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Sputnik and the U2 Incident

Sputnik and the U2 Incident. Launching of Sputnik. US thought it was ahead of USSR in military technology Had nuke warheads that could be accurate at 1,500 to 3,000 miles USSR launched first satellite October 4, 1957

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Sputnik and the U2 Incident

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  1. Sputnik and the U2 Incident

  2. Launching of Sputnik • US thought it was ahead of USSR in military technology • Had nuke warheads that could be accurate at 1,500 to 3,000 miles • USSR launched first satellite October 4, 1957 • Increased US fears of nuclear attack  felt US falling behind in science/tech • Change in US school systems  improvement in Math, Science, Languages

  3. US Attempts at a Satellite • First attempt was HUGE failure  named “Flopnik” or “Stayputnik” • January 31, 1958  US launched first satellite successfully • Now race to build better weapons-delivery systems and satellites were on

  4. How is this an example of Brinkmanship?

  5. The U-2 Program • At Geneva Summit in 1955, Eisenhower put forth an “open skies policy” policy  USSR rejected it • US still flew “U-2” planes over USSR to take pictures • By 1960, Eisenhower wanted to discontinue program b/c wasn’t really a secret anymore

  6. The U-2 Incident • Eisenhower feared it may jeopardize effectiveness with new USSR leader, Khruschev • Was talked into one more U2 flight by Dulles • US thought at first Plane was taken down by a Soviet SAM-2 Missile.

  7. Gary Francis Powers – U2 Pilot

  8. Effects of the U-2 Incident • US lied about U2 mission • USSR lied about what actually happened to make missile defenses look better • Khrushchev felt incident made him look bad, denounced US at next summit • Eisenhower no longer effective as a peacemaker • Hope for nuclear test ban treaty was gone • 1960s opened with tensions as high as ever

  9. How was this an example of Brinkmanship?

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