19.1.5

The Atomic Bomb

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The Atomic Bomb

The dropping of atomic bombs by the USA on Japan began a nuclear arms race between the USA and the USSR which would last until the end of the Cold War.

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The arms race

  • The USA had an atomic bomb that worked by the end of the war.
  • This gave it an advantage until the USSR developed its own in 1949 AD.
  • Tensions increased over the years of the war, as the two sides tried to build new nuclear weapons and get ahead of each other.
  • This became known as the 'arms race'.
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The hydrogen bomb

  • By November 1952 AD the US had tested a hydrogen bomb.
    • The USSR then successfully tested a hydrogen bomb in 1953 AD.
  • These hydrogen bombs were 2500 times stronger than the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima.
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Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

  • If there was a war between the USA and USSR it was likely that both countries would be completely destroyed.
    • This was called Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).
    • It was (and is) the only thing that stopped them from being used.
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Potential death toll

  • US intelligence at the time estimated that if Russia attacked the US with missiles then 20 million Americans would be killed and another 20 million would be seriously injured.

That would have meant a total of 40 million casualties (the amount of dead and wounded).

Jump to other topics

1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

1.14Historical Skills

2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

18World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

19The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

20Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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