This document summarizes several key events in the 1950s: 1. President Eisenhower threatened nuclear weapons to end the Korean War, which resulted in an armistice in 1953 that he considered his proudest achievement. 2. The CIA orchestrated a coup in Iran in 1953 to remove Mohammed Mossadeq from power and reinstate the Shah after Iran nationalized its oil fields. 3. The French loss at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 ended their role in Vietnam, leading to the Geneva Accords that split Vietnam along the 17th parallel and called for reunification elections that never occurred. 4. Eisenhower's 1957 doctrine extended containment of communism to the Middle East through potential armed

1.  “I shall go to Korea.”
 Threatened to use
nuclear weapons to
end the war
 Ceasefire signed July
27, 1953
 Ike Stated that this
was his “Proudest
Achievement”

2.  Began in August 1953
 Iranian leader-
Mohammed Mossadeq
 Iran wanted to nationalize
its oil fields
 Operation AJAX-remove
Mossadeq from power
and install Shah Reza
Pahlavi
 Tried to teach Pro-
Western values…

3.  Shah Reza Pahlavi  Mohammed Mossadeq

4.  Fall of Dien Bien Phu (1954)
 US paying 80% of the French
costs of the War
 French lose battle to Vietminh
 Allies set up Geneva Conference
to split Vietnam @ 17th parallel
 North-Communist-Ho Chi Minh
 South-Nationalist-Ngo Dinh
Diem
 “Laos is the cork in the bottle to
contain communism”

5.  Ho Chi Minh  Ngo Dinh Diem

6. 1. North and South Vietnam
would be divided along
the 17th Parallel
2. Neither side should join a
military alliance.
3. Reunification elections to
be held in 1956 (2 Years)

7.  President Ngo Dinh
Diem (New Jersey)
 405,000 Registered
 650,000 Voters
 Catholic
 Wealthy
 Imprisoned Political
Dissenters

8.  In 1956, Egyptian
President Gamal Abdul
Nasser needed $$ to
build the Aswan High
Dam
 Israel, UK, & France
invade
 Seize West Bank/Gaza
 USSR threatens to help
on Egyptian behalf
 US denies sale of oil to
allies
 Last time US can use oil as
leverage in the world!

9.  January 5, 1957 Speech
 Recommended that the
US would use armed
forces to protect the
Middle East from the
spread of Communism
 How does this compare
w/ Truman Doctrine?

10.  Islands of Quemoy & Matsu (1954)
 Truman lifted blockade of 7th fleet
 The Belief was to Unleash Chiang into China-
invasion from Taiwan
 China starts attacking Quemoy/Matsu
w/artillery
 What does US do? Mutual Defense Pact
 7th Fleet – patrol East Asia (Taiwan)
 Formosa Resolution
 US will defend Taiwan from Chinese invasion