Cold War – 1950s Ch. 28, Section 1 – pgs 814-820

Dwight D. Eisenhower 34th President of the United States Eisenhower graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point before becoming supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe during WWII.

Greatest Accomplishments Federal Highway Act In June 1956, Eisenhower urged Congress to pass the Federal Highway Act. The law funded the construction of more than 40,000 miles of highways that tied the nation together. We have our interstates thanks to President Eisenhower.

Domino Theory The belief that if one nation in Asia fell to Communists, they would all fall, just like the others. President Eisenhower used this foreign policy in how he dealt with Communism and other countries.

U-2 Spy Planes During the Cold War, the United States Air Force flew high-altitude spy planes over Soviet territory. The U-2’s would take photographs of nuclear sites and military bases from as high as 80,000 ft.

More Cold War drama U-2 Spy Plane shot down!! The Soviet Union shot down one of our spy planes on May 1, 1960. The pilot, Francis Gary Powers, was captured. The Soviet Union was furious with the United States and accused us of invading Soviet airspace. However, the Soviets had been secretly flying missions over our space as well.

The Space Race Sputnik vs. Vanguard

Sputnik On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviet Union sent into space the world’s first artificial satellite.

Vanguard In order to keep up with the Soviets, the Americans launched its own space satellite. Unfortunately, the rocket rose a few feet off the launching pad and then exploded. It became known as “Flopnick” and “Stayputnik”.

NASA The Soviet launch of Sputnik and the failure of the Vanguard led America to develop its own space program. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

The Nuclear Arms Race In the 1950s, the Eisenhower administration decided to use nuclear weapons, instead of the military, to intimidate (threaten) the Soviet Union.

Nuclear Arms Race United States: Eisenhower cut military spending and devoted all that money to the building of nuclear weapons. “more bang for the buck” Soviet Union: The Soviet Union decided to spend money on developing nuclear weapons as well. All this spending and developing of nuclear weapons led to an arms race between the Soviet Union and the United States. The U.S. and Soviet Union devoted all their funds to see who could build the largest and strongest weapons.

Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBMs) An immensely destructive hydrogen bomb – much more powerful than the A-bomb used during WWII. The IRBMs could reach targets up to 1,500 miles away.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBMs) Even more destructive than the IRBMs because could reach many thousands of miles. It could travel continent to continent within seconds.

Map of the Soviet Union Information gathered from a U-2 Spy Plane of ICBM test centers and bases in the Soviet Union.

Civil Defense Administration The American government created the CDA in order to protect Americans from a nuclear attack. The CDA educated the public with pamphlets and radio and television messages. Some families built air-raid shelters in their basements and stocked up on supplies. Schools held air-raid drills.

Summary Quiz What was the name of the first satellite in space? Which country launched the first satellite into space? What was Eisenhower’s belief that if one nation in Asia fell to communism, that they would all fall? What agency was created in the 1950s in order to compete with the Soviet Union in the “space race”? What was the name of the video by the CDA?

Answers to quiz Sputnik Soviet Union Domino theory NASA (National Aeronautics Space Administration) “Duck and Cover” with Bert the Turtle