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First Atomic Bomb
The USA detonated the first atomic bomb in the deserts of Mexico. Truman informs Stalin on this at the Potsdam conference (Stalin is angry and causes tension for the rest of the conference) and consequently tips the balance of power. This caused tensions to rise and Stalin orders his scientists to build their own nuclear weapon. -
Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs
On the 5th August 1945, America drops the first Atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Japan and on the 9th August another bomb was dropped over Nagasaki, Japan- to end the World War in the Pacific, quicker. This created more tension between Truman and Stalin as not only did Stalin view the dropping of the bomb as a way to end the war, but to also threaten Russia. Therefore, Russia began to create their own atomic bombs. -
USSR detonates their first atomic bomb
The USSR detonates their first atomic bomb four years before the USA thought they would. This again tipped the balance of power to be equal- and America did not like this. Therefore the arms race now began. Tensions were very high. -
USA test first hydrogen bomb
By America detonating the first hydrogen bomb (about 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb) it gave the USA a short-lived advantage in the arms race, as only a year later the Russian’s also created this weapon of mass destruction. This is a 'thermo-nuclear' wepaon. -
USSR detonate their first hydrogen bomb
Due to the Russian’s also creating a hydrogen bomb, a fearful step in the arms race now made the world a very dangerous place. This now created MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) to be a lot more likely. -
MAD and NUTS
MAD-mutual deterrence between countries possessing nuclear weapons, based on the capacity of each to inflict major damage on the other in response to a first strike.
NUTS- Nuclear utilization target selection. -
Bomber gap
It was an 'unfoundered' belief that the Soviet had an 'advantage' (superiority) in the area of intercontinental bombers in 1957 the Soviets flew their Bear and Bison bombers past American observers. This created more fear amongst Americans- as the Soviets were now able to fly nuclear weapons to America (and they fear Soviet attacks in NATO countries as well.) Therefore, the Americans increased their bomber fleets. -
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Space race
Not only did the development of weapons contribute to Cold War tension, but the space race also had a pinnicle role in creating tensions. The development of weapons created the USA and USSR to have fears about surprise attacks and therefore generate friction and tension between both countries- due to the lack of trust. The space race also created tension as whoever won (USA/USSR) showed the world the superiority of their technology and therefore reflecting on their knowledge and economy. -
USSR test Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
These Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) were capable of firing to anywhere in the world. This announcement caused great concern in the USA – and generated a national debate about this missile gap between the USSR and USA- this caused a significant amount of tension within the cold war. -
Sputnik in orbit
Sputnik was the first satellite to go into orbit (it was a soviet satellite) and it showed the rest of the world that the USSR was a very strong world power- this was a major advance in the space-race. This created the USA to start to focus on the space-race as well as the arms race. -
USA test ICBMs
Due to the concern and fear in the USA ,as the USSR appeared to be gaining the upper hand in the arms and space race, the American Government created its own missile and space programs- which became priority. -
NASA
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was established because the United States was committed to winning the "space race" against the Soviets. Therefore, NASA was created to focus more on space exploration. -
USA launches submarine with nuclear weapons
The Polaris nuclear missile-capable submarine enters into service and become one of the most powerful weapons. This in turn causes more reactions. -
U-2 accident
An American USAF spy aircraft was shot down over USSR (by a missile), this cause a significant amount of tension, and oucld have caused a hot war, however the state of the world was MAD- which meant that the nuclear weapons could be used. -
First human spaceflight
This was a Soviet space program. It was a great achievement for them, and America now needed to up their game. -
USSR create Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM)
The USSR create ABM's to 'protect' Moscow due to the dangerous weapons being built at the time- they would destroy each other (USA and USSR.) This is also because as both sides were developing more powerful weapons, the fear of what would happen when or if a war broke out- therefore Russia began creating defensive weapons.