ArmsRace

Question 1

New leaders

Answer 1

January 1953 Eisenhower replaces Truman as President

March 1953 Stalin dies – Nikita Khrushchev becomes secretary of Communist Party

Changes in leadership results in changes in policy and desire to improve relations

Soviets concerned about military spending and pace of arms race

To improve living standards needed to invest in agriculture, industry and technology

The only way to do so was through reduced defence spending

Khrushchev sought “peaceful co-existence” with the US – lessen impact

Eisenhower pursued “new look” - balancing military commitments with financial resources

Policy emphasized military readiness through reliance on nuclear weapons

In addition would pursue policy of brinkmanship (see retaliation)

Question 2

Timeline of Key Events

Answer 2

1942 – US Manhattan Project to develop nuclear weapons begins

1945 – US drops first Atomic Bombs

1949 – USSR tests an A Bomb

1952 – US tests its first Hydrogen (H) Bomb (more powerful)

1953 – USSR tests its first H Bomb

1954 – US adopts policy of Massive Retaliation (any Soviet attack will be met with nuclear attack)

1957 – USSR tests ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile)

1958 – US places Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles in NATO countries

1960 – US launches first nuclear powered submarine (can launch missile with atomic warhead)

1961 – US President Kennedy advises American families to build nuclear fall out shelters

1962 – Cuban Missile Crisis – Brink of Nuclear War – MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)

Question 3

Causes of Arms Race

Answer 3

Each side wanted a system that would give it advantage over other

This meant developing new and more powerful weapons

Both offensive and defensive types of systems would be developed

Each side also tried to build up more than what the other had

Eisenhower – New Look – emphasis on Nuclear Arms over Conventional forces (armies)

1957 Launch of Sptunik – leads US to believe that USSR would have more missiles

Concern over “missile gap” US sought to increase its capability

Desire to cut costs of defence expenditure

Nuclear weapons cheaper to produce and more destructive

Desire to deter the other side or prevent from using the weapons – enemy would fear

Became a symbol for both sides of prestige and power (advancements in technology etc)

Question 4

Effects of Arms Race

Answer 4

1. The Costs (Financial)

Very expensive for both sides as they tried to outdo the other

See Military Industrial Complex (Eisenhower)

2. The Costs (Psychological)

Fear of nuclear war at all times

Awareness of its impact led to

3. The Costs (Environmental)

Awareness of the harms done to the environment as result of nuclear arms

4. The Costs (Social)

Would lead to mass movements and protests calling for nuclear disarmament

Question 5

Peaceful Co-existence
1953 - 1955

Answer 5

USSR stopped taking reparations from Eastern Germany

Granted diplomatic recognition of Greece and Israel – US satellites

Armistice was reached in Korea (53) and IndoChina (54)

Austrian State Treaty made Austria independent and neutral (1955)

Geneva Summit (1955) – leaders of US, Britain, France and USSR

Comintern was abolished

Question 6

Challenges to Peaceful Co-Existence

Answer 6

US policy of massive retaliation and the domino theory (containment)

Creation of SEATO (1954) – South East Asian Treaty Organization

West Germany admitted into NATO

Creation of Warsaw Pact (1955) – united USSR with Eastern bloc

The Hungarian Uprising (1956) – demands for reform from East

The Berlin Crisis (1958) – Khrushchev calls for removal of all forces from Berlin

U2 Spy Plane Incident (1960) – Plane shot down over Soviet Union – US denied