The Cold War Expands

1. The Cold War Expands United State History Chapter 12, Section 3 Mrs. Huston

2. New Threats • Soviets exploded their first atomic bomb • An American scientist sold them the plans • Nature of warfare changed forever

3. Superpowers Collide • United States • Soviet Union • Opposing philosophies • Both had nuclear weapons • Struggle for influence and control around the world

4. Arms Race • President Truman ordered work on the Hydrogen Bomb • Much more powerful than atomic bomb • 1952 first test • Hoped it would restore superiority over the Soviets

5. Paybacks • After only one year the Soviets tested their own hydrogen bomb • Both countries continued to develop and manufacture new weapons • Above ground testing continued • Radiation harmed civilians

6. How long? • Both sides continued the arms race for over forty years • Nuclear weapons were put in • Planes • Submarines • Missiles, etc. • Warheads were stockpiled

7. How many?

8. Mutually Assured Destruction • Called “MAD”—because it was • Hoped the fear of nuclear war would be enough to keep both sides from starting one • The threat remained

9. Foreign Policy • Containment • Avoid all-out war • Keep communism from spreading • Feared for the continuation of the “Free World” • Worried limited conflicts would drain the nation’s resources

10. New Approach • Massive retaliation • Any threat to our allies would be responded to immediately • overwhelmingly • Redirect funds to stockpile nuclear weapons • Reduce funding to “conventional” forces and supplies

11. Brinksmanship • Believed only going to the brink of war would protect our allies • Discourage communist aggression • Prevent war • It was like playing “chicken” • Who would blink first?

12. New Leadership for USSR • March 5, 1953 Stalin dies • After struggle for power, Khrushchev emerges • Seemed less suspicious of his own people and less cruel • Hope for peaceful co-existence

13. Uprisings • Some European communist countries hoped to throw off the domination of the USSR • 1956 • Poland • Hungary • Brutal retaliation by Soviets

14. Middle East • Egyptian President Nasser tried to play the two superpowers against each other • Wanted a new dam on the Nile • US offer of funding withdrawn when Egypt recognized Communist China • Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal

15. Suez Crisis • Egypt took over the canal and placed it under government control • Threatened to cut off access to middle eastern oil for Europe • Britain and France joined with Israel to try to retake the canal • No consultation with US • Without US support other forced to withdraw

16. Eisenhower Doctrine • Addition to Truman Doctrine • Said the US was committed to use force to help any Middle Eastern nation threatened by communism • Used this to send troops to Lebanon in 1958

17. Role of the CIA • Central Intelligence Agency • The President approved secret operations to defend American interests • 1953 aided coup in Iran • 1954 aided coup in Guatemala • Created long-term resentment against the US

18. Space Race • October 4, 1957 • Soviets launched Sputnik I • November launched a larger satellite • Carried a dog into space • No return, dog died in space • Congress passed National Defense Education Act

19. NDEA • $1 billion to promote science • Wanted more scientists • More science teachers • Congress also created National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) • Coordinate between science and the military

20. Tensions Continue • Neither superpower trusted the other • Both continued to develop, test and manufacture nuclear weapons • Both continued to struggle for influence and control around the world • Fears of global war persisted

21. At Ease