The U2 Crisis

• Superpowers


  The two main powers in the Cold War, the USA and the USSR
• Co-existence


  The policy of the two superpowers to live together peacefully despite their ideological differences
• Domestic political situations of the superpowers


  Demanded that they be seen to defend their country against the other in the Cold War
• Missile gap


  The idea that the USSR was ahead of the USA in the arms race and had more nuclear missiles
• Eisenhower's response to the missile gap

  1. Agreed to spy missions to show the missile gap did not exist

  2. Increased spending on weapons
• Summit meeting between Eisenhower and Khrushchev in the US


  1959
• Paris Summit planned


  1960
• Agenda for the Paris Summit

  • Nuclear weapons and the need for a Test Ban Treaty
  • Berlin
  • Cuba
• U2 spy plane

  American spy plane shot down over the USSR
• Eisenhower's response to the U2 incident

  Refused to apologise, Khrushchev walked out