two nations live on the edge

Two Nations Live on the Edge

During the 1950s, the United States and the Soviet Union came to the

brink of nuclear war.

Race for the H-Bomb

• Scientists who developed Atomic Bomb believed they could make a more powerful bomb.

• Hydrogen bomb, or H-bomb• 67 times more powerful than atomic bomb.

Policy of Brinkmanship

• By the time both countries have the H-bomb, Dwight D. Eisenhower is president.

• His secretary of state John Foster Dulles is a strong anti-communist.

• For Dulles, Cold War is a moral crusade against communism.

Threat of Nuclear War• The threat of a nuclear

attack was unlike any the American people had ever faced.

• Even if only a few bombs reached their target, millions of people would die.

U.S. tries to Prepare• School children practice air raid drills and

practiced “Duck and Cover”.• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqXu-5jw

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The Cold War Spreads Around the World

• President Eisenhower began to rely heavily on recently formed Central Intelligence Agency, or the CIA for information.

• CIA used spies to gather information abroad.• CIA carried out covert or secret operations to

weaken or overthrow governments unfriendly to US.

Covert Actions in the Middle East• CIA’s first covert actions took place in Middle

East.• Iran’s prime minister nationalized Iran’s oil

fields.• Placed formally private oil industries under

Iranian control.

Covert Actions in Middle East

• In return, Great Britain stops buying their oil.• US fears Iran will turn to Soviets for help.• CIA gives several million dollars to anti-prime

minister supporters.• CIA wanted pro-American Shah of Iran, who

recently had to flee to power.• Plan works. Shah returns to power and gives

oil fields to Western Countries.

Warsaw Pact

• Death of Joseph Stalin in 1953.• US-Soviet relations seemed to improve after.• Soviets recognize West Germany and create

peace treaties with Japan and Austria.• However, in 1955 when West Germany joined

NATO, Soviet Union grew fearful.• Formed Warsaw Pact and joined together

with seven other Eastern European Nations.

Geneva Summit• Eisenhower meets with Soviet leaders to

discuss allowing flights over each other’s territories to guard against surprise nuclear attacks.

• Soviet Union does not agree.• Despite this, the world hailed the “spirit of

Geneva” as a step toward peace.

The Suez War

Eisenhower Doctrine

• Warning that the United States would defend the Middle East against an attack by a Communist Country.

Space Race

Light in the October Sky

• Sputnik: Soviets launch Sputnik• http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=zxJQgYPXjN4&feature=fvst

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