The Cold War-Account of Arms Race

The United States in late 1941 established a secret program, which came to be known as the Manhattan Project, to develop an atomic bomb, a powerful explosive nuclear weapon. The aim of the project, directed by physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, was to build an atom bomb before Germany did. After Roosevelt's death in April 1945, Harry S. Truman became president and inherited the bomb-development program. At this point, the new weapon had two purposes. First, it could be used to force Japan to surrender. Second, possession of the bomb would enable the United States, and not the USSR, to control post-war policy.

Some would argue that the Cold War began even before World War II ended. Already the United States and USSR were in the midst of carving up the former Axis territories when In July 15, 1945 the United States of America detonated the first Atomic Bomb in New Mexico. It was called the "Trinity" test, exploding with a force equivalent t

The militarisation of both nations was an extension of each county's fear. There was always the fear of a surprise attack. There were even some who supported the use of a surprise attack. Bomb shelters were built in basements and drills were performed in schools. The fear of the ever-present enemy was an exhausting ordeal. People identified themselves by their nations and separated themselves from those that were the enemy. Identity was based on nationalism, a concept that ignited World War One and World War Two. Nationalism, a dangerous means of identifying oneself, was the driving force behind militarisation. No red-blooded American would allow his country to be attacked. In order to make sure of this, the government used all available technology to defend the nation. It was a very dangerous time.

o 18,000 tones of TNT. Later, (July 25), the United States General Carl Spaatz (Commander of the Strategic Air Force in the Pacific in the war with the Japanese), received a directive to drop an atomic bomb in Japan. On August 6, the "Little Boy" atomic bomb exploded approximately 1,900 feet above Hiroshima with a force equivalent to 12,500 tones of TNT. Three days later, on August 9, 1945, the U.S. A-bomb "Fat Man" exploded at around 1,650 feet over Nagasaki with a yield equivalent of 22,000 tons of TNT. Many died (140,000) in Nagasaki and Hiroshima by the end of 1945. Thus, the Nuclear Age and the nuclear arms race that fuelled the Cold War began together.

Improvements in conventional warfare also increased greatly during this time. Fast-attack submarines were developed to seek out and destroy the large nuclear missile subs hiding in the ocean. Attack planes were built and perfected in order to combat enemy bombers. Anti-missile systems, such as the Star Wars laser concept, were tried and built in order to reduce the number of missiles that reached Ground Zero. The militaries received an amazing budget so that they could better be prepared to fight the enemy. Conventional weapons were developed for situations such as Vietnam where nuclear warfare would not be used, or for anti-nuclear purposes, such as fast-attack submarines.

In 1972 SALT I (Strategic Arms limitation Talks), was signed in Moscow. It virtually abolished ABMs (Anti-ballistic missiles, designed to shoot down incoming missiles) and put a limit on the total number of missiles each side could possess.

Some topics in this essay:
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