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Superpowers During The Cold War

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Shortly after the end of World War II, United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the two superpowers. These two former wartime allies found themselves locked in a struggle that came to be known as the Cold War. Since 1956, Eisenhower had authorized the use of the U-2, a high-flying spy plane, to conduct secret reconnaissance missions over the Soviet Union. These flights were used to obtain information that would stop rumors of Soviet military superiority and give detailed footage of military establishments. Because the Soviets lacked aircraft and missiles to shoot down the U-2 spy planes, the US was not worried that they would be caught spying and even if they were somehow accused they could always deny its existence even when it was spotted …show more content…

Hours later in the Paris summit, Eisenhower was informed that the infamous U-2 plane had gone missing. His worst fears were coming true. Khrushchev took this opportunity and announced to the world that the Soviets had shot down a US spy plane. He then went on to charge the US with willfully sabotaging the upcoming Paris Summit. Since no proof of the pilot or Plane was presented by Khrushchev, Eisenhower denied all allegations, saying only that a US weather plane may have accidentally strayed into Soviet air space. Days later Eisenhower was stunned to learn that the Soviets not only had the downed U-2 plane, but that they had captured the pilot. Eisenhower's denials were revealed to be dishonest. Khrushchev used the downing of the U-2 to present the Soviet Union as the wronged party in a game of superpower espionage. He attended the Paris Summit only long enough to storm out when Eisenhower would not apologize for the incident. No treaty was signed. Eisenhower left Paris convinced that US-Soviet relations had just crumbled in his hands. As a result, The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union continued on for over 30 years after this

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