What is the Thaw?

The period of 1950-62 is one that had seen, both the most improvement in relations and an escalation of Cold War tensions. Known as the ‘Thaw’ this period marked a time where both countries seemingly reconciled. The death of Stalin in 1953 further inspired confidence that the long standing tensions between the two superpowers would end with the new change in leadership. However, tensions continued to escalate reaching high point in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The USSR’s seemingly liberal attitude quickly turned authoritarian by the latter half of the decade, and continued US aggression as mandated by domestic pressure meant that both were responsible for the escalation of the Cold War in the period of 1950-62.