Eisenhower Era 1953-1961 Flashcards
John Foster Dulles
US Secretary of State. Partially responsible for the concept of Brinksmaship, bi-polar world view
The New Look
US should scale back military expenditure. Rejected NSC 68 (said that US had a huge budget and should spend it towards military)
Brinksmanship
The idea that we have to go to the brink of peace to achieve it. (Go to the edge of war in order to avoid it) China and Russia will respond to threats, making them more manageable because they would be scared off.
Massive retaliation
The US will respond to offensive actions w/ nuclear response. The US had power to deploy immensely active weaponry.
SEATO
South East Asia Treaty Organization: After Vietnam’s division, created to provide aid to South Vietnam if there was an attempt at an invasion by the North. Attempt to control South VN, many SEA countries left out.
The French in Vietnam
Tried to reestablish colonialism in Vietnam. Gave up after the failed battle at Dien Bien Phu.
Suez Crisis of 1956
US originally agreed to build a dam in Egypt, but no funds were given. Nasser takes back the Suez Canal, but worried Brits, French, and Israelis wanted to attack to get the canal back. Proved Old WWiI alliances were done, Soviet Union holds power in the Middle East.
Hungarian Revolution (1956)
Failed attempt at rollbalc. Kruschev speech was leaked and denounced the USSR. Hungarians though that the US would support them, but the USSR crushed them w/ tanks showing that US was never going to help and rollback would never happen.
Eisenhower Doctrine
Extended the Truman Doctrine to the MIddle East. US would provide support to MIddle Eastern countries that were threatened by communism.
Sputnik
Soviet advancement w/ first satellite in space race. Failure on Eisenhower’s part.
U-2 incident
American spy planes deployed over Russia were shot down by USSR. Right before a peace conference, Kruschev accuses US of spying, further increases Cold War tensions.
Cuban Revolution of 1959(and implications for the Monroe Doctrine)
Fidel Castro led a successful revolution against Batista and normalizes Cuban interests. US thinks all revolutionaries are inherently communist and cuts connections with Cuba
Ike’s Farewell Address
Warned against military-industrial complex. (Too much power to war generals and they would eventually take political power). He thought we would be led to war, but weren’t ready for conflict
