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Causes of the Cold War - Nuclear weapons and Military Rivalry

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During World War II, both the US and USSR attempted to develop atomic weapons, with the Manhattan Project successfully developing the first nuclear bomb in 1945. The US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending the war but refusing to share nuclear technology with the USSR, straining tensions between the allies. In 1949, the Soviets successfully developed their own atomic bomb due to espionage, beginning a nuclear arms race between the two countries throughout the Cold War that included developing more advanced hydrogen bombs and delivery systems like ICBMs and submarine-launched missiles. Both sides accumulated huge stockpiles of chemical and nuclear weapons, driving up military costs and escalating the conflict until the Soviet Union's collapse in the late 1980

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Causes of the Cold War - Nuclear weapons and Military Rivalry
During World War Two, all sides attempted to build new weapons, including creating atomic weapons. The USA’s Manhattan Project eventually succeeded in doing so in July 1945.
The USA used atomic weapons to end World War Two, dropping two bombs on Japan (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) in August 1945. The US did not consult with the USSR about using their new weapon.
The Soviet Union did not have access to nuclear weapons at this time. As they were the USA’s allies in World War Two they wanted the USA to share the technology with them – but the USA refused (another reason for tension).
In 1949 the Soviets finally developed their own atomic bomb. This caused tension for two reasons: 1) simply the fact that both sides had the bomb 2) The Soviets developed this due to their spies stealing US technology
Once both sides had ‘the Bomb’, they engaged in numerous nuclear tests throughout the 1950s. First the Soviets and then the USA developed a hydrogen bomb, bigger than the atomic bombs used on Japan.
Some people argue that nuclear weapons stopped the Cold War becoming a real war. This is based on M.A.D. (Mutually Assured Destruction), the idea that neither side wanted to risk a nuclear war.
Neil Armstrong said it was “one small step for man” when he set foot on the moon. However the Space Race is actually a major part of the Cold War.
In 1961 when Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to orbit the earth, many people in the USA worried this meant the Soviets had better weaponry. The USA sent men to the moon in 1969 to show their own technology.
Originally nuclear bombs had to be dropped from planes, which made their use much harder. Over time both sides began to make missiles that could be fired from great distances (ICBMs).
Before ICBMs had been developed, the USA based their missiles in various NATO countries. Eventually both sides created the technology to launch weapons from submarines, and this became the main method.
During the 1980s both sides built more and bigger weapons (USA, Cruise; USSR, SS20). The US also built a defence system called Star Wars. Some people say cost of the arms race brought down the USSR.
Another feature of the Cold War arms race were chemical weapons. Both sides produced weapons such as anthrax and VX. By the 1980s, the USA and USSR had, between them, around 80,000 tonnes of these type of weapons.
Chemical weapons were used in different ways. The US used weapons such as napalm during the Vietnam War to destroy jungle (although it hurt people too). The USSR was accused of using chemical weapons during the Afghanistan War.

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Causes of the Cold War - Nuclear weapons and Military Rivalry

  • 2. During World War Two, all sides attempted to build new weapons, including creating atomic weapons. The USA’s Manhattan Project eventually succeeded in doing so in July 1945.
  • 3. The USA used atomic weapons to end World War Two, dropping two bombs on Japan (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) in August 1945. The US did not consult with the USSR about using their new weapon.
  • 4. The Soviet Union did not have access to nuclear weapons at this time. As they were the USA’s allies in World War Two they wanted the USA to share the technology with them – but the USA refused (another reason for tension).
  • 5. In 1949 the Soviets finally developed their own atomic bomb. This caused tension for two reasons: 1) simply the fact that both sides had the bomb 2) The Soviets developed this due to their spies stealing US technology
  • 6. Once both sides had ‘the Bomb’, they engaged in numerous nuclear tests throughout the 1950s. First the Soviets and then the USA developed a hydrogen bomb, bigger than the atomic bombs used on Japan.
  • 7. Some people argue that nuclear weapons stopped the Cold War becoming a real war. This is based on M.A.D. (Mutually Assured Destruction), the idea that neither side wanted to risk a nuclear war.
  • 8. Neil Armstrong said it was “one small step for man” when he set foot on the moon. However the Space Race is actually a major part of the Cold War.
  • 9. In 1961 when Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to orbit the earth, many people in the USA worried this meant the Soviets had better weaponry. The USA sent men to the moon in 1969 to show their own technology.
  • 10. Originally nuclear bombs had to be dropped from planes, which made their use much harder. Over time both sides began to make missiles that could be fired from great distances (ICBMs).
  • 11. Before ICBMs had been developed, the USA based their missiles in various NATO countries. Eventually both sides created the technology to launch weapons from submarines, and this became the main method.
  • 12. During the 1980s both sides built more and bigger weapons (USA, Cruise; USSR, SS20). The US also built a defence system called Star Wars. Some people say cost of the arms race brought down the USSR.
  • 13. Another feature of the Cold War arms race were chemical weapons. Both sides produced weapons such as anthrax and VX. By the 1980s, the USA and USSR had, between them, around 80,000 tonnes of these type of weapons.
  • 14. Chemical weapons were used in different ways. The US used weapons such as napalm during the Vietnam War to destroy jungle (although it hurt people too). The USSR was accused of using chemical weapons during the Afghanistan War.