Premier Nikita Premier Nikita KhrushchevKhrushchev

About the capitalist About the capitalist states, it doesn't states, it doesn't depend on you depend on you whether we whether we (Soviet Union) exist.(Soviet Union) exist.If you don't like us, If you don't like us, don't accept our don't accept our invitations, and don'tinvitations, and don'tinvite us to come invite us to come to see you. Whether to see you. Whether you like it our not, history is on you like it our not, history is on our side. our side. We will bury youWe will bury you. -- . -- 19561956

De-Stalinization De-Stalinization ProgramProgram

The Three Crisis of 1956

1. The Suez Canal– Controlled by a French-British Company– Egypt Nationalizes the Canal– Egypt and Israel Go to war– U.K. and France use war as an opportunity to

occupy canal. – USSR vehemently opposes action– US refuses to support Allies– British and French have to withdraw– Proof that US and USSR control international

politics.– United Nations Introduces “Peace Keepers”

The Suez Crisis: 1956-The Suez Crisis: 1956-19571957

2. Poland Strives for Independence 1956

• Puppet Prime Minister Dies• Lack of consumer goods lead to uprisings• Poland refuses to ascend Soviet nominee• Poland elect their own candidate, Gomulka• Soviets approve after Gomulka agrees to

cooperate with USSR• Maintained military alliances but modifies

economic policy• Improves Relationship with R.C.C.• Russia mobilizes troops at the boarder but

Gomulka reassures Khrushchev of his good intentions

Hungarian Uprising 1956

• Gomulkan Reforms Spread to Hungary• Student Demonstration in Budapest

escalates into revolution• Imre Nagy put in power, wants more

independence for Hungary• Soviets invade and execute Nagy

• The USSR and USA are the Hegemonic powers of the world.

The Hungarian Uprising: The Hungarian Uprising: Cont.Cont.

Imre Nagy, Imre Nagy, HungarianHungarian

Prime MinisterPrime Minister} Promised free Promised free

elections.elections.} This could lead to This could lead to

the end of the end of communist rule in communist rule in Hungary.Hungary.

Space Race

• United States and The Soviet Union compete to explore space– Origins in Military Rockets (German V2)– The ability to deliver Nuclear Warheads

drive the race (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) ICBM

– Also opportunity for espionage• Russians take the early Lead

Sputnik I (1957)Sputnik I (1957)

The Russians have beaten America The Russians have beaten America in space—they have the in space—they have the

technological edge!technological edge!

Nixon-KhrushchevNixon-Khrushchev“Kitchen Debate”“Kitchen Debate”

(1959)(1959)

Cold War ---> Cold War --->

TensionsTensions

<--- Technology <--- Technology

& Affluence & Affluence

U-2 Spy Incident (1960)U-2 Spy Incident (1960)

Col. Francis Gary Col. Francis Gary Powers’ plane was Powers’ plane was

shot down over shot down over Soviet airspace.Soviet airspace.

Thwarts 1960 Paris Conference between Eisenhower and Khrushchev Demonstration of Soviet Revolutionary Zeal

Socialist revolution is being split between China and USSR.

Vienna, 1961Vienna, 1961

Khrushchev & JFK meet to discuss Berlin Khrushchev & JFK meet to discuss Berlin and nuclear proliferation. Khrushchev and nuclear proliferation. Khrushchev

thinks that JFK is young, inexperienced, thinks that JFK is young, inexperienced, and can be rolled.and can be rolled.

The Berlin Wall Goes Up The Berlin Wall Goes Up (1961)(1961)

CheckpoinCheckpointt

CharlieCharlie

Goal: Stop the Goal: Stop the Refugee Crisis From Refugee Crisis From East to WestEast to West

Ich bin ein Ich bin ein Berliner!Berliner!

(1963)(1963)

President President Kennedy tells Kennedy tells Berliners that Berliners that

the West is the West is with them!with them!

Khrushchev Embraces Khrushchev Embraces Castro,Castro,19611961

Castro: Revolutionary and Opportunist

Bay of Pigs Debacle Bay of Pigs Debacle (1961)(1961)

Cuban Missile Crisis Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)(1962)

Cuban Missile Crisis Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)(1962)

We went eyeball-to-eyeball with the We went eyeball-to-eyeball with the Russians, and the other man blinked!Russians, and the other man blinked!

Cuban Missile Crisis Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)(1962)

Radio Free Europe/Radio Radio Free Europe/Radio LibertyLiberty

An Historic Irony: Sergei An Historic Irony: Sergei Khrushchev, American Khrushchev, American

CitizenCitizen

Son is a Citizen of the United Son is a Citizen of the United States and a Professor at Brown States and a Professor at Brown

UniversityUniversity

Cold War: Brezhnev and Gorbachev• Supreme Soviet from 1964-1982• Invasion of Czechoslovakia 1968

– Remembered as the Prague Spring– Dubcek experiments with liberal

communism– USSR and allies invade an promote the

pro-Moscow Husak– He reversed all of Ducek’s reforms

• The Brezhnev Doctrine: USSR will intervene in all communist countries in the name of preserving the revolution

• Brezhnev Stagnation: Economic Recession, Ignored

US Soviet Relations: Détente 1964-1980

• Brezhnev attempts to reach out to Americans, while promoting socialist expansion

• Period characterized by a reduction in arms and the understanding of spheres of influence

• Helsinki Accords: Supported by NATO, recognized Human Rights

• USSR and US continue to promote their agendas around the world

• Arms Race Continues• USSR has largest military force in the world, and

nuclear parity with the US• Relations deteriorate after USSR invades

Afghanistan.• US Boycotts Soviet Olympics(1980), provides aid

and arms to the Taliban.

Decolonization: the achievement of independence by the various western colonies and protectorates in Asia and Africa following World War II.

• European Empires Post WWII

Independence of the Developing World

Vietnam War: 1965-1973Vietnam War: 1965-1973

Vietnam War 1959-1973

• French– Second Indochina War– Democratic Republic of Vietnam (Communist)

v. Republic of Vietnam (US Supported)– French ask for US support in finance and

small arms– French are defeated at the Battle of Dien Bien

Phu.– As part of the Geneva Convention, Laos

Cambodia and Vietnam are given independence.

– Vietnam was partitioned temporarily at the 17th parallel .

– Political turmoil ensues

Vietnam War: Cont.

• The Domino Theory• The pro-western regimes of Laos and

Cambodia align with communist movement.• US pledges aid to Diem and South Vietnam• Later fell in a coup, and was executed• Political chaos follows• Kennedy increases “advisors” from 800 to

16,000• Throughout the 60’s the crisis escalates• Only was America has ever lost.• To Be Continued if time allows!

Legacy of Decolonization

• Extreme Poverty• Political instability• Civil War• Famine• Poverty• Disease• Regions with

natural wealth but human poverty.

The World’s Most Underdeveloped Nations

Reagan and Gorbachev• Reagan puts pressure on the Soviets• Increases defense spending and

develops “Star Wars”• Communist economic problems plague

the eastern bloc (Poland)• Gorbachev and Perestroika

– Attempt at Economic Revival– Glasnost: A Communist Debate– Easing of political and economic restrictions– 1989 New Constitution and Elections– Gorbachev’s economic policies fail but he

opens the door for future democracy. – Brandenburg Gate Speech

The End of The Cold War: Revolutions in Eastern Europe• Poland: 1980 restrictions relaxed

– The Elections of 1989 end the dominance of the Communist Party

– Gorbachev approves the Solidarity Parties nominee

• Hungary: 1989, opened its boarder with Austria – Mass exodus of East Germans– Democratic elections by October

• Romania: 1989 Violent Revolution• Gorbachev Renounces the Brezhnev

Docterine

The Day the Wall Came Down

• Popular Movements in East Germany call for unification

• Protests and demonstrators force the communist government to step down.

• In November of 1989, West and East Germans embrace and begin the long hard struggle of tearing down the political, social and economic wall that was the greatest symbol of the cold war

The Fall of the USSR• Gorbachev recognizes the need for reform• Eliminates the Single Party State• Republics wage a “War of Laws”• Gorbachev allies with the conservatives,

Bad Move!• August 1991 the Conservatives attempt a

coup and place Gorbachev under house arrest.

• The People Speak: the largest protest in the History of Russia, The Communist Party disintegrates

• Yeltsin gains favor• December 1991, under a revised

constitution the Soviet Union ceases to exist: The Cold War is Over!