Arms race 1961

The Hydrogen Bomb and the Nuclear Arms Race

By lmconstant2016

  • Discussion starts

    Discussion starts
    While in New Mexico at the Super Confrence the possibility of developing a hydrogen bomb is talked about by many people. They thought it would be good to start so that they would be ahead of the USSR in the nuclear arms race.

  • Secret accounts are read

    Secret accounts are read
    The USSR secretly reads Edward Teller's accounts about his design for the hydrogen bomb, "classical super". The scientists use this to try and develop something similar and get ahead of us in the race.

  • "Layer Cake" is created

    "Layer Cake" is created
    Andrei Sakharov, a soviet scientist starts to develop his hydrogen bomb, "layer cake". Edward Teller, a american physicist also designed the same kind of bomb and called it the "alarm clock" this is because it was a boosted fission weapon, meaning it uses a small amount of fusion and eventually it creates a fission reaction.

  • Hydrogen Bomb Decision

    Hydrogen Bomb Decision
    The GAC (General Advisory Commitee) argued against a crash program for the hydrogen bomb, meaning they didn't think that it was a good idea. The project could not start without their support and funding.

  • President Truman recieves a important letter

    President Truman recieves a important letter
    Lewis Strauss, the atomic energy commissioner wrote to President Truman stating the he thinks it would be very smart to give high priority to the hydrogen bomb development. He urged him to do it fast so the soviets didn't have technology that we didn't.

  • Truman's announcement

    Truman's announcement
    After the letter President Truman decides to push forward the idea of builidng the hydrogen bomb, just so we aren't behind in the arms race. People react very differently since it is such a powerful weapon.

  • Against Truman

    Against Truman
    Leading physicists speak out against Truman's decision to develop the hydrogen bomb. One of these men was Hans Bethe, he had worked on the Manhatten project and later did help with the developing of the hydrogen bomb.

  • First detonation

    First detonation
    In the Pacific ocean the United States detonates the first hydrogen bomb, now having an advantage in the arms race. This was a huge step in the direction of thermonucelear technology for the country.

  • The Soviet Union has an announcement

    The Soviet Union has an announcement
    Georgii Malenkov, a soviet premier statest that they have a hydrogen bomb in their possession. With this comes a lot of fear from the American people, but they are not ahead of us in the arms race, we have some too.

  • "Bravo" is tested

    "Bravo" is tested
    Again at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific a test was conducted. The bomb to much suprise turned out to be the biggest nucelar test the United States had and will ever conduct. The scientists accidentally missed a fusion reaction, a crater was formed, it is about a mile wide on the reef.