The Cold war: Nuclear Arms Race

Question 1

what was the first atomic bomb test 1945

Answer 1

The Trinity test was the first successful atomic bomb test after the Manhattan Project

Question 2

what was the first atomic bomb attack

Answer 2

USA on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (killing 129000)

Question 3

why did the development of the first atomic bomb increase tensions

Answer 3

both the USA and USSR wanted to have the upper-hand in terms of nuclear weaponry because they wanted to be the most powerful

Question 4

What yr did USSR successfully test their first atomic bomb

Answer 4

1949

Question 5

events of nuclear arms race in order

Answer 5

• uranium bomb (1945)
• Hydrogen bomb (1952)
• intercontinental ballistic missiles (1957)

Question 6

hydrogen bomb (1952)

Answer 6

• developed by USA first (1952)
• developed by USSR after (1953)
• uses nuclear fusion to produce 1000x bigger reaction than uranium bombs which uses nuclear fission

Question 7

ICBM’s (1957)

Answer 7

• developed by USA first (1957)
• able to hit targets over 4500km away
• uses both nuclear fission and fusion

Question 8

Consequences of the Arms Race

Answer 8

• both USA and USSR now had the military capabilities to completely eradicate humanity multiple times over
• M.A.D
• very expensive

Question 9

M.A.D (mutually assured destruction)

Answer 9

both USA and USSR recognised the danger of nuclear weaponry
so nukes became deterrents, not used, because it would cause the world to be destroyed

Question 10

high cost of the arms race

Answer 10

• USA spent over $6 trillion USD on nuclear weapons
• USSR allocated 20% of their money to weaponry and defense

Question 11

why did improved relations decrease cost of arms race

Answer 11

• no longer in competition of arms
• used money instead for their countries and ppl

Question 12

what was ‘peaceful coexistence’ (1953)

Answer 12

• Eisenhower and Khrushchev made efforts to improve US-Soviet relations
  1955 = Agreements over Austria
  1955 = Geneva

Question 13

What caused the period of ‘Peaceful coexistence’

Answer 13

• expensive arns race
• fear of nuclear war destroying world
• the Korean War

Question 14

The Korean War (1950-53)

Answer 14

• NK (communist) and SK (capitalist) fought
• this soon became a proxy-war for soviet USSR and USA
  this showed the USA and USSR how easy war was due to conflict of ideologies

Question 15

Eisenhower

Answer 15

the USA president from 1953-61
anti-communist
but understood danger of nukes

Question 16

Khrushchev

Answer 16

USSR president
introduced de-Stalinisation
improved relation w west
understood dangers of nukes

Question 17

Austria (1955)

Answer 17

both Eisenhower and Khrushchev agreed to unite Austria and make it an independent country

Question 18

The Geneva Summit (1955)

Answer 18

After 10 yrs, US and USSR leaders met in Geneva

Question 19

The consequences of the period peaceful coexistence

Answer 19

• improved relations
• continued tensions

Question 20

improved relations during peaceful coexistence

Answer 20

• showed willingness to cooperate

Question 21

continued tensions during peaceful coexistence

Answer 21

• The Federal Republic of Germany (w.Germany) joined NATO
• The Warsaw Pact was created
• The Hungarian Uprising

Question 22

What was the Warsaw Pact

Answer 22

USSR made a military alliance in response to The Federal Republic of Germany joining Nato
This strengthened USSR’s influence over communist militaries