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"Massive Retaliation" Continued...
This was important in the Cold war because the "Massive Retaliation" was a major threat. John Dulles said if there was any Soviet attack on the US, it would be met with a massive nuclear response (releasing a Hydrogen Bomb on their country). As a result, it became known as the "most significant by-product of the Cold War, the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile "ICBM".
http://www.atomcentral.com/the-cold-war.aspx https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/truman-announces-development-of-h-bomb -
First Hydrogen Bomb
On November 1st, 1952, the United States conducted the first test of a hydrogen bomb in the Marshall Islands. This test showed maximum results when the whole island was vaporized. In addition, the force that was created more than a mile-wide crater. This bomb was eventually nicknamed the "hell bomb" because of the mass destruction. (https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/nov-1-1952-first-hydrogen-bomb-test/) -
Hydrogen Bomb Continued...
But what was the reasoning for this invention? During the Cold war, there was a huge arms race to try and get ahold of a hydrogen bomb before the Russians could create the "Super Bomb". Once the US had the hydrogen bomb, they could threaten the USSR. The political climate of the Cold war got even more heated when this bomb was created. The US Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, announced that he had a policy for this situation that became known as "massive retaliation -
Space Race continued
In March during this year (1959), the Soviet Union accomplished an orbit around the earth with Yuri Gagarin inside. Following right behind them, on May 5th, the US released Alan Shepard, not only in Earth's orbit but in space. Later that same May, President John F. Kennedy made the bold claim that the US would land a man into space before the end of the decade. From 1961-1964 NASA's budget was increased almost 500%. Shortly after 1969, Kennedy's vision would come true; a man on the moon. -
Space Race
With the Soviet Union already having a satellite in orbit, the US "kept up with the Joneses" by releasing their own satellite called Explorer 1. To make sure that the US would continue to keep up in the race, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a public order which created National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to dedicate time toward space exploration. As the US was catching up, less than a year later, the Soviet space program launched a space probe that landed on the moon. -
Man to the Moon
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union (USSR at the time) and the United States fought for dominance in exploration in space (to the moon). On October 4, 1957, a Soviet R-7 missile was released into the Earth's orbit. With the Soviet Union in an early lead, the US became more and more invested in beating them into sending the first man in space.
https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/space-race
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Race -
Space Race continued 2..
Finally taking off on July 16, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins took off to the moon. Landing on the 20th, the US had "won the space race". From the article, I read, it stated that the Soviets afterward were pictured as the ultimate villains, and their communist system was a frown apon. This race was about proving space dominance and showing that the US had national security. It also showed that as a symbol of ideological superiority during the Cold War. -
1980 Olympic Hockey game
Also known as the "Miracle on Ice" was the day that the underdog US team beat the Soviet Union team in an ice hockey match. Prior to this win from the US, the Soviet Union had 4 gold medal wins in the Winter Olympics for hockey. Since the US was seeded at 7, the Soviets thought it would be an easy win. The US team consisted of people that were in their 20s and in college. It should have been an easy win, yet the US held strong and put up a huge fight for the Soviet team. -
Miracle on ice
Just the link for the info I used. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-hockey-team-makes-miracle-on-ice -
"Miracle on Ice"
When the US team pulled through strong, and won, it was an Olympic upset. The main importance came from many Americans since the victory was seen as an ideological victory in the Cold War. This win showed that the US could not be taken down. To many, this win had as much significance as the Apollo moon landing. In addition, to further the significance, President Carter called the players to congratulate them, and millions of Americans spent that Friday night celebrating the triumph over them. -
The US invades Grenada
Fearful of communism (Marxism) spreading, on this day, President Ronald Regan tells all US forces to invade the island of Grenada. The reasoning behind this was because of all the communism that was happening in Grenada. To prevent the spread of this, Regan decided it would be necessary to invade the country. After a week of fighting, Grenada's government was overthrown which made the US very happy. https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/25/united-states-invades-grenada-oct-25-1983-244072 -
Grenada Continued....
This event is directly linked with the Cold War by being the first "rollback" of communist influence since the beginning of the Cold War. Before this time, there were many losses against the fight to get rid of communism. When Grenada was attacked, this was the first US victory over communism which sparked a fire to continue getting rid of communism -
Berlin Wall
On August 13, 1961, the communist government of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) decided to build a wall between East and West Germany. The objective was also to keep Eastern Germany citizens from leaving the socialist state. The wall kept people from leaving. But on November 9th, 1989, The Eastern German communist Party announced that citizens from the GDR could cross the border. That night, crowds of people swarmed the wall and many left. https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall -
Continued Berlin Wall
The wall is a huge symbol of the Cold war, by people not being allowed to cross the Berlin wall because the East did not want people to see how much better the Westside was. The East wanted to contain the communism and keep as many people "in the dark" as they could. The wall still symbolizes this through the destruction of parts of the wall. In Hartford Union High school there is a piece from the wall that can continue to symbolize this thought.
