American Dream: reality or illusion 1945-1980 (2Q)
All documents for this subject (5)
Seller
Follow
emilyemmott10
Content preview
Key
dates
People/country/organisations
Stats and figures
Eisenhower: 1952-1960
Foreign Policy
Relations with Khrushchev/USSR
10 Nov 1958 Khrushchev gives western powers 6 months to remove troops from Berlin
- Part of the long term aim of removing the West’s influence
11 May- 20 June, 13 July- 5 August 1959 Foreign Ministers Conference in Geneva
- Eisenhower determined not to give in to Soviet Power
- Invited Khrushchev to US for talks
15 Sep 1959 Khrushchev arrives in the US
- Tour lasts 11 days
- Agreed Eisenhower would visit Moscow that following year
Space Race
4 October 1957-5 January 1958 USSR launched Sputnik into space
3 November 1958 launch Sputnik 2 with dog Laika
- Questions America as a technical leader
6 December 1957 US Vanguard TV-3 launched
- Blew up 4 feet in the air, 2 seconds after launch
- Mocked on live tv, dubbed ‘Flopnik’, ‘Dudnik’ and ‘Kaputnik’
1958 US back in Space Race after relying on ex-Nazi engineer Werner von Braun
1958 NASA was established
Arms Race
1953 both sides had developed Hydrogen bombs
- 7x more destructive than atomic bombs
By 1955 ⅓ US nuclear bombs were ready to fly in 15 minutes
- 1957 the US had 5543, USSR had 650 but a lot more missiles
Open Skies Plan (1955)
18 July 1955 Eisenhower reveals open skies plan to representatives of the Big Four- Britain, France
and the USSR
- Called for the exchange of locations of every military base/installed location with each
nation conducting general surveillance to assure compliance
- France and Britain expressed interest, USSR said it was an ‘espionage plot’
- Confirmed Eisenhower’s suspicion
U2 Spy Plane (1960)
1 May 1960 pilot Francis Gary Powers short down
- Ruined relations with Khrushchev, he demanded a 6 month delay on any talks to wait for a
new president
- Powers was tried and got 10 years confinement until exchange on 10 Feb 1962
, Key
dates
People/country/organisations
Stats and figures
Hungary (1956)
25 Feb 1956 Khrushchev delivers secret speech causing destalinisation
- Riots began in Poland against the communist government
Following protests in Hungary, hard lined leader Rasoki replaced with Imre Nagy
- Nagy promised free elections, restoration of farm land to private property and Hungary to
leave Warsaw Pact
- Khrushchev did not want Hungary to leave the Soviet Sphere
November 1956 Khrushchev sends troops and tanks into Budapest
- 3000 killed, 200 000 fled to Austria
- Khrushchev re-established control in Hungary by installing János Kádár who crushed the
resistance
Eisenhower did not react as it was not in the containment policy or Truman Doctrine
- Many saw this as Eisenhower going back on his promise to ‘roll back on communism’
Korea (1952-53)
2 Dec 1952 Eisenhower visits Korea
- Decides drastic action is needed
- Combined diplomacy with a clear statement of intent about US military power
- It was 7 months until Korea was brought to the negotiating table
27 July 1953 the Armistice is signed
- Left Korean peninsula divided into North and South at 38th parallel
- Ensured by the ruse of US using atomic power
- Dulles claimed brinkmanship had ended the war, gave heart to NATO, with the
success strengthened at home and abroad
Taiwan
Taiwan became strategically important during the Korean War
- Mao claimed it was part of China, Truman previously willing to let it be retaken
Jiang Jieshi’s willingness to let Taiwan be used as a base for US operations ensured protection from
Mao’s shellings
- Islands of Matsu and Quemoy were shelled
29 January 1955 Eisenhower secures the Formosa Resolution
- Gives Eisenhower total authority to defend Taiwan and off-shore islands
- Only 6 out of 494 members in Congress voted against
- Dulles followed this up by saying the US were considering nuclear attack on China
1 May 1955 China cease the shelling
- Brinkmanship has worked
Vietnam
By 1954 Ho Chi Minh’s forces caused French support to start slipping
- Eisenhower agreed to covert air support provided by American B-26 bombers
- John Foster Dulles suggested irving the French with nuclear device
Operation Vulture, a US intervention in Vietnam, supported by VP Nixon was eventually rejected by
Eisenhower
7 May 1954 French defeated by Ho Chi Minh at Dien Bien Phu
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller emilyemmott10. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $8.38. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.