Lesson 3: Changes in Strategy (The Cold War Years)

🛑 Policy Changes in the Communist World

De-Stalinization 🧊

After Stalin died in 1953, a new Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, gave a speech in 1956. He said Stalin was too cruel and needed to be forgotten. This was called “De-Stalinization.”

🎤 Story: In the Soviet Union, some people were shocked by Khrushchev’s speech. It was the first time a leader said Stalin was wrong!

Hungary

In 1956, the people of Hungary wanted more freedom. They wanted to leave the Soviet system. A man named Imre Nagy became leader and said Hungary would be free.

But the Soviet Union sent tanks. Many people died. Nagy was killed. The world was sad, but no one stopped the Soviets.

🕯️ Fact: A teenager named Ernő Szép wrote in his diary about hearing tanks outside his house. “The ground shook,” he wrote, “but my heart was stronger.”

Czechoslovakia 🌸

In 1968, Alexander Dubček wanted to give people more rights. He called it “Socialism with a human face.” This time was called the Prague Spring.

But again, the Soviet Union sent tanks. They did not want any freedom in Eastern Europe.

🌷 Story: Students put flowers in the barrels of Soviet guns to show peace. But the soldiers still followed orders.

China

China broke away from the Soviet Union in the 1960s. Mao Zedong believed the Soviets were not “true communists” anymore.

🔥 Fact: In 1969, China and the Soviet Union fought a short war on their border! It was very dangerous and showed communist countries didn’t always agree.

🤝 The United States Seeks Peace

End of Brinkmanship 🚫🔥

Brinkmanship means almost starting war but stopping at the last second. In the 1970s, U.S. leaders wanted to stop this risky game. The new plan was called détente (say: day-TAHNT). This meant “relaxing” tensions.

📺 Story: President Richard Nixon surprised the world when he went to visit China in 1972. He even met Mao Zedong! It was the first time a U.S. president went to communist China.

Beginning of Détente 🕊️

Nixon also visited the Soviet Union. The U.S. and the Soviets signed the SALT agreement to stop building more nuclear weapons.

✍️ Fact: The leaders signed the SALT papers at a long table. One person said, “This paper may save the world.”

End of Détente ❌🕊️

In 1979, détente ended when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. The U.S. was angry and stopped talking with the Soviets. The Cold War started to heat up again.

🎮 Fact: To protest the invasion, the U.S. and many countries boycotted the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. No American athletes went!