2.4.2
Eisenhower, Brinkmanship & Domino Theory
Eisenhower, Dulles & Brinkmanship
Eisenhower, Dulles & Brinkmanship
In his campaign for US Presidency, Eisenhower pushed for a more proactive approach to dealings with Asia than Truman.
Eisenhower's New Look Policy
Eisenhower's New Look Policy
- Eisenhower launched the New Look Policy and it was implemented by the US Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles.
- The key aspects of the policy focused on massive retaliation, brinkmanship, covert operations and strengthening global alliances.
- Massive retaliation meant that the US needed to prepare to respond to attack by conventional forces with nuclear weapons.
- Eisenhower and Dulles were worried about the cost of conventional forces in Asia and a nuclear response or massive retaliation was faster and less costly.
Brinkmanship
Brinkmanship
- Brinkmanship was the US being in a state that was ready to ‘go to the brink of war’ and confront any Soviet threat.
- Dulles also backed the use of covert undercover CIA operations in the Soviet Bloc countries to try to stir up anti-communist sentiment.
- Both Dulles and Eisenhower wanted to involve pro-US allies in Western Europe and to hold back all communist countries (USSR and China).
The Domino Theory & French Indo-China
The Domino Theory & French Indo-China
The Domino Theory was the idea that if the world let one country in Asia fall to communism then neighbouring countries would also fall to communism- fall like dominoes.
The Domino Theory
The Domino Theory
- This theory was first set out by President Eisenhower in 1954 after the weakening power that France had over its empire colony Vietnam, then called Indochina.
Vietnamese independence
Vietnamese independence
- The Vietnamese began to desire independence from France after WW2 and initially the USA supported this.
- However, the leader of the move for independence was Ho Chi Minh, a communist.
- He commanded the DRV (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and successfully won control from the French in Northern Vietnam.
- America then began to support the South of Vietnam and France against Ho Chi Minh, in fact, they gave more money in support than France did.
The Geneva Conference July 1954
The Geneva Conference July 1954
- At the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, the French suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the communist forces.
- This then led to the Geneva Conference of 1954 and the separation of North and South Vietnam.
- Ho Chi Minh led the North and pro-Western President Diem led the South.
- The French withdrew their troops from the North and the Nationalist forces withdrew from the South.
- There was a promise of elections in 2 years to vote on the state of the separation.
1Origins of the Cold War, 1945-9
1.1Events of 1945
1.2The Collapse of the Grand Alliance
1.3Developing Tensions
1.4US Involvement in Europe
2Widening of the Cold War
2.1US Containment in Asia
2.2The Korean War
2.3Increasing Cold War Tensions, 1949 -1953
3The Global War
3.2Cold War Rivalries
3.3Conflict in Asia
3.4Confrontation Between Superpowers
4Confrontation & Cooperation
4.2Cooperation
4.3Pressures on the USSR
5Brezhnev Era
5.1Detente
5.2Second Cold War
5.3Developments in Africa & Americas
6Ending of the Cold War
6.1Gorbachev
6.2Cooperation between US & USSR
6.3Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe
6.4End of Tensions Across the World
Jump to other topics
1Origins of the Cold War, 1945-9
1.1Events of 1945
1.2The Collapse of the Grand Alliance
1.3Developing Tensions
1.4US Involvement in Europe
2Widening of the Cold War
2.1US Containment in Asia
2.2The Korean War
2.3Increasing Cold War Tensions, 1949 -1953
3The Global War
3.2Cold War Rivalries
3.3Conflict in Asia
3.4Confrontation Between Superpowers
4Confrontation & Cooperation
4.2Cooperation
4.3Pressures on the USSR
5Brezhnev Era
5.1Detente
5.2Second Cold War
5.3Developments in Africa & Americas
6Ending of the Cold War
6.1Gorbachev
6.2Cooperation between US & USSR
6.3Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe
6.4End of Tensions Across the World
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