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In what ways did the United States and Soviet Union compete during the Cold War?

In what ways did the United States and Soviet Union compete during the Cold War?. May 8, 2014. I. Arms Race. Both the US and Soviet Union were building their nuclear arsenals starting in 1950. The US proposed a new policy toward the Soviet Union:

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In what ways did the United States and Soviet Union compete during the Cold War?

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  1. In what ways did the United States and Soviet Union compete during the Cold War? May 8, 2014

  2. I. Arms Race • Both the US and Soviet Union were building their nuclear arsenals starting in 1950. • The US proposed a new policy toward the Soviet Union: • If the Soviet Union attacks any nation, the US would respond with a massive retaliation with nuclear weapons • How could this new policy be a bad idea by the United States?

  3. Both nations built new weapons: • Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) • Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) • The ICBM had a range of thousands of miles and could reach almost anywhere. • But both nations did not launch any nuclear attacks on the other … WHY?! • If the US launched a nuclear attack the Soviets had enough time to do the same • This is known as mutually assured destruction (MAD)

  4. II. Preparing for Nuclear War • As a result of this arms race, the US and Soviet Union had enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other many times over • The US set up the Civil Defense Administration • Informed the public on what to do in case of a nuclear attack. • “Duck in Cover” commercials became popular and told students what to do in schools

  5. III. The Space Race • In October 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first satellite in space named Sputnik. • What did Sputnik do to American attitudes towards the Soviet Union? • How did it make Americans feel? • What were Americans afraid of after Sputnik? • In December 1957 America launched their own satellite named Vanguard but it exploded shortly after take off. • This accident caused embarrassment for Americans

  6. Sputnik Satellite

  7. The launching of Sputnik caused the space race to begin. • The Soviets and US held another competition to see who could send the most satellites into space and achieve supremacy in space • The US set up the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to lead the space program. • In 1958 the US successfully launched the satellite Explorer. • Project Mercury was also started to send the first human into space. • NASA also encouraged more funds to be sent to teach science and technology in schools.

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