The Cold War Pt. IIMarch 2009

“Arms Race” & “Space Race”: Two VERY Important Cold War Issues

Who’s racing?

The US & USSR were racing…

And this “ain’t no Seoul 10k!”

“Arms Race” & “Space Race”: Two VERY Important Cold War Issues

1945: US tests & drops 1st atomic (A) bomb

1949: USSR tests A-Bomb (US loses monopoly)

1952: US tests 1st Hydrogen (H) Bomb 1953: USSR tests H-Bomb

H-Bomb: 700-800X (times) the power of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima

A-Bomb vs. H-Bomb

“Arms Race” & “Space Race”: Two VERY Important Cold War Issues

1957: USSR Tests missile capable of carrying an H-bomb

from USSR to USA Puts space satellite “Sputnik” into space: 1st

man-made object to orbit the earth

1958: USA counters both moves 1961: USSR has 1st person to orbit earth 1969: USA has 1st person to walk on moon.

“That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.”

July 20, 1969

MAD: An

Important Concept M.A.D. = “Mutually Assured

Destruction” By 1960, both sides had ability to completely

destroy the earth. Both the U.S & USSR assured of the possibility of completely annihilating each other if war ever broke out (NO WINNERS)

Faces of the Enemy: the Cold War in Pop Culture

Captain America

“Beware, commies, spies, traitors and foreign agents! Captain America, and all loyal free men behind him, is looking for you”

Those immoral Commies!!

They even follow us to the US!!

Up to no good!!!

How they see the US

The Cold War: The Kennedy Years Foreign Aid

Peace Corps: aid program designed to help countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Sent American volunteers to work for 2 years in developing countries

The Goal Helping developing countries would make

them more dependent on the US rather than the Soviet Union

Alliance for Progress Offered billions of dollars in aid to Latin

American countries

Offered billions of dollars in financial aid, countries had to promise democratic reforms and encourage capitalism

CMC Background: Cuba

Che & Fidel

1959: Revolution led by Ernesto “Che” Guevara & Fidel Castro defeat pro-U.S. Cuban dictator

1959-61: Castro seizes US companies & asks for USSR assistance in trade and in buying arms (weapons)

1961: U.S. sponsored, CIA-led “Bay of Pigs” invasion by Cuban exiles fails to kill Castro. Humiliating for U.S.

Why Theeese Excitement? Eet’s Just a Wooden Horse!

Bay of Pigs

1,500 Cuban rebels are pinned down at the Bay of Pigs by Cuban forces

The air and naval support that the US had promised never came

Needless to say the consequence of this event is that Cuba strengthened ties with the Soviets

The Cuban Folly

“Fools to our friends, rascals to our enemies, and incompetents to the rest”

– American Journalist

***Extra Info: Ways the US tried to kill Castro***

Led by CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) who often contacted the Mafia

1) Pistols w/silencers

2) High-powered rifle w/ telescopic sights

3) Wanted someone to poison Castro’s cigars

4) Exploding cigar

5) Poison pills

6) Poison-tipped pen

7) Exploding seashell

8) Contaminated wetsuit

CMC Background

April 1962: Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed to send missiles to Cuba, a country 90 miles from Florida.

Why? Protect Cuba from another invasion Balance U.S. missiles in Turkey Try to intimidate young, new US President

John F. Kennedy

CMC Background Oct. 15, 1962: A U2 (US spy plane)

takes photos of nuclear missile site in Cuba

Cuban Missile Crisis: October 16-28, 1962 Oct. 16: JFK notified of photos Oct. 16-22: US leaders debate options

1) Unannounced first strike

2) Announced first strike

3) Blockade* (* = “final answer”)

Oct. 22: JFK tells US about missiles in Cuba & the plans to blockade

Oct. 28: Agreement reached w/o Castro/Cuba between US & USSR

JFK & Khrushchev “sizing each other up”

Cuba Blockade Map

Cuban Missile Crisis: October 16-28, 1962

Agreement: Blockade of Cuba ended USA promises to leave Cuba alone (secret

agreement) US missiles were removed from Turkey

Aftermath: Steps taken to prevent this from happening again

1963: Telephone “hotline” between White House (US) & Kremlin (USSR) set up

1963: Limited Test Ban Treaty signed to stop nuclear testing above ground

1968: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signed w/ agreement that US & USSR would not supply nuclear technology to other countries.

BUT

The Soviets were still determined to catch up to the US and sped up their long-range missile capabilities

Cuban Missile Crisis: 1962aka “Thirteen Days”

The closest the world has ever

gotten to

(2 sided)

NUCLEAR WARFARE

JFK & Khrushchev

“Duck and Cover” http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=C0K_LZDXp0I 9:15