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Soviet Union successfully tests its first atomic bomb. This was 4 years after the United States set off their first atomic bomb but people were shocked to see the Soviets were this far along in nuclear developement. This marked the beginning of the Nuclear Arms Race. Picture: http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44004000/jpg/_44004626_atom_203200.jpg
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Developement of the hydrogen bomb was ordered by President Truman. Funding was approved because the Soviets at this point had caught up to the Americans in terms of Arms Race and Truman wanted to stay a step ahead. Picture: http://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/1950-02-01-Boston-Daily-Globe-Hail-Truman-H-bomb-Order.jpg
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America tested the hydrogen (thermonuclear) bomb,beating the Soviets to the creation of the first "Super Bomb." Picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/"Ivy_Mike"_atmospheric_nuclear_test_-_November_1952_-_Flickr_-_The_Official_CTBTO_Photostream.jpg
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The Soviets successfully test their first hydrogen bomb in northern Kazakhstan. It was nicknamed Joe 4 by the Americans. The design for this bomb was called "layer cake" because it alternated layers of thermonuclear material with uranium-238. Picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d3/Soviet_super_test.jpg/250px-Soviet_super_test.jpg
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The Castle Bravo nuclear explosion was the largest thermonuclear device ever detonated by America. Castle Bravo was the first nuclear weapon that was deliverable, which made it more effective. The test took place in the Marshall Islands. Picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Castle_Bravo_Blast.jpg
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Soviets exploded their first "true" hydrogen bomb after work on the "layer cake" bomb was halted. It was tested at the Semipalatinsk test site and it had a yield of 1.6 megatons. This test collapsed a building and killed three people. Picture: http://www.atomicarchive.com/History/coldwar/p7_image.shtml
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The world was introduced to a new fear of a missile attack by the Soviets when they launched the Sputnik 1 into orbit. Soviet missiles could reach any part of the world now. Picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Sputnik_asm.jpg
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In response to the Soviet's Sputnik, the United States launches its own satellite into orbit. These satellites showcased the delivery of nuclear weapons while maintaining the image of being for science and exploration. Picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/1958-02-03_First_US_Satellite_Launched.ogv/220px-seek%3D3-1958-02-03_First_US_Satellite_Launched.ogv.jpg
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Tsar Bomba is the largest nuclear weapon to ever be detonated. The Soviets tested this hydrogen bomb on an island in the Arctic Circle. The yield was 50 megatons and the maximum design yield was 100 megatons. Picture: http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Russia/TsarBomba.html
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The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense standoff between the U.S., the Soviet Union, and Cuba that asted 13 days. Cuba had installed nuclear armed Soviet missiles just 90 miles form American shores. JFK informed the public that military action would be taken if needed to neutralize this threat. Picture: http://www.learnersonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/cuban3.jpg
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