nuclear warfare and race Flashcards
What were the immediate effects of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
Ended World War II quickly, avoiding a costly invasion of Japan.
Caused massive casualties (129,000-226,000 deaths, mostly civilians).
Demonstrated the devastating power of nuclear weapons.
Acted as a deterrent to future use of nuclear weapons (initially).
How did the atomic bombings impact global politics and warfare in the 20th century?
Sparked the Cold War arms race between the US and Soviet Union.
Initiated a competition to develop more advanced and powerful nuclear weapons.
Seemed to make conventional warfare obsolete (though it didn’t entirely).
Led to the development of massive nuclear arsenals as a deterrent.
What was the significance of the Soviet Union detonating its first atomic bomb in 1949?
Ended the US’s nuclear monopoly.
Created a situation of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).
Both US and Soviet Union could destroy each other (and the world).
Led to the continuation of conventional (non-nuclear) warfare throughout the Cold War.
What was the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), and how did it influence the arms race?
Both sides build up massive weapon arsenals as a deterrent.
Neither side would attack the other due to the certainty of retaliation and mutual destruction.
Ironically, MAD led to a continuation of conventional warfare as a safer option.
What was the significance of the development of the hydrogen bomb (H-bomb)?
1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Had the potential to destroy entire countries.
Further escalated the arms race.
Both the US and Soviet Union developed hydrogen bombs.
What was the “Massive Retaliation” doctrine, and what were its aims and implications?
US military doctrine (1954) under Eisenhower.
Response to attack would be a disproportionate (likely nuclear) force.
Aims: Deterrence - discourage first strike.
Based on MAD principles but with hydrogen bombs, making any attack, even small-scale non-nuclear, potentially trigger a massive nuclear response.
Increased tensions, fueled arms race.
Allowed for smaller conventional forces due to reliance on nuclear deterrent.
How did airborne alert patrols fit into the broader context of nuclear deterrence during the Cold War?
B-52 bombers on constant airborne alert near Soviet borders.
Part of US nuclear deterrent strategy.
Ensured immediate retaliatory capability in case of a Soviet first strike.
Increased the risk of accidents and miscalculations.
Illustrated the tense and precarious nature of the Cold War nuclear standoff.
How did the development of the B-52 bomber and Soviet counterparts impact strategic military capabilities?
B-52: Longer range (8,000 miles), higher speed (600 mph), greater payload than B-29.
Could carry nuclear and conventional weapons.
Provided rapid first-strike or retaliation capability (airborne alert patrols).
Soviet counterpart: TU-95 (1956).
Increased nuclear capabilities and potential for global reach.
What is an ICBM, and how did its development change the nature of nuclear warfare?
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.
Developed by the Soviet Union (using Sputnik rocket technology).
Capable of carrying nuclear weapons over intercontinental distances.
High speed (over 15,000 mph).
Reduced warning time and defensive capabilities.
Increased the potential for devastating surprise attacks.
What are SLBMs, and how did their creation affect the strategic balance of power?
Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles.
Developed by the US (Polaris missile).
Launched from submarines, making them difficult to detect and destroy.
Provided a second-strike capability, enhancing deterrence.
Increased complexity of defense planning.
Enhanced global reach of nuclear weapons.
What was the Cuban Missile Crisis, and what made it such a dangerous moment in the Cold War?
Soviet missiles (nuclear-capable) discovered in Cuba (1962).
US saw this as a direct threat (first-strike capability against US mainland).
US responded with a naval blockade.
Intense two-week standoff, risk of nuclear war seemed imminent.
Closest the world came to nuclear war.
How was the Cuban Missile Crisis resolved, and what were its broader consequences?
Resolution: US removed missiles from Turkey; Soviets removed missiles from Cuba.
Showed both sides didn’t want nuclear war.
Highlighted the need for communication and diplomacy.
Led to the establishment of the “hotline” between the White House and the Kremlin.
Marked a shift away from brinkmanship.
What was the significance of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1968?
Aimed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
Non-nuclear states agreed not to develop them.
Nuclear states agreed not to share technology and to work towards disarmament.
Reflected the growing concern about nuclear proliferation as more countries acquired nuclear capabilities (Britain, France, China, and likely Israel).
Laid the groundwork for later arms control treaties.
What was the era of détente, and what characterized this period of the Cold War?
Period of eased tensions between the US and Soviet Union.
Increased diplomacy and treaty negotiations (e.g., SALT, INF Treaty).
Efforts to limit nuclear weapons development and reduce stockpiles.
Reflected a recognition that the arms race was dangerously unsustainable.
What was the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963, and what did it achieve?
Banned nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater.
Underground testing still allowed.
First arms control agreement between US and Soviet Union.
Slowed down the development of new weapons.
Created “breathing space” in the arms race.
What were the limitations of the Partial Test Ban Treaty and the Non-Proliferation Treaty?
Partial Test Ban Treaty: Did not stop underground testing, allowing for continued weapons development.
Non-Proliferation Treaty: Some nations did not sign (e.g., India, Pakistan), and nuclear proliferation continued (India tested its first nuclear weapon in 1974, Pakistan in 1998).
Describe the context and significance of the SALT I and ABM Treaties of 1972.
Context: Growing concern about ABM systems potentially destabilizing MAD by allowing a first strike.
SALT I: Limited strategic missile defenses (ABMs) to 200 interceptors each, with two allowed sites (capital and ICBM field).
Significance: First arms control agreement to limit nuclear weapons, but did not limit delivery systems, so the arms race continued.
What were MIRVs (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles), and how did they impact the strategic balance of power?
Missiles carrying multiple warheads, each capable of hitting a different target.
Developed by the US in response to Soviet ABM systems.
Increased first-strike capability.
Made ABMs less effective and more costly to counter, further fueling the arms race.
Shifted focus from MAD to strategic defense and counterforce capabilities.
What was the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), and what was its significance during the latter stages of the Cold War?
Proposed US space-based missile defense system (“Star Wars”).
Aimed to intercept and destroy Soviet ballistic missiles.
Controversial due to feasibility and cost.
Did not dissuade the USSR from missile development but worried them due to the financial strain it would cause if they tried to match it.
What were the goals and outcomes of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty of 1987?
Goal: Eliminate all ground-launched missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.
Outcome: Destroyed 2,692 missiles (US: 846, USSR: 1,846).
Significance: First treaty to eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons.
Reduced tensions and signaled a willingness to cooperate in reducing nuclear risk.
Helped ease fears of a nuclear arms race in Europe.
What were the key factors that led to the push for arms control agreements and the eventual easing of Cold War tensions?
Growing anti-nuclear protests and public pressure worldwide.
Recognition of the unsustainable financial burden of the arms race, especially for the struggling Soviet Union.
Shift in political climate towards détente and cooperation.
Desire to reduce the risk of nuclear war.
What were the key similarities between the first (1945-1960) and second (1961-1990) arms races?
Technological Advancement: Both periods saw significant advancements in nuclear weapons technology as each superpower sought military advantage.
US-Soviet Tension: Both periods were characterized by significant tension between the US and Soviet Union as they built ever more destructive weapons.
Increased Military Spending: Both periods saw a significant increase in military spending as each side aimed to outspend the other in pursuit of military superiority.
How did the concept of “deterrence” differ between the first and second arms races?
First Arms Race (1945-1960): Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) was the primary deterrent strategy.
Second Arms Race (1961-1990): Removing second-strike capability and defensive systems like the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) were considered greater deterrents.
