Weapons

Nuclear Weapons
- key factor in the Cold War.
the United States dropped atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan
- ended World War II but began a nuclear arms race.
The U.S.S.R. soon began to test their atomic bombs.
1960s
- six nations with nuclear capabilities
- the United States, the Soviet Union, China, England, France, and India.
the United States
- Trying to stay ahead in the arms race,
- developed the hydrogen bomb
- resulting the Soviet Union developing a hydrogen bomb.
Cuban Missile Crisis
- struck fear in the world
- there was great concern that the warheads in Cuba were nuclear and could destroy a large portion of the United States
- However, both sides were hesitant to strike with their nuclear weapons
The United States and Soviet Union each felt the other side would be deterred in launching a first strike by the fact that both countries would suffer ultimate destruction by a nuclear war

Detente

policy of détente (the easing of hostilities)
With the concern over the nuclear arms race
the West pursued a the Communists to reduce tension between the nations
First, The United States began to slowly open relations with China
- when Richard Nixon visited in 1972 on a “goodwill tour.”
- 1978, the United States began to recognize Communist China as the only legal government of China
1975
- the Soviet Union and the members of the free world signed the Helsinki Agreement
  - under the leadership of Leonid Brezhnev
  - promised economic cooperation and cultural exchanges between the East and West
  - concern of this agreement
    - exchange of technology that allowed the Soviets to build better weapons.
    - the recognition of the Eastern European nations under Soviet control
      - The Soviets agreed in return to allow the Eastern Europeans “human rights,” but they must remain a Soviet nation

	Created by Tyana Lewis over 7 years ago

Note on 9.30.3 Weapons and Detente , created by Tyana Lewis on 26/07/2017.