-
First US Atomic Bomb detonated
Began the threat of US Nuclear superiority. -
USSR detonates their first Atomic Bomb
End of U.S. monopoly on atomic threat. -
America tests hydrogen bomb
Also known as thermo-nuclear bomb, a significant power increase above a typical nuclear bomb. -
Massive Retaliation
Idea announced by Eisenhower, fueled the idea of MAD -
First ICBM missile launched by USSR
Named the R-7, was a significant range increase. Posed a major threat to the US because they could strike from farther than they could. -
Sputnik put into orbit
Major soviet advance in space-race, moral shift, showed society that the USSR was a very strong world power. -
US develop ICBM technology
-
U-2 Incident
USAF spy aircraft shot down over USSR -
Soviets detonate Tsar Bomba
An unnecessarily large bomb meant for intimidation -
USAF spy aircraft shot down over USSR
-
McNamara proposed idea of counterforce
Heavily criticized as only being preemptive. -
Cuban MIssile Crisis
Soviet missiles placed in Cuba, and US missiles in Turkey. End results were the withdrawal of missiles from Cuba and Turkey and the creation of the nuclear hotline. -
Partial Test Ban Treaty
Did not include China, but the other major world powers agreed to stop testing nuclear bombs anywhere but underground, partially because of the risk of nuclear fallout, and partially to slow the arms race and move towards détente -
US develop MIRV systems
Added great accuracy to missiles -
USSR develop defensive ABM systems
-
Non-Proliferation Treaty
Nations with nuclear capabilities agreed to not spread nuclear weapons and technology to nations without nuclear capabilities. -
USSR develop MIRV technology
-
Strategic Defense Initiative
Proposed idea of a laser based anti-missile system, would be an end to MAD. Unrealistic technology, but in combination with the failing USSR economy, was enough to end the Cold War