Peaceful co-existence
What was Eisenhower’s New Look policy? (Roll back, Deterrence, Massive Retaliation, ‘More bang
for your buck’ and brinkmanship, conventional forces)
What were the strengths and weaknesses of this policy? Give examples
How far was this a change from US policy under Truman?
The USA in the Far East
Ending the Korean War, 1953
v What was the issue?
Both sides wanted an end to the war but couldn’t agree on which neutrmal countries to send
North Korean and Chinese prisoners to.
v How did the USA intervene?
Eisenhower threatened China with US nuclear interference if they breached any terms of the July
1953 armistice. (Example of brinkmanship)
China, Taiwan and the Offshore Islands, 1954-1958
What was the issue
In 1954 Chiang Kai-shek (leader of Taiwan) authorized the movement of troops to the islands of
Quemoy and Matsu between mainland China and Taiwan. In September Mao ordered the
bombing of the occupied offshore islands.
How did the USA intervene?
Dulles and Eisenhower let China know that the US might use nuclear weapons if the Communists
attacked Taiwan. Formosa Resolution in January 1955 pledging the American defence of Taiwan in
the case of a communist invasion, though they left it deliberately vague whether the United States
would intervene to protect the islands off China’s mainland. China backed off and the First Taiwan
Straits Crisis ended in May 1954, and some argue that the threat of nuclear weapons was a factor.
Others however, argue that Eisenhower needlessly heightened a crisis. (And did not prevent a
similar crisis occurring in 1958.) China again bombed Quemoy and Matsu and Eisenhower had to
mobilise the 7th fleet in order to persuade China to back down and settle the dispute peacefully.
The USA and the Middle East
Iran, 1953
v What was the issue?
Fears that Mossadeq (Iranian Prime Minister) had links to Communists - nationalised the Anglo-
Iranian Oil Company. Led to GB and US boycotting Iranian oil.
v How did the USA intervene?
,US Decided to overthrow Mossadeq. Mossadeq appealed to Moscow for help. CIA orchestrated
‘communist’ violent demonstrations and paid street mobs to seize government buildings,
Mossadeq quit and the US supporting Shah was returned to power.
Suez Crisis (Egypt), 1956
v What was the issue?
Nasser – President of Egypt flirted with both US and Soviets
Nationalised the British-owned Suez Canal
Britain, France and Israel launched a combined attack on Egypt without consulting or informing
the US
v How did the USA intervene?
Sponsored a resolution in the UN (supported by the Soviets) for an immediate cease-fire
Placed severe diplomatic and financial pressure on Britain, France and Israel to withdraw
Eisenhower was furious that the US hasn’t been consulted- didn’t want US interference to alienate
Arab states and didn’t want to invite risk of Soviet military action.
The Canal remained under Egypt's control, but the incident pushed Nasser closer towards the
Soviets
The USA in Central America and the Caribbean
Guatemala, 1953-1954
v What was the issue?
Monroe Doctrine –USA viewed south America as their backyard, 1949 formed Organisation of
American States (OAS) to prevent spread of communism in South America.
Arbenz (new president) of Guatemala wanted to instigate land reform to tackle poverty. US were
alarmed as they believed he intended to impose communist policies.
v How did the USA intervene?
US supported Armas, a staunch anti-communist to be his replacement.
CIA supplied Armas with funds and aid including two US-piloted planes he successfully overthrew
Arbenz. Once became President Armas massacred of hundreds of political opponent
Cuba, 1959-1961
v What was the issue?
• In Jan 1959 the US supported dictator of Cuba Batista was overthrown by the left -wing Castro
and Che Guevara. 1960 Soviet deputy Premier Mikoyan visited Cuba and arranged a loan of $100
million dollars and Castro forcibly nationalised US oil companies in Cuba.
, v How did the USA intervene?
April 1960 Eisenhower placed an embargo on Cuban sugar imports and instructed the CIA to train
Cuban exiles in Guatemala for an invasion. In Jan 1961, the two countries broke off diplomatic ties.
How far did the death of Stalin lead to a change in Soviet policy?
The impact on the USSR
On 5th March 1953, Stalin died. He was replaced by a 5-man committee:
· Nikita Khrushchev - following a power struggle he emerged as the dominant leader by 1956
· Georgi Malenkov – Deputy Prime Minister of USSR, 1953-55
· Vyachlav Molotov – Minister for Foreign affairs, 1939-48, 1953-56
· Laverty Beria - Head of the Soviet Secret Police, 1938-53
· Nikolay Bulganin – Soviet Minister of Defence 1953-55 and Chairman of the Council of Ministers,
1955-57
These men wanted to take a different path to Stalin, they wanted to improve living standards at
home and stop using terror to maintain control. This would require better international relations
In the spring of 53, Malenkov said:
“At the present time there is no disputed or unresolved question that cannot be settled by mutual
agreement of the interested countries. This applies to our relations with all states, including the
United States of America”
By 1956 Khrushchev was the dominant leader. He wanted to use more resources on housing and
consumer goods rather than an escalating arms race with the West.
20th Communist Party Congress, 25th February 1956 – Khrushchev’s ‘Secret Speech’
In this speech Khrushchev denounced Stalin, suggesting that the USSR were to take a different
approach from the terror and confrontation of the past 30 years. This became known as ‘De-
Stalinisation’
1. – Destalinisation
Khrushchev’s ‘Secret Speech’ February 1956 to a closed session of the Communist Party on 25
February 1956 criticised Stalinism (cult of personality around Stalin, central planned economy,
secret police, press censorship one party system)
Khrushchev exposed Stalin’s cruelties including the use of mass terror and the execution of loyal
people.
His speech astounded everyone present; some didn’t want to hear/believe what Khrushchev told
them about Stalin’s treatment of loyal communists. The speech marked the beginning of a period
of destalinisation. This was to have a significant impact on the USSR’s foreign policy.
Reactions in the Communist Bloc
What was Eisenhower’s New Look policy? (Roll back, Deterrence, Massive Retaliation, ‘More bang
for your buck’ and brinkmanship, conventional forces)
What were the strengths and weaknesses of this policy? Give examples
How far was this a change from US policy under Truman?
The USA in the Far East
Ending the Korean War, 1953
v What was the issue?
Both sides wanted an end to the war but couldn’t agree on which neutrmal countries to send
North Korean and Chinese prisoners to.
v How did the USA intervene?
Eisenhower threatened China with US nuclear interference if they breached any terms of the July
1953 armistice. (Example of brinkmanship)
China, Taiwan and the Offshore Islands, 1954-1958
What was the issue
In 1954 Chiang Kai-shek (leader of Taiwan) authorized the movement of troops to the islands of
Quemoy and Matsu between mainland China and Taiwan. In September Mao ordered the
bombing of the occupied offshore islands.
How did the USA intervene?
Dulles and Eisenhower let China know that the US might use nuclear weapons if the Communists
attacked Taiwan. Formosa Resolution in January 1955 pledging the American defence of Taiwan in
the case of a communist invasion, though they left it deliberately vague whether the United States
would intervene to protect the islands off China’s mainland. China backed off and the First Taiwan
Straits Crisis ended in May 1954, and some argue that the threat of nuclear weapons was a factor.
Others however, argue that Eisenhower needlessly heightened a crisis. (And did not prevent a
similar crisis occurring in 1958.) China again bombed Quemoy and Matsu and Eisenhower had to
mobilise the 7th fleet in order to persuade China to back down and settle the dispute peacefully.
The USA and the Middle East
Iran, 1953
v What was the issue?
Fears that Mossadeq (Iranian Prime Minister) had links to Communists - nationalised the Anglo-
Iranian Oil Company. Led to GB and US boycotting Iranian oil.
v How did the USA intervene?
,US Decided to overthrow Mossadeq. Mossadeq appealed to Moscow for help. CIA orchestrated
‘communist’ violent demonstrations and paid street mobs to seize government buildings,
Mossadeq quit and the US supporting Shah was returned to power.
Suez Crisis (Egypt), 1956
v What was the issue?
Nasser – President of Egypt flirted with both US and Soviets
Nationalised the British-owned Suez Canal
Britain, France and Israel launched a combined attack on Egypt without consulting or informing
the US
v How did the USA intervene?
Sponsored a resolution in the UN (supported by the Soviets) for an immediate cease-fire
Placed severe diplomatic and financial pressure on Britain, France and Israel to withdraw
Eisenhower was furious that the US hasn’t been consulted- didn’t want US interference to alienate
Arab states and didn’t want to invite risk of Soviet military action.
The Canal remained under Egypt's control, but the incident pushed Nasser closer towards the
Soviets
The USA in Central America and the Caribbean
Guatemala, 1953-1954
v What was the issue?
Monroe Doctrine –USA viewed south America as their backyard, 1949 formed Organisation of
American States (OAS) to prevent spread of communism in South America.
Arbenz (new president) of Guatemala wanted to instigate land reform to tackle poverty. US were
alarmed as they believed he intended to impose communist policies.
v How did the USA intervene?
US supported Armas, a staunch anti-communist to be his replacement.
CIA supplied Armas with funds and aid including two US-piloted planes he successfully overthrew
Arbenz. Once became President Armas massacred of hundreds of political opponent
Cuba, 1959-1961
v What was the issue?
• In Jan 1959 the US supported dictator of Cuba Batista was overthrown by the left -wing Castro
and Che Guevara. 1960 Soviet deputy Premier Mikoyan visited Cuba and arranged a loan of $100
million dollars and Castro forcibly nationalised US oil companies in Cuba.
, v How did the USA intervene?
April 1960 Eisenhower placed an embargo on Cuban sugar imports and instructed the CIA to train
Cuban exiles in Guatemala for an invasion. In Jan 1961, the two countries broke off diplomatic ties.
How far did the death of Stalin lead to a change in Soviet policy?
The impact on the USSR
On 5th March 1953, Stalin died. He was replaced by a 5-man committee:
· Nikita Khrushchev - following a power struggle he emerged as the dominant leader by 1956
· Georgi Malenkov – Deputy Prime Minister of USSR, 1953-55
· Vyachlav Molotov – Minister for Foreign affairs, 1939-48, 1953-56
· Laverty Beria - Head of the Soviet Secret Police, 1938-53
· Nikolay Bulganin – Soviet Minister of Defence 1953-55 and Chairman of the Council of Ministers,
1955-57
These men wanted to take a different path to Stalin, they wanted to improve living standards at
home and stop using terror to maintain control. This would require better international relations
In the spring of 53, Malenkov said:
“At the present time there is no disputed or unresolved question that cannot be settled by mutual
agreement of the interested countries. This applies to our relations with all states, including the
United States of America”
By 1956 Khrushchev was the dominant leader. He wanted to use more resources on housing and
consumer goods rather than an escalating arms race with the West.
20th Communist Party Congress, 25th February 1956 – Khrushchev’s ‘Secret Speech’
In this speech Khrushchev denounced Stalin, suggesting that the USSR were to take a different
approach from the terror and confrontation of the past 30 years. This became known as ‘De-
Stalinisation’
1. – Destalinisation
Khrushchev’s ‘Secret Speech’ February 1956 to a closed session of the Communist Party on 25
February 1956 criticised Stalinism (cult of personality around Stalin, central planned economy,
secret police, press censorship one party system)
Khrushchev exposed Stalin’s cruelties including the use of mass terror and the execution of loyal
people.
His speech astounded everyone present; some didn’t want to hear/believe what Khrushchev told
them about Stalin’s treatment of loyal communists. The speech marked the beginning of a period
of destalinisation. This was to have a significant impact on the USSR’s foreign policy.
Reactions in the Communist Bloc
