Nuclear Arms Race
Nuclear Arms Race
The Nuclear Arms Race was the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to build larger and more powerful nuclear arsenals.
It began after the Soviet Union developed nuclear weapons following the U.S. atomic bomb.
It involved:
- more warheads
- better missiles
- delivery systems such as ICBMs
- fear of total destruction
Threat
The nuclear arms race created a constant danger of annihilation for Europe and the wider world.
Historical Role
It shaped military alliances, public fears, diplomacy, and movements against nuclear weapons throughout the Cold War.