Postwar America

American History Chapter 26-1 The Eisenhower Era

Election of 1952 Truman was exempt from the 22 nd Amendment, but chose not to run for re-election. Dem. Adlai Stevenson v. Rep. Dwight Eisenhower. – Eisenhower promised to end the Korean War. – His running mate was Richard Nixon. Gave the famous “Checkers” speech.

1952 Election Results

The Cold War Under Eisenhower Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles: – Brinkmanship: Build more nuclear weapons & use them as a threat to the Soviets. Threaten war without actually going to war. – Massive retaliation: Pledge by the U.S. to use all weapons necessary against the Soviets if they struck first. CIA: Central Intelligence Agency: Created to spy on foreign governments. – Also planned & carried out covert operations. Dulles

Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev succeeded Stalin in – Communist dictator & bitter rival of the U.S. Formed the Warsaw Pact in 1955: – Military alliance of the Soviet-dominated countries.

Soviet Control in Eastern Europe The Soviets put down revolts in Poland & Hungary. Eisenhower & Khrushchev held a summit in – Eisenhower proposed an “open skies” treaty. – The Soviets rejected it. U-2 spy plane incident: 1960 – The Soviets shot down a U.S. U-2 spy plane over the Soviet Union. – The pilot, Francis Powers, was captured & held for 2 yrs.

Cold War Hot Spots North & South Vietnam were established: – North Vietnam to be Communist & South Vietnam to be Anti-Communist. SEATO: Southeast Asia Treaty Organization formed. – Agreed to resist Communist aggression. Jewish & Arab tension grew in the Middle East with the independence of Israel. 1954: Egypt’s leader, Gamal Nasser, seized control of the Suez Canal. – France & Britain sent in troops & the Soviets threatened to get involved. – Eisenhower convinced France & Britain to pull out.

The U.S. Exerts Influence Eisenhower Doctrine: Jan. 1957: – Declared the right of the U.S. to help any nation in the Middle East to resist armed Communist aggression.