Arms Race

Question 1

Who created the first nuclear weapon?

Answer 1

USA

Question 2

When did the USA launch the world’s first atomic bomb?

Answer 2

1945

Question 3

How long after the USA did the USSR create their first atomic bomb?

Answer 3

4 years

Question 4

Who created the first hydrogen bomb?

Answer 4

USA

Question 5

When was the first hydrogen bomb created?

Answer 5

November 1952

Question 6

How long after the USA did the USSR create their first hydrogen bomb?

Answer 6

1 year

Question 7

Where was the first atomic bomb dropped?

Answer 7

Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan

Question 8

What conflict did the USA become involved in 1950?

Answer 8

Korean War

Question 9

When did the USSR develop their first hydrogen bomb?

Answer 9

1953

Question 10

When did Stalin die?

Answer 10

1953

Question 11

Who replaced Stalin?

Answer 11

Nikita Khrushchev

Question 12

Who was Nikita Khrushchev?

Answer 12

A far more peaceful president who replaced Stalin

Question 13

What did both Khrushchev and Kennedy want to do?

Answer 13

Reduce the proportion of arms in their respective countries and cut down on defence spending

Question 14

What did Khrushchev propose after he agreed with Kennedy it was in both their interests to reduce arms and defence spending? (3)

Answer 14

He proposed the reduction of both sides’ armed forces,
the eventual abolition of all nuclear weapons
and the creation of an international inspection to oversee this

Question 15

What did Kennedy want to create after he agreed with Khrushchev it was in both their interests to reduce arms and defence spending?

Answer 15

The USA wanted to create an ‘open skies’ policy where they would allow Soviet spy-planes to check on the USA’s weapon reduction if the USSR allowed the same policy to take place over their territory

Question 16

Why did the disarmament not happen in the 1950s?

Answer 16

The USA dropped their proposals because the USSR would not agree to their ‘open skies’ policy proposal

Question 17

Who developed the first ICBM?

Answer 17

The USSR

Question 18

When was the first ICBM created?

Answer 18

1957

Question 19

After what event did the USA become increasingly worried that their country was falling behind and losing the ‘race’ (even though they weren’t)?

Answer 19

The USSR’s creation of the world’s first ICBM (inter-continental ballistic missile) in 1957

Question 20

What were U2 spy planes used by the USA to do?

Answer 20

From 1957, the USA used them to keep a check on the Soviet military position

Question 21

Why were U2 planes used by the USA?

Answer 21

They could take aerial photographs from 70,000 feet so were useful in keeping a check on the USSR’s military position

Question 22

What did the USA discover as a result of using U2 spy-planes?

Answer 22

The USSR only had a limited number of ICBMs and the USA remained the more formidable force in terms of armaments

Question 23

What agreement was made in 1963?

Answer 23

The Americans, Soviets and British agreed to a Nuclear Test Ban

Question 24

When was the Nuclear Test Ban made?

Answer 24

August 1963

Question 25

What did the Nuclear Test Ban consist of?

Answer 25

All three countries agreed to not carry out any further tests of nuclear weapons

Question 26

Why did the relationship fall apart again in 1964?

Answer 26

Khrushchev fell from power and his successor, Leonid Brezhnev, increased Soviet spending on defence again

Question 27

What military conflict did the USA get involved in in 1965?

Answer 27

Vietnam War

Question 28

Which event allowed the USSR to catch up with the USA in terms of spending on weapons?

Answer 28

The USA was bogged down in Vietnam by the conflict (they had to get involved because of their policy of containment) and this diversion of attention allowed the USSR to catch up

Question 29

By which year was the gap officially bridged by the Soviets?

Answer 29

1971