The Cold War – Suez Crisis to the Berlin Wall Part V.

The Cold War – Suez The Cold War – Suez Crisis to the Berlin Crisis to the Berlin

WallWall

Part VPart V

Suez Crisis (1956)Suez Crisis (1956)

President Nasser of Egypt, an Arab President Nasser of Egypt, an Arab nationalist, was seeking funds to build an nationalist, was seeking funds to build an immense dam on the upper Nile for immense dam on the upper Nile for urgently needed irrigation and powerurgently needed irrigation and power

America and Britain offered financial America and Britain offered financial help, but when Nasser began to help, but when Nasser began to negotiate with the Soviets, Secretary of negotiate with the Soviets, Secretary of State Dulles withdrew the offerState Dulles withdrew the offer

In response, Nasser nationalized the In response, Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal (took it from British and Suez Canal (took it from British and French stockholders). This action cut French stockholders). This action cut into Western Europe’s oil supplyinto Western Europe’s oil supply

Suez Crisis (1956)Suez Crisis (1956) The French and British sent troops, The French and British sent troops,

along with Israel, to Egypt in October along with Israel, to Egypt in October 19561956

President Eisenhower refused to President Eisenhower refused to support Britain and France because he support Britain and France because he believed they were the aggressorsbelieved they were the aggressors

Khrushchev was preoccupied with the Khrushchev was preoccupied with the Hungarian revolt, but still threatened Hungarian revolt, but still threatened Britain and France with ICBMsBritain and France with ICBMs

The allies withdrew their troops, and a The allies withdrew their troops, and a U.N. police force was sent to maintain U.N. police force was sent to maintain orderorder

Suez Crisis (1956)Suez Crisis (1956)

Results:Results:– The British and French had failed to topple Nasser, The British and French had failed to topple Nasser,

so his prestige was increased among Arabsso his prestige was increased among Arabs– The Egyptians blocked the Canal with sunken ships, The Egyptians blocked the Canal with sunken ships,

disrupting tradedisrupting trade– The Arabs reduced oil exports to the West, causing The Arabs reduced oil exports to the West, causing

oil rationing for a whileoil rationing for a while– British and French influence in the Middle East British and French influence in the Middle East

wanedwaned– Nasser took Soviet money and became an opponent Nasser took Soviet money and became an opponent

of the Westof the West

Eisenhower Doctrine Eisenhower Doctrine (1957)(1957)

The president pledged U.S. military and economic The president pledged U.S. military and economic aid to Middle Eastern nations threatened by aid to Middle Eastern nations threatened by communist aggressioncommunist aggression

The real threat to the U.S. in the Middle East The real threat to the U.S. in the Middle East wasn’t communism, but nationalism. The poor wasn’t communism, but nationalism. The poor countries in that area decided to reap as much of countries in that area decided to reap as much of the benefits of oil wealth as possiblethe benefits of oil wealth as possible

In 1960, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, and In 1960, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, and Venezuela formed the Organization of Petroleum Venezuela formed the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). This organization’s Exporting Countries (OPEC). This organization’s stranglehold on Western economies would tighten stranglehold on Western economies would tighten to a degree that no one could’ve imaginedto a degree that no one could’ve imagined

Testing of the Eisenhower Testing of the Eisenhower Doctrine: Problems In Lebanon Doctrine: Problems In Lebanon

(1958)(1958) In July 1958, both In July 1958, both

Egyptian and communist Egyptian and communist plotting threatened to plotting threatened to endanger Western-endanger Western-oriented Lebanonoriented Lebanon

Under the Eisenhower Under the Eisenhower Doctrine, the U.S. landed Doctrine, the U.S. landed several thousands troops several thousands troops and helped to restore and helped to restore order without a single order without a single person deadperson dead

Space RaceSpace Race Soviets sent up the first satellite Soviets sent up the first satellite

on October 4, 1957, called on October 4, 1957, called Sputnik I (first unmanned Sputnik I (first unmanned spacecraft to escape Earth’s spacecraft to escape Earth’s gravity)gravity)

A month later they sent up a A month later they sent up a bigger satellite, called Sputnik IIbigger satellite, called Sputnik II

Cast doubt on America’s scientific Cast doubt on America’s scientific superiority and raise the question superiority and raise the question of whether the Soviets could fire of whether the Soviets could fire intercontinental ballistic missiles intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to America(ICBMs) to America

Results of the Space RaceResults of the Space Race

NASA was created for missile development; they put NASA was created for missile development; they put into orbit a small satellite in February 1958into orbit a small satellite in February 1958

By the end of the decade, several small satellites By the end of the decade, several small satellites had been launched and successfully tested its own had been launched and successfully tested its own ICBMsICBMs

Led to a critical comparison of the American Led to a critical comparison of the American educational system to the Sovietseducational system to the Soviets– Congress passed the National Defense and Congress passed the National Defense and

Education Act (NDEA) of 1958 which authorized Education Act (NDEA) of 1958 which authorized $887 million in loans to needy college students $887 million in loans to needy college students and in grants for the improvement of teaching the and in grants for the improvement of teaching the sciences and languagessciences and languages

Eisenhower and KhrushchevEisenhower and Khrushchev

Summit Conference ISummit Conference I– Eisenhower and Khrushchev met at a Eisenhower and Khrushchev met at a

“summit conference” in New York before “summit conference” in New York before the UN General Assembly in 1959. They the UN General Assembly in 1959. They proposed complete disarmamentproposed complete disarmament

Camp David MeetingCamp David Meeting– Also met at Camp David, Khrushchev Also met at Camp David, Khrushchev

extended his ultimatum for the evacuation extended his ultimatum for the evacuation of Berlin indefinitelyof Berlin indefinitely

Eisenhower and KhrushchevEisenhower and Khrushchev Summit Conference IISummit Conference II

– The follow-up Paris “summit conference,” in 1960, The follow-up Paris “summit conference,” in 1960, proved to be a fiasco. Both the Soviets and U.S. took proved to be a fiasco. Both the Soviets and U.S. took a firm stand on the Berlin issuea firm stand on the Berlin issue

– Furthermore, an American U-2 spy plane was shot Furthermore, an American U-2 spy plane was shot down deep in the heart of Russia. The plane flew down deep in the heart of Russia. The plane flew more than 15 miles high. At such altitudes, American more than 15 miles high. At such altitudes, American officials had assumed that the spy planes were officials had assumed that the spy planes were immune to attack. The U-2 incident shattered this immune to attack. The U-2 incident shattered this confidence and fanned resentment in the Sovietsconfidence and fanned resentment in the Soviets

– The pilot, Francis Gary Powers, survived and served 18 The pilot, Francis Gary Powers, survived and served 18 months in a Russian jailmonths in a Russian jail

Mutually Assured Destruction Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)(MAD)

When JFK took office in 1960, When JFK took office in 1960, his Defense Secretary Robert his Defense Secretary Robert McNamara came up with this McNamara came up with this policypolicy

The idea was to build up The idea was to build up your nuclear arsenal to your nuclear arsenal to make the counter-strike so make the counter-strike so frightening that neither side frightening that neither side would use their weaponswould use their weapons

Mutually Assured Destruction Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)(MAD)

New methods of delivery meant that New methods of delivery meant that both superpowers could easily devastate both superpowers could easily devastate the other:the other:– Minuteman Missile – US missile that stored Minuteman Missile – US missile that stored

its fuel in its engine, be stored underground, its fuel in its engine, be stored underground, and could fire within a minuteand could fire within a minute

– Polaris Submarine – Could move close to the Polaris Submarine – Could move close to the Soviet Union in the North Pole area; the Soviet Union in the North Pole area; the nuclear missiles one could carry would do nuclear missiles one could carry would do more destruction than all the bombs more destruction than all the bombs dropped in WWIIdropped in WWII

Single Integrated Operational Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP) (1960)Plan (SIOP) (1960)

The U.S. military had prepared a plan The U.S. military had prepared a plan for the possible launching of a first for the possible launching of a first strike against the Eastern blocstrike against the Eastern bloc– 3,200 nuclear weapons to 1,060 targets3,200 nuclear weapons to 1,060 targets– 130 cities would have been destroyed130 cities would have been destroyed– Estimates were 285 million dead and Estimates were 285 million dead and

40 million injured40 million injured

The Berlin Wall (1961)The Berlin Wall (1961)

The Berlin Wall, constructed in 1961, The Berlin Wall, constructed in 1961, represented physically the deep represented physically the deep divisions of Eastern and Western divisions of Eastern and Western EuropeEurope

It prevented free access between the It prevented free access between the East and West sections of the cityEast and West sections of the city


Why the Wall?Why the Wall?– Many East Germans worked in West Berlin and Many East Germans worked in West Berlin and

saw the freedoms and wealth of the Westsaw the freedoms and wealth of the West– The best trained and educated citizens could earn The best trained and educated citizens could earn

much better money in the West (“Brain Drain”)much better money in the West (“Brain Drain”)– By 1961, 3 million had fled to the west to Berlin, By 1961, 3 million had fled to the west to Berlin,

as many as 1,800 per dayas many as 1,800 per day– This was an embarrassment to Russia, who This was an embarrassment to Russia, who

proclaimed the superiority of the communist proclaimed the superiority of the communist systemsystem


– The Russians claimed that the The Russians claimed that the Americans used West Berlin for Americans used West Berlin for spying and sabotage. The wall spying and sabotage. The wall would keep East Germany safewould keep East Germany safe

– Comparisons between the lifestyles Comparisons between the lifestyles of the East and West would cease of the East and West would cease due to lack of contactdue to lack of contact

– The wall would stop the flow of East The wall would stop the flow of East German citizens to West GermanyGerman citizens to West Germany


Consequences of the wall:Consequences of the wall:– Berlin was split into twoBerlin was split into two– Hundreds of East Berliners died trying Hundreds of East Berliners died trying

to cross itto cross it– America complained, but did not try to America complained, but did not try to

take it down for risk of a wartake it down for risk of a war– Tension grew as both sides started Tension grew as both sides started

nuclear testingnuclear testing– The West became more anti-communistThe West became more anti-communist

The Cold War – Suez Crisis to the Berlin Wall Part V.

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