After the end of WWII, relations between the two superpowers, America and the Soviet Union, began to break down. As a result, the Cold War began in the late 1940's, named so because neither power came into direct military conflict.coea ear From 1955 to 1958, U2 spy planes from America had been flying photographic missions over the Soviet Union. It showed mistrust toward the SU and broke international law. The Soviets could not detect them, even though the arms race was in progress, as shown in Source A1, a non biased primary source of good utility published in a British magazine. It makes a joke of how the arms race can be compared to an Olympic running race, where "The important thing is not winning, but taking part". The Americans and the Soviets are neck and neck, showing the tension and pressure to win the race. On May 1 1960 a U2 plane, piloted by Gary Powers, was shot down by a SAM-2 missile. Source A2 demonstrates the type of plane that he flew. It is a primary source, however, the provenance is unsure and the utility of the source, limited. The caption infers that the SU knew the Americans were flying overhead. This would add to the tension that was building between the powers at this point. The flight path of the reconnaissance missions is shown in Source A3, a primary source, published the day Powers was shot down. The reliability of the source is bad due to the unknown provenance but the utility is good - it shows the flight path over the SU, to see where military bases and missiles were positioned. In doing this, the US were taking a great risk in global security and foreign relations, but felt that it was a necessary risk in order to analyse the progress made by the SU in the arms race. President Eisenhower denied that the plane was flying in Soviet airspace. In Source A4, a secondary source, SR Gibbons, a British Historian interprets the impact the spy plane had on the Paris summit, organised to resolve the issue of Berlin and reduce tension between the two leaders. At the summit, Khrushchev demanded an apology. Eisenhower, however stated that "the USA had the right to gather intelligence in any possible way, since the USSR was a closed society". Eisenhower feared that "espionage networks would be set up…and so it was the responsibility of the US to protect itself from surprise attack". Khrushchev walked out of the summit and this had a detrimental effect on foreign relations. Khrushchev's view of the situation was reflected in a speech given on his return from the summit, shown in the primary Source A5. It is not biased, but phrased to point out that the Americans have broken "international law" and suggests that the SU is being reasonable in demanding an apology. Later on Khrushchev, also said that the US "seem unable to call a halt to their war effort". Eisenhower's refusal to apologise created greater tension between the two superpowers and the Cold War became more seriousAs relations were deteriorating, the situation in SE Asia was becoming precarious for the US. A civil war had broken out and America now had to decide whether to follow the Truman DoctrinePresident Eisenhower made the decision and set the tone of US foreign policy as Source B1, a primary source of good utility, shows. Eisenhower reiterates the domino theory but focuses on "stopping the Communist advances in Southeast Asia". oppressed phil72's rationalisation .
