Following the Cuban Missile Crisis, the U.S. and USSR set up a “hotline” between Washington and Moscow. Why might Kennedy and Khrushchev have wanted to have a direct line of communication?

Following the Cuban Missile Crisis, the U.S. and USSR set up a “hotline” between Washington and Moscow. Why might Kennedy and Khrushchev have wanted to have a direct line of communication? Distrust between the two countries during

the Cold War led to serious situations that could escalate to nuclear war (Cuban Missile Crisis)

Avoid a serious, dangerous game of “telephone” – misinterpretations that happen when multiple people pass on messages

Soviet people saw few benefits from WWII victory Unlike United States, Western Europe USSR devastated

Stalin continued ruthless policies Filled labor camps with “enemies of the

state” Died in 1953

Competition between two economic and political value systems USSR: Communism, Command economy USA: Democracy, Market economy

Communism Form of socialism (people as a whole, not

private individuals, own all property and businesses)

State plans and controls economy, all goods equally shared by people

Soviet Communism Government controlled many aspects of

life Obedience, discipline, economic security Spread communist ideology around the

world Command Economy

Government makes most decisions Political reasons

Nikita Khrushchev Followed Stalin’s death Publicly denounced Stalin’s abuseof power De-Stalinization Peaceful co-existence with West

Leonid Brezhnev Reversed many of Krushchev’s reforms Economic problems, corruption ignored Peak of strategic relations with West

Andrey Sakharov Scientist

Against nuclear proliferation Spoke out for civil liberties

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn*Wrote letter criticizing Stalin, sent to prison camp*Writer and historian, his writings told the world of the gulags

1953 – East Berlin 1956 – Poland, Hungary 1968 – Alexander Dubcek, “Prague Spring”

Leader of Czechoslovakia, sought to liberalize the country: “socialism with a human face”

Reforms: greater freedom of expression, political parties

Warsaw Pact forces invaded, Dubcek and leaders arrested

Country gave in to Soviet demands

Democracy Citizens have freedom to make

economic and political choices Market economy

Producers and consumers make decisions Prices based on supply and demand Property is privately owned Competition

Basically a market economy, but government has economic role Mixed economy

Containment America’s policy toward communism Keeping communism from spreading

Meant US would support any government from being invaded or taken over by communists

Nuclear Fears Fallout shelters Drills

Red Scare Many Americans feared

communists would undermine the U.S. government

1950: Sen. Joseph McCarthy led hunt for suspected communists

McCarthyism: fear that developed during this time, from accusations of innocent people

HUAC: House Un-American Activities Committee

Sought to expose communists in Hollywood