THE COLD WAR Nikita Khrushchev ( )

The H-Bomb November, 1952 American scientists exploded their first H- Bomb. Hydrogen bomb many times more destructive than the A- Bomb used at Hiroshima. 1953, Russians also had H- Bomb. “ There are optimists and pessimists in Britain’, the pessimists think that 5 h-bombs will wipe out everyone in Britain, the optimists think it would take eight. We have two hundred.”

Eisenhower & Dulles 1952 Eisenhower was elected president of the USA. He appoints John Foster Dulles as his Secretary of State. Dulles believed that communists were plotting to conquer the world and he was determined to stop them.

SEATO In 1954, Dulles convinces nations in Asia to join the South East Asia Treaty Organization. –Purpose was to contain communism in Asia.

The Hungarian Uprising (1956) Hungary had been under Soviet control since People of Hungary rebelled against their communist leaders. Russian tanks were sent in and crushed the revolution. First major attempt by a satellite state to try and win independence.

Sputnik (1957) October, 1957 the USSR sent the world’s first earth satellite into space.

Nuclear Missiles Americans scared of Soviet missile capability sped up production of rockets. The biggest rockets were called ICBM’s. (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles) Polaris (carried by nuclear submarines) By the end of the 1950’s the superpowers had enough nuclear missiles to kill everyone on earth. (balance of terror)

Khrushchev & Peaceful Co- Existence Khrushchev believing that war would simply destroy each other turned to Peaceful co- existence. –Living peacefully side by side knowing that capitalism would eventually destroy itself.

The U-2 Incident Eisenhower welcomed Khrushchev’s peaceful co- existence and they agreed to meet in Paris in 1960 to talk peace. As leaders were on there way to the summit an American U-2 spy plane was shot down over Russia. Khrushchev angrily accused Eisenhower of planning for war while talking peace and refused to attend the meeting.

The Berlin Wall

The Division of Germany 1949 the Western powers (USA, GB, France) joined their zones together to form the Federal German Republic. (West Germany) Russians responded by turning their zone into the German Democratic Republic. (East Germany) West Germany prospered under the Marshall Plan.

The Wall Many people living in East Germany were not as well off as West Germans and escaped into West Germany. By July, 1961 approximately East Germans were leaving per week people had fled since 1945.

The Wall cont…. Not only embarrassing for the government of East Germany but damaging economically because many of the refugees were skilled workers. In August of 1961 the East German government constructs a wall to stop people from leaving East Germany.

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

Cuba 145 km of the US coast Communist Revolution in Cuba led by Fidel Castro.

Cuba cont…. Cuba nationalized all industry in Cuba. All US business and interests in Cuba were lost. US claimed they were stolen by Cuban govt. US president Eisenhower agreed to help Cubans wishing to overthrow Castro. In January, 1961 John F. Kennedy takes over as President and continues this promise.

BAY OF PIGS April 1961, 1400 anti- Castro Cubans landed at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba to try and overthrow Castro. Castro was ready with troops and artillery and stopped the threat.

Bay of Pigs cont…. Castro scared that Kennedy would help other rebellions asked Khrushchev for help, and Khrushchev sends weapons to Castro. Kennedy worried about events keeps a close eye on Cuba.

The Cuban Missile Crisis Americans discovered Russian missile bases being built in 1962.

The Cuban Missile Crisis President Kennedy ordered an American blockade (quarantine) of Cuba to stop Russian ships from carrying missiles into Cuba.

The Cuban Missile Crisis Kennedy then ordered Khrushchev to dismantle the missile bases immediately. Any attack from Cuba would be treated as a direct attack on the USA by USSR and ordered 156 long range missiles aimed at the USSR to be ready to fire.

On October 29, days after the blockade began Khrushchev “blinked first” and ordered the dismantling of all missile bases in Cuba. President Kennedy called off the blockade and promised to leave Cuba alone. The Cuban Missile Crisis

DETENTE “A Change in Superpower Relations”

Reasons for Detente Both sides realized how dangerous the situation had become. US fighting in Vietnam - needed to slow Arms Race to reduce burden on economy. USSR concerned about Communist China. Both sides wanted to reduce economic expenditure.

Better Relations 1963 Hotline set up; nuclear test ban Treaty banned tests above ground. 1968: Non-proliferation treaty banned spread of nuclear secrets. 1969: Strategic Arms Limitation Talks began - reducing mid-range nuclear weapons (SALT).

Co-Operation 1972: President Nixon visits Moscow and SALT 1 treaty signed. 1972: Agreements between East and West Germany signed. 1975: Space - US astronauts and Soviet Cosmonauts docked together in space. Visible sign!

Helsinki August Helsinki Agreement signed by 35 countries (including USSR and US). Declaration of Human Rights. Current borders of Europe accepted. Demonstration of commitment to improve relations.

SALT : SALT 2 treaty proposed to cover long- range nuclear missiles. Never ratified by US congress due to Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. USSR claimed they had been asked to 'restore order'. US saw it as an invasion and supported Afghan rebels.

Conclusion? Mistrust and suspicion continued during Detente, but this was a period that saw co- operation and agreement. Both sides had much to gain from increased co-operation - such as savings from a slower Arms race and trade benefit.