1. The Cold War Thaws

2. Objective:
Students will investigate the purpose of the Eastern bloc countries and their revolts to break away from the Soviets as measured through their Cornell notes.

3. Setting the Stage
Eastern European countries such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Albania, and East Germany were not allowed to develop their own economies
They were used to meet Soviet needs

5. Destalinization
After Stalin’s death, a new and more moderate group of Soviet leaders came to power
These new leaders allowed their satellite countries a taste of independence as long as they remained Communist
More groups in these satellite countries began to rise and Soviets began to lose their grip over the region

6. Nikita Khrushchev Joseph Stalin died on March 5, 1953
Khrushchev became the new Soviet leader
Publicly denounced Stalin claiming that Stalin jailed and killed many loyal Soviet citizens
Began a policy called Destalinization- or purging the country of Stalin’s memory
Workers destroyed monuments of the former dictator

8. Hungary
Hungary became the first satellite country to rebel against the Soviets
Imre Nagy lead this revolt and managed to take down the Soviet gov. in Hungary to establish his own gov.
Eventually the Soviets came back and overpowered him
Executed Nagy

9. Justify Think Pair Share
Why do you think these satellite countries started to rebel against the Soviets? Why during Khrushchev’s reign?

10. Leonid Brezhnev
After the Cuban Missile Crisis, Khrushchev became unpopular
Made the Soviets look weak
Voted out of power and replaced by Leonid Brezhnev
Brezhnev quickly enforced laws to limit basic human rights and freedom to retain his power
Arrested many dissidents and censored many newspapers

11. Chinese Soviet relationship
Earlier in the Cold War, Stalin signed a peace treaty with Mao for 30 years
However, China became more independent and refused to share nuclear secrets with the Soviets
Soviets ended economic aid to China and the two split
Fighting broke out in the Chinese-Soviet borders

12. Brinksmanship to Detente
United States began backing away from direct confrontation or (brinksmanship)
Richard M. Nixon believed in the policy of Détente – a policy of lessened Cold War tensions
While the U.S. continued to contain communism, the two superpowers agreed to pursue détente

13. Justify Think Pair Share
Define brinksmanship and détente. Compare and contrast the two. Which do you think was a more effective policy? Explain.

14. China as allies?
Nixon knew of the uneasy relationship between China and the Soviets
Nixon was the first U.S. president to ever visit a Communist country
Met with Mao Zedong in China and negotiated trade with China

16. Justify Think Pair Share
Why do you think the U.S. wanted to develop a relationship with China? Explain.

17. QW #43 – Triangular Relationship
Explain the dynamic relationship between the United States, Soviet Union, and China. What was the situation between the three countries when President Richard Nixon took office? Elaborate in detail.
(1 paragraph)