 West Germany joins NATO in ’55. Fearful, the Soviets formed the Warsaw Pact –Military alliance w/seven E. European nations.

The Hungarian Uprising Hungary dominated by the Soviet Union –Hungarians wanted Democracy November, 1956: Soviet tanks invaded the country and killed 30,000 people U.S. / NATO did nothing (failure of the Truman Doctrine)

Nikita Khrushchev

The Space Race October 4, 1957: Soviets launched Sputnik –T–Triumph in Soviet technology January 31, 1958: First U.S. satellite - Led to an increase in math and sciences in the school system

U-2 Spy Plane Incident CIA flew spy missions over the Soviet Union starting in the mid. 1950’s 1960’s: Ike wanted the flights discontinued. –Summit to be held on the arms race. May 1: Francis Gary Powers shot down over the Soviet Union. Flights stopped, Khrushchev called off the summit 1960’s opened w/heightened pressure