The United States and Soviet Union dealt with increased tensions during the Cold War in the 1950s-1960s through several proxy conflicts and crises. Key events included the division of Germany and Berlin Wall, Korean War, overthrow of Mossadegh in Iran, Vietnam War, Cuban Revolution and Missile Crisis. Both sides engaged in arms buildups and space races to demonstrate military and technological superiority.

1. Essential Question
How did the U.S.
and the U.S.S.R.
deal with increased
tensions in the
1950s and 1960s?

2. The Cold War Begins
 Following World War II, an era of high
tension between the United States and
the Soviet Union emerged.
 The United States did not trust the
Soviet Union, and as far back as the
1920’s had viewed the Soviet Union as a
potential threat.
 Americans were hostile to the ideas of
communism and had at times feared its
spread into the United States.

3. Cold War Hot Spots, 1945-1962
Soviet Union Tests
Atomic Bomb, 1949
Germany, 1948-
1961
Cuban Revolution, 1959
Bay of Pigs Invasion, 1961 U.S. begins to send
Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 troops to
Vietnam, 1960
U.S. overthrows Iran Prime Minister
Guatemalan Overthrown, 1953
President, 1954 Korean War, 1950-
1953
Hungarian
Revolution, 1956

4. National Security Act 1947
Established the National Security Council (NSC)
Merged the War and Navy departments into the National
Military Establishment (NME) headed by the secretary of
defense
Recognized the US Air Force as an independent service
from the Army
Establishes the role of the Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA)

5. Germany
 Divided into 4 sectors following
WW II
 Western allies soon merged 3 zones
into 1
 West Germany – democratic
 East Germany – soviet-style socialist

6. Germany
 Berlin Wall
 1961, Berlin, the last place through
which Germans could leave East
Germany, was blocked off by the
“infamous” Berlin Wall
 This wall became a symbol of Soviet
control
1:06

7. The Marshall Plan
 Marshall Plan
 United States sent massive economic
aid (13 billion), to European
democracies to help rebuild
 Between 1948 & 1951, the U. S.
government sent aid to 17 different
countries

8. Korea
 Proxy war, 1950-1953
 Both sides were supported by external
powers
 North Korea – Soviet Union
 South Korea – United States
 Both North and South Korea were
attempting to re-unify Korea under
their respective governments.

9. Iran
 1951, Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh
was elected prime minister.
 Mossadegh became enormously
popular in Iran after he
nationalized Iran’s oil reserves.
 In response, Britain embargoed
Iranian oil and, amidst Cold War
fears, invited the United States to
Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh
join in a plot to depose Mossadegh.

10. Iran
 1953, President Eisenhower
authorized Operation Ajax.
 The operation was successful, and
Mossadegh was arrested on 19 August
1953.
 U.S. replaced Mossadegh with
General Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
3:50  Rule became increasingly autocratic.
 With American support, the Shah
was able to rapidly modernize
Iranian infrastructure, but he
simultaneously crushed all forms
of political opposition with his
intelligence agency.

11. Vietnam
 1954, war to gain independence
from France
 Split into North and South by
treaty
 Supposed to hold elections to reunite
country
 North was Communist, South was
dictatorship
 Elections didn’t happen and North
attacked south
 U.S. supported South
 Golf of Tonkin - 1964
 Anti-War movements in U.S.
 1975 Vietnam is united under
Communist government

12. Guatemala
 1954, a freely elected
Guatemalan leader, Jacobo
Arbenz, is overthrown in a coup
orchestrated by the U.S. Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA).
2:03

13. Hungary
 Following the fall of Nazi
Germany, Soviet troops occupied all of
the country and through their influence
Hungary gradually became a communist
2:02 satellite state of the Soviet Union.
 The communist rule was nearly
unbearable for Hungary’s war-torn
citizens.
 1956, Hungarian Revolution.
 The Soviets retaliated massively with
military force, sending in over 150,000
troops and 2,500 tanks.

14. Cuba
Fidel Castro leads successful revolution,
1959
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Attempt by U.S. trained force of Cuban exiles to invade south-west
Cuba and overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro.
Planned & funded by U.S. government.
The Cuban military defeated the invading force in a matter of days
and the event accelerated a rapid deterioration in Cuban-American
relations.

15. Cuba
Cuban Missile Crisis
U-2 spy plane discovers Soviet
medium-range ballistic missiles
in Cuba
U-2 reconnaissance photograph of Soviet
nuclear missiles in Cuba. Shown are the
transports and tents for fueling and
maintenance.

16. Other Threats
 Atomic Bomb
 U.S. - 1945
 Soviet Union - 1949
 Thought of Deterrence
 Arms Race
 Develop more Nuclear weapons than
the other guy
 Space Race
 Soviets first in space
 Sputnik I October 4, 1957
 Americans first on the moon
 Apollo 11 July 21, 1969