Eisenhower & The Cold War

1. The Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb in 1949.
The U.S responded by creating the first Hydrogen Bomb. They all wanted to be a step ahead.

2. In 1951, the Iranian prime minister placed the oil industry in Iran under the Iranian government’s control.
United States had the CIA give several million dollars to anti-Mossadegh supporters. This would hopefully have pro-American Shah of Iran return to power. This was because america feared Mossadegh would turn to the Soviets for help.

3. The Guatemalan head of government gave American-owned land in Guatemala to peasants.
U.S had the CIA train an army to invade Guatemala

4. In 1956, Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt and occupied the Suez Canal.
U.S stepped in and persuaded the countries.

5. Soviet tanks invaded Hungary and fired on protesters in 1956.
Nothing was done by the U.S because they feared starting a physical war with the soviets.

6. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik.
This rocked the U.S causing a frantic pour of money into a fund for the space program. They rushed to create a satellite but failed miserably on the first go. The second was successful.

7. In 1960, the Soviet Union brought down an American U-2 piloted by Francis Gary Powers.
The U.S was startled and lied about using the planes to spy. The Soviets were quick to show evidence so Eisenhower admitted to the spying. This created much tension between the soviets and americans mainly because Eisenhower refused to appoligieze.