1950 s BRINKMANSHIP What are the Cold War

1950 s: BRINKMANSHIP What are the Cold War policies of the 1950 s?

I. The Arms Race A. 1949: Soviets develop & test their own atomic weapon B. 1952: US develops the more powerful Hydrogen Bomb (H-Bomb), which fuses two atoms together C. Soviets counter with their own H-bomb in 1953, arms race begins D. 50’s is era of brinkmanship. Each country will push each other to the “brink” of war to get an advantage E. 1953: Pres. Eisenhower appoints anti-communist John Foster Dulles as Secretary of State http: //www. youtube. com/ watch? v=NNc. QX 033 V_M

II. Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) A. Dulles develops the MAD policy: if Soviets attack US’ interests, US will use massive nuclear retaliation 1. US begins increasing number of nuclear weapons & the planes to deliver these weapons 2. US CIA & Soviet KGB increase spying programs B. 1953: Stalin dies, is replaced by Nikita Khrushchev C. Khrushchev continues building up Soviet arsenal, announces development of Vostok rocket 1. This ICBM could deliver a nuke 2. Soviets clearly ahead in “arms race”

III. The Space Race A. Oct 1957: Soviets launch the first unmanned satellite into space 1. Launch of Sputnik began the “Space Race” B. Knowing the Soviets are ahead in science – Eisenhower starts NDEA • 1. NDEA puts billions into school science programs C. Nov 1957: Soviets send a dog named Laika into space on Sputnik II D. 1958: US forms NASA, need to win space race IV. Spy Planes A. Eisenhower proposes US & Soviets can fly over each other’s territory (Open Skies Policy) 1. Soviets refuse, debate US on television B. CIA begins sending spy planes called U 2 s over the Soviet Union 1. Gary Powers U 2 flight is shot down, Soviets hold him prisoner – US is behind in technology!