1. 17.5
The Cold War Thaws
The Cold War begins to thaw as the superpowers enter an era of uneasy diplomacy.
Photo: pulling down a Statue of Stalin, Hungary, 1956
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2. Soviet Policy in Eastern Europe and China
Destalinization and Rumblings of Protest
Nikita Khrushchev—leader after Stalin’s death (1953)
Destalinization—purges country of Stalin’s memory
“peaceful competition” between USSR and West
Citizens of Soviet-controlled governments protest
1956: Hungarian Uprising under Imre Nagy
Soviet military quash protest
The Revolt in Czechoslovakia
1964: Leonid Brezhnev in power
Repression, censorship
1968: Prague Spring
Reform and human rights
Warsaw Pact troops invade and block reforms
Upper left: Khrushchev
Bottom left: Brezhnev
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3. From Brinkmanship to Détente
The Soviet-Chinese Split
1950: Mao and Stalin sign friendship treaty
Tension: each want to lead world communism
Khrushchev ends economic aid, refuses nuclear secrets
fight small skirmishes at border
From Brinkmanship to Détente
Brinkmanship = repeated crises; nuclear war a constant threat
John F. Kennedy—president during Cuban Missile crisis
Lyndon Johnson—president, increases U.S. involvement in Vietnam
Upper right: Mao
Bottom left: Kennedy
Bottom center: Johnson
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4. Nixon Visits Communist Powers
U. S. Turns to Détente
Pres. Richard M. Nixon adopts policy of détente
reduce Cold War tensions to avoid conflict
Realpolitik “realistic politics”
practical, flexible
Nixon Visits Communist Powers
Nixon visits Communist China and USSR
SALT—Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
signs SALT I Treaty to limit nuclear weapons
Bottom left: Nixon and Mao, 1972
Right: Nixon and wife on Great Wall, 1972
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5. The Collapse of Détente
Policy Changes:
Nixon, Ford improve relations with USSR & China
Pres. Jimmy Carter concerned with Soviet policies; signs SALT II
Congress refused when USSR invades Afghanistan
1981: Pres. Reagan Takes Anti-Communist Stance
Increases military spending
missile defense program: Star Wars
Left: Ford and Brezhnev, 1974
Upper right: Carter and Brezhnev at SALT, c1975?
Bottom right: Reagan
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