Arms RACE
Name THE ARMS RACE The United States and the Soviet Union became engaged in a nuclear arms race during the Cold War. Both nations spent billions of dollars trying to build up huge stockpiles of nuclear weapons. Near the end of the Cold war, the Soviet Union was spending around 27% of its total gross national product on the military. This crippled the Soviet economy and helped to bring an end to the Cold War. The United States first developed nuclear weapons through the Manhattan Project during World War II. The United States ended the war with Japan by dropping two nuclear bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nuclear bombs are extremely powerful weapons that destroy entire cities and tens of thousands of people. The only time nuclear weapons have been used during war was at the end of World War II against Japan. The Cold War was predicated on the fact that neither side wanted to engage in a nuclear war that would most likely destroy much of the civilized world. The Soviet Union successfully tested their first atomic bomb on August 29th, 1949, shocking the world. No one believed the Soviet Union was this far along in their nuclear development, but the Arms Race had begun. The United States detonated the first hydrogen bomb in 1952, which was even more powerful than the nuclear bomb. The Soviets followed this by exploding their own hydrogen bomb in 1953. Both the United States and Soviet Union worked to develop Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles or ICBMs. These missiles could be launched from long range, as far away as 3,500 miles. Both sides continued to develop new and more powerful weapons, which came with the fear of what would happen if war broke out. This spread throughout the world, so militaries started working on defenses such as large radar arrays to predict if missiles had been launched. They built defense missiles that would shoot down ICBMs. People built bomb shelters and underground bunkers where they could hide in case of a nuclear attack. Even deeper underground facilities were built for high ranking government officials where they could reside safely. A major factor in the Cold War was termed as Mutual Assured Destruction or MAD, meaning both countries could destroy the other in case of attack.
No matter how successful the first strike was, the other side could still retaliate and destroy the country attacked first. Because of this, neither side ever used nuclear weapons because the cost was too high. Three other nations developed nuclear bombs during the Cold War: Great Britain, France, and China. The Arms Race became very expensive for the United States and Soviet Union as it heated up. Both sides realized something had to give in the early 1970s. The sides began talking and started taking a softer line toward one another. In attempt to slow down the Arms Race, the countries agreed to reduce their arms through the SALT I and SALT II agreements. SALT stood for Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. The Arms Race mostly came to an end with the collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War in 1991. MATCHING: Match the term with its description. 1. MAD A. The United States first developed nuclear weapons through this program during World War II 2. Bunkers B. This nation, along with Great Britain and France, had developed nuclear bombs during the Cold War 3. ICBM C. The Arms Race mostly came to an end with the collapse of the Soviet Union in this year 4. Nagasaki D. Strategic Arms Limitation Talks; Soviet Union and America agreed to reduce their arms 5. Hydrogen E. Both sides realized something had to give during these years 6. SALT F. Mutual Assured Destruction; both countries could destroy the other in case of attack 7. China G. The United States detonated this type of bomb by 1952 and Soviets followed in 1953 8. 1991 H. Along with Hiroshima, the Atomic Bombs, were dropped on this other city to end World War II 9. Manhattan Project I. These were built to protect people from bombs 10. 1970s J. Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles- Missiles launched from long range
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the BEST answer from the choices provided. 11. Which of the following is accurate about the Arms Race? A. The Soviets spent about 50% of the gross national product on its military near the end of the Cold War. B. The United States developed the first nuclear weapons through the Manhattan Project during World War II. C. The Soviet Union successfully tested their own atomic bomb when they dropped it on Hiroshima, Japan. D. Only the Soviet Union successfully created a hydrogen bomb that was more powerful than the atomic bomb. 12. From how many miles could Ballistic Missiles be fired at the most? A. 1,000 B, 2,500 C. 3,500 D. 4,000 13. Which of the following was NOT a reaction of people during the Cold War? A. People built bomb shelters. B. Underground facilities were built for high ranking government officials. C. Americans started to build their own bombs to defend against the Soviets. D. People became fearful of the Arms Race. 14. Which of the following was NOT a factor to why the Arms Race ended? A. It became expensive B. The cost became too high C. The USSR collapsed D. The U.S. bombed the USSR DOCUMENT-BASED QUESTIONS: 15. What is mainly the message of this political cartoon? A. The Earth will not survive an Arms Race. B. The Earth was being put to death by the Arms Race. C. The Earth was under extreme pressure during the Arms Race. D. The Arms Race was dangerous.
16. In approximately which year did the United States have the most nuclear weapons? A. 1955 B. 1965 C. 1975 D. 1985 17. In approximately which year did the USSR have the most nuclear weapons? A. 1950 B. 1960 C. 1987 D. 1991 18. Which best completes the analogy: SS-9: 16,000 km :: Titan II: A. 15,000 B. 9 C. 1962 D. 8,000 19. Which of the following is an accurate statement? A. The Warsaw Pact ended in 1955. B. The United States had more planes than the USSR during the Cold War. C. The Titan II rocket was created after the USSR created the SS-9. D. The United States had more Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles than the USSR. 20. What was NATO? A. A mutual defense treaty. B. An Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. C. A rocket model by the USSR. D. A treaty between Europe and the USSR.
No matter how successful the first strike was, the other side could still retaliate and destroy the country attacked first. Because of this, neither side ever used nuclear weapons because the cost was too high. Three other nations developed nuclear bombs during the Cold War: Great Britain, France, and China. The Arms Race became very expensive for the United States and Soviet Union as it heated up. Both sides realized something had to give in the early 1970s. The sides began talking and started taking a softer line toward one another. In attempt to slow down the Arms Race, the countries agreed to reduce their arms through the SALT I and SALT II agreements. SALT stood for Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. The Arms Race mostly came to an end with the collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War in 1991. MATCHING: Match the term with its description. 1. F MAD A. The United States first developed nuclear weapons through this program during World War II 2. I Bunkers B. This nation, along with Great Britain and France, had developed nuclear bombs during the Cold War 3. J ICBM C. The Arms Race mostly came to an end with the collapse of the Soviet Union in this year 4. H Nagasaki D. Strategic Arms Limitation Talks; Soviet Union and America agreed to reduce their arms 5. G Hydrogen E. Both sides realized something had to give during these years 6. D SALT F. Mutual Assured Destruction; both countries could destroy the other in case of attack 7. B China G. The United States detonated this type of bomb by 1952 and Soviets followed in 1953 8. C 1991 H. Along with Hiroshima, the Atomic Bombs, were dropped on this other city to end World War II 9. A Manhattan Project I. These were built to protect people from bombs 10. _E 1970s J. Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles- Missiles launched from long range
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the BEST answer from the choices provided. 11. Which of the following is accurate about the Arms Race? A. The Soviets spent about 50% of the gross national product on its military near the end of the Cold War. B. The United States developed the first nuclear weapons through the Manhattan Project during World War II. C. The Soviet Union successfully tested their own atomic bomb when they dropped it on Hiroshima, Japan. D. Only the Soviet Union successfully created a hydrogen bomb that was more powerful than the atomic bomb. 12. From how many miles could Ballistic Missiles be fired at the most? A. 1,000 B, 2,500 C. 3,500 D. 4,000 13. Which of the following was NOT a reaction of people during the Cold War? A. People built bomb shelters. B. Underground facilities were built for high ranking government officials. C. Americans started to build their own bombs to defend against the Soviets. D. People became fearful of the Arms Race. 14. Which of the following was NOT a factor to why the Arms Race ended? A. It became expensive B. The cost became too high C. The USSR collapsed D. The U.S. bombed the USSR DOCUMENT-BASED QUESTIONS: 15. What is mainly the message of this political cartoon? A. The Earth will not survive an Arms Race. B. The Earth was being put to death by the Arms Race. C. The Earth was under extreme pressure during the Arms Race. D. The Arms Race was dangerous.
16. In approximately which year did the United States have the most nuclear weapons? A. 1955 B. 1965 C. 1975 D. 1985 17. In approximately which year did the USSR have the most nuclear weapons? A. 1950 B. 1960 C. 1987 D. 1991 18. Which best completes the analogy: SS-9: 16,000 km :: Titan II: A. 15,000 B. 9 C. 1962 D. 8,000 19. Which of the following is an accurate statement? A. The Warsaw Pact ended in 1955. B. The United States had more planes than the USSR during the Cold War. C. The Titan II rocket was created after the USSR created the SS-9. D. The United States had more Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles than the USSR. 20. What was NATO? A. A mutual defense treaty. B. An Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. C. A rocket model by the USSR. D. A treaty between Europe and the USSR.