While Khrushchev's trip to the United States did not end the Cold War, it was successful in temporarily lessening tensions between the two nations. Eisenhower and Khrushchev both got the minimum concessions each wanted from the other. In addition, Eisenhower gained a better understanding of Khrushchev's complex personality, information that would prove valuable as the Cold War continued. The following activities will help students better understand the Cold War Period.
Award points to the teams for the quality of their arguments.
At the conclusion of the debate, ask students to decide what they think might have happened if the U-2 incident had not occurred. Then discuss the concept of turning points in history. In a classroom discussion, ask students to name some events from the 1960s to the present that involved international diplomacy. Divide students into groups of four or five and assign each group one of the events. Compare these meetings with the meeting between Eisenhower and Khrushchev.