History Lecture 13 The New Cold War

The New Cold War

Period following Stalin's death in 1953; marked by de-Stalinization, shifting Cold War tensions, global competition in technology, arms, and ideology, and the rise of civil rights movements in the U.S.

Stalin's Death (1953)

Triggered leadership change in the USSR; ended the Stalinist era and opened the door for de-Stalinization.

De-Stalinization

Process led by Nikita Khrushchev to dismantle Stalin's cult of personality, reduce political repression, and reform Soviet society.

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader after Stalin; promoted de-Stalinization, challenged the West, and sought peaceful coexistence with the U.S.; less repressive than Stalin.

Secret Speech (1956)

Khrushchev's address to Communist Party officials condemning Stalin as a murderer and tyrant; initiated de-Stalinization.

Khrushchev and the Corn Farmer (1959)

Khrushchev accepted an American farmer's invitation to visit his corn farm; symbolized his approachable, unorthodox style of leadership.

Cold War 'Races'

Competition between the U.S. and USSR in various areas—nuclear weapons, space, education, technology, and lifestyle.

The Bomber Gap

Fear in the 1950s that the USSR had more long-range bombers than the U.S.; largely based on misinformation from military parades and propaganda.

Kitchen Debate (1959)

Exchange between Richard Nixon and Khrushchev at a U.S. exhibit in Moscow; debated the merits of capitalism vs communism in everyday life.

Space Race (1950s-1960s)

Competition between the U.S. and USSR for dominance in space exploration; Soviets reached space first in 1961.

Eisenhower's 'New Look'

Military strategy emphasizing nuclear deterrence and cost efficiency; relied on atomic weapons rather than large standing armies.

Operation Chrome Dome (1960-1968)

Continuous airborne nuclear alert mission by the U.S. Strategic Air Command; exemplified the policy of deterrence through Mutually Assured Destruction.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

Cold War doctrine where both sides possessed enough nuclear weapons to guarantee total annihilation if war broke out.

Dr. Strangelove (1964)

Satirical film that mocked the logic of Mutually Assured Destruction and nuclear brinkmanship.

The 'Three Worlds' Concept

Cold War geopolitical division: First World (U.S. & allies), Second World (Soviet bloc), and Third World (developing nations often caught in the conflict).

Third World Cold War

Competition between U.S. and USSR for influence in developing nations; often involved coups and proxy wars.

Iran (1953)

U.S. and British intelligence orchestrated a coup to restore the Shah after Iran's democratic government sought to nationalize oil; established a dictatorship friendly to the West.

Guatemala (1954)

U.S. backed a coup against democratically elected Jacobo Árbenz, replacing him with a military dictatorship to protect American corporate interests.

Vietnam (1946-1974)

Conflict between communist North and anti-communist South; U.S. involvement turned the Cold War 'hot' in Asia.

Connection between America's treatment of minorities and its global image

Civil rights became a Cold War issue as the U.S. sought to promote democracy abroad.

Liberal Civil Rights Strategy (1900-1950)

Focus on changing discriminatory laws through the court system rather than through direct action.

Earl Warren as Chief Justice

Under his leadership, the Supreme Court began to strike down segregation and expand civil liberties.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Supreme Court decision declaring segregation in public schools unconstitutional; 'separate but equal' is inherently unequal.

Brown II (1955)

Follow-up ruling ordering desegregation 'with all deliberate speed,' though implementation was slow and resisted.

Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956)

Triggered by Rosa Parks' arrest for refusing to give up her bus seat; year-long protest that desegregated city buses.

Rosa Parks

NAACP activist whose defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Browder v. Gayle (1956)

Court case that officially ended bus segregation in Montgomery, Alabama.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC, 1957)

Civil rights organization founded by MLK Jr.; coordinated nonviolent protests and voter registration drives across the South.

Massive Resistance

Widespread Southern opposition to school desegregation following Brown v. Board; included legal and violent tactics.

Little Rock Nine (1957)

Nine African American students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas; met with mob violence.

Eisenhower and Little Rock (1957)

Sent the 101st Airborne Division to enforce desegregation and uphold federal authority under the Insurrection Act.

Arkansas School Closure (1958-1959)

State closed public schools for a year to avoid desegregation; reopened unsegregated, showing the limits of resistance.

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

Student-led civil rights group focused on direct action, sit-ins, and voter registration; key in early 1960s activism.

Freedom Rides (1961)

SNCC and CORE activists rode interstate buses through the South to test desegregation laws; attacked by mobs and the KKK.

Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy

RFK ordered federal protection for Freedom Riders and condemned local police collusion with white supremacists.

FBI and the Klan

FBI reports revealed local police were often KKK members who participated in attacks on civil rights activists.

Birmingham Campaign (1963)

Mass protest in Alabama led by MLK Jr. and SCLC; Commissioner 'Bull' Connor used fire hoses and attack dogs on peaceful protesters.

Bull Connor

Police commissioner of Birmingham; symbol of violent resistance to civil rights activism.

Civil Rights Act Proposal (1963)

JFK, moved by events in Birmingham, proposed comprehensive civil rights legislation to end segregation and discrimination.

Summary: The New Cold War

Stalin's death reshaped the Cold War; competition shifted into scientific, military, and cultural 'races'; at home, civil rights became part of America's global struggle for democracy.