Eisenhower’s Foreign Policy

Question 1

What was Eisenhower’s approach to foreign policy?

Answer 1

• Eisenhower’s foreign policy was based on containment but aimed to reduce military spending while maintaining deterrence.
• Also the New Look Policy

Question 2

What was the ‘New Look’ Policy?

Answer 2

• Reliance on nuclear deterrence rather than large conventional forces.
• Massive retaliation—threatened to use nuclear weapons if the USSR or China acted aggressively.
• Brinkmanship—using the threat of war to achieve diplomatic goals (e.g., Korean War armistice).
• Expanded CIA operations for covert interventions.

Question 3

What did Eisenhower do in Korea (1953)?

Answer 3

Korean War Armistice (1953):
- Eisenhower ended the war, fulfilling his campaign promise.
- Korea remained divided at the 38th parallel.

Question 4

What did Eisenhower do in Vietnam and SE Asia?

Answer 4

• Provided aid to South Vietnam after the fall of the French at Dien Bien Phu (1954).
• Created SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, 1954) to counter communist influence.
• Ike feared the ‘domino theory’ could happen so Eisenhower sent financial support and advisors but not troops
• In 1954 China shelled 2 Taiwanese islands (Quemoy and Matsu). Ike’s Formosa Resolution received huge support in Congress and pledged that the US would defend Taiwan. The Chinese stopped shelling Taiwan.

Question 5

What did Eisenhower do in The Cold War and USSR relations?

Answer 5

• Geneva Summit (1955): The first US-USSR summit since WWII, aimed at reducing tensions.
• The Hungarian Uprising (1956): The US did not intervene when the Soviets crushed the uprising, demonstrating the limits of US support for revolts behind the Iron Curtain.
• U-2 Spy Plane Incident (1960): A US spy plane was shot down over the USSR, worsening US-Soviet relations and leading to the collapse of the planned Paris Summit.

Question 6

What did Eisenhower do in The Middle East?

Answer 6

• Eisenhower Doctrine (1957)—promised US aid to Middle Eastern countries resisting communism.
• Sent troops to Lebanon (1958) to prevent communist influence.
• CENTO- (1955) UK, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq
• Iran- In 1951 a democratically elected PM took control of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. CIA helped restore the pro-American Shah (a dictator). US oil companies gained 40% of Iranian oil
• Egypt and Suez crisis- 1956

Question 7

What did Eisenhower do in Latin America & CIA Interventions?

Answer 7

• Guatemala (1954): CIA-backed coup ousted a left-wing government.
• Supported anti-communist regimes, leading to resentment in Latin America.

Question 8

What did Eisenhower do in Space Race & Sputnik (1957)?

Answer 8

• The USSR launched Sputnik, the first satellite.
• Eisenhower responded by creating NASA (1958) and expanding STEM education.

Question 9

What happened during the Arms Race?

Answer 9

• Ike aimed to get ‘more bang for a buck’ by concentrating on building the nuclear arsenal rather than conventional forces
• The USA had 1500 nuclear weapons in 1953- rising to 6,000 by 1961
• There was talk of a missile gap, in which the USA had fallen behind the USSR, this was wrong
• There were attempts to improve co-existence, On December 53 Ike suggested ‘Atoms for Peace’- to explore the peaceful use of nuclear power
• 1955- Geneva Convention Soviets reject ‘open skies’.
• 1958 bomb test ban treaty discussions started but failed- Soviets didn’t want inspections
• The development of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) increased tensions

Question 10

How many people were killed and displaced during the Hungarian Uprising?

Answer 10

• Krushchev sent an army; 3,000 Hungarians were killed, 200,000 fled to Austria

Question 11

What happened in Berlin under Eisenhower?

Answer 11

• Khrushchev sought to push the West out of their remaining territory in Eastern Europe, Berlin
• Nov 1958- Krushchev called for the Western powers to withdraw (6-month deadline)
• While many in the US talked of a crisis and called for the US to send troops, Ike remained calm and did not send troops
• 20% of population of the east Berliners were defecting to the wear
• Ike invited Khrushchev to the US in Sept 1959, following talks in Geneva

Question 12

What happened in Egypt during the Suez Crisis?

Answer 12

• 1956- Nassar nationalised the Suez Canal, the key route for ships between Europe and Asia
• Monet would be used to fund the Aswan Dam and increase industrialisation
• There was great tension in the Middle East between the new state of Israel and their Arab neighbours
• Israel reached an agreement with Britain and France to attack (even bomb) Egypt and take control of the canal
• Ike forced them to withdraw from this stance