The Cold War Thaws

Changes in the Soviet Union

Joseph Stalin Dies 1953 Nikita Khrushchev

Khrushchev Makes Changes• Denounces many of Stalin's actions• Even though Soviet Union was

beginning to change, satellite countries began a time of protest

• 1956 Hungarian Army joined protesters to overthrow the Hungarian-Soviet controlled govt.

• Imre Nagy takes control of the govt.• Soviets respond by sending tanks

and infantry to Budapest and defeated the Hungarian freedom fighters

Czechoslovakia

Leonid Brezhnev• After the Cuban Missile Crisis, Khrushchev is voted out by party leaders

• Brezhnev comes into power

• Adopts a repressive policies in the Soviet Union and in Satellite countries

Revolt in Czechoslovakia

• 1968 Alexander Dubcek began to loosen controls on censorship

• Prague began to bloom with new political thoughts

• Prague Spring• Aug. 20, 1968 Soviets storm into

Czechoslovakia• Brezhnev claimed it was the

Soviets right prevent its satellites from rejecting communism

Russia & China Begin to Split

• 1950 Mao Signs a 30 year friendship treaty with Stalin

• Soviets always felt that the Chinese would follow Soviet leadership in World Affairs

• China resented being in the shadow of USSR• China began to spread their own version of

communism in Africa• Soviets ended economic ties and relations with

the Chinese

Nixon visits China

Nixon New Ideas on Communism

• Nixon focuses on Détente (lessening cold war tension)

• Instead of containing communism, both sides agree to reduce tension

• After Nixon visit with China, Nixon goes to the Soviet Union

• Soviets and the US agree on SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation)

• Limited amount of ballistic missiles each country could have

1980 Reagan Elected President

• Reagan went away from Détente, increased defense spending

• Strategic Defense Initiative as a way of protection

• Tension increased in the Soviet Union

• By 1985, new soviet leadership will lead to the end of the cold war