The Extension of the Arms race

what was Soviet policy like after the death of Stalin

confusing Soviet policy where they simultaneously called for peaceful coexistence but were also stockpiling weapons & developing rockets

why was Soviet policy so confusing

China’s challenge on leadership of the communist world

what was US policy like

contradictory as while Eisenhower criticised the ‘military industrial complex’ he supported the development of new and more weapons

when did the US develop the first atomic bomb

1945

how did the US feel after developing the first atomic bomb

felt safe knowing they were the only country in the world to have such a powerful weapon & even though Stalin had more conventional weapons, they could still deter him using an atomic bomb

when did the USSR develop their atomic bomb

1949

what was the effect of the USSR developing their own atomic bomb

scared the Americans & they started to develop more powerful weapons

what did the USA develop in March 1949

H-bomb

when did the USA develop a H-bomb

March 1949

what did the USSR have by 1955

a air-borne H-bomb

when did the USSR have a air-borne H-bomb

1955

what marked the beginning of the Cold War

when the USSR developed the H-bomb in 1955

what did the USA do in 1948

created the Strategic Air Command

who headed the SAC

General Curtis LeMay

what was the purpose of the SAC

set up as a primary defence system for the USA & its role was to provide 24-hour readiness to respond to an external nuclear threat, it was also responsible for the development & management of the USA’s growing nuclear force

what did the USSR develop in 1957

missile delivery systems for nuclear warheads

what was the popular view about the USSR in the US

the Soviets were catching up to the USA

how did Eisenhower try to calm fears within the US

 insisted that the USA controlled the nuclear arms race

what contradicted Einsehower

the Gaither report

what did the Gaither report show

presented the concept of a missile gap between Soviet & US technology (predicted a 100 to 30 lead in ICBMs in favour of the USSR). The report suggested that the USA was in danger in the long-term as USSR power increased

what was the problem with the Gaither report

based its conclusions on Soviet nuclear strength on inadequate evidence, actually the deployment of Soviet ICBMs was limited

why were U2 planes so effective

could provide accurate data on the realities of what was happening on the ground as they could fly out of range of radar and missile attacks

when did U2 spy planes stop being effective

1961

what did Eisenhower do in 1957

he negotiated an agreement with Britain at the Bermuda conference that enabled the USA to station IRBMs in Britain. A similar agreement was reached with NATO in the same year

when was the Bermuda conference

1957

what was the USA doing in 1959

developing a new range of ICBMs (Titan & Atlas models) & Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs)