The Cold War Historical Background

What is The Cold War? What is The Cold War? Not long after World War II ended in 1945, new hostilities emerged between the United States and the Soviet Union. Known as the Cold War, this conflict began as a struggle for control over the conquered areas of Eastern Europe in the late 1940s and continued into the early 1990s. Initially, only the United States possessed atomic weapons, but in 1949 the Soviet Union exploded an atomic bomb and the arms race began. Both countries continued building more and bigger bombs. (American Natural History Museum)

The ArmS Race Both sides are now organised into two major military alliances. NATO in the West and the Warsaw Pact in the East. By 1955 the world is now a much more dangerous place. Each side fears the other. Therefore they start to build up their armies and weapons. As a result each side felt more threatened, and so consequently they built even more weapons. Source : BBC The Cold War in Europe: Competition and Crisis Source : BBC The Cold War in Europe: Competition and Crisis The Cold War in Europe: Competition and Crisis The Cold War in Europe: Competition and Crisis

The ArmS Race It is estimated that by 1961 there were enough nuclear bombs built to destroy the world. (Ducksters)It is estimated that by 1961 there were enough nuclear bombs built to destroy the world. (Ducksters) USA defence spending for 1981 = 178 billion dollars. By 1986, it was 367 billion dollars. (History Learning Site)USA defence spending for 1981 = 178 billion dollars. By 1986, it was 367 billion dollars. (History Learning Site) By 1986, it is estimated that throughout the world there were 40,000 nuclear warheads - the equivalent of one million Hiroshima bombs. (History Learning Site)By 1986, it is estimated that throughout the world there were 40,000 nuclear warheads - the equivalent of one million Hiroshima bombs. (History Learning Site)

The Arms Race During the Cold War the United States and the Soviet Union became engaged in a nuclear arms race. They both spent billions and billions of dollars trying to build up huge stockpiles of nuclear weapons. Near the end of the Cold War the Soviet Union was spending around 27% of its total gross national product on the military. This was crippling to their economy and helped to bring an end to the Cold War.Cold War Source: Ducksters “The Cold War: Arms Race” Source: Ducksters “The Cold War: Arms Race” Source: Ducksters “The Cold War: Arms Race” Source: Ducksters “The Cold War: Arms Race” Soviet and United States build up of nuclear weapons

Works Cited BBC Bitesize History “ The Cold War in Europe: Competition and Crisis” _war/cold_war_competition_crisis/arms_race_space_race/ revision/1/BBC Bitesize History “ The Cold War in Europe: Competition and Crisis” _war/cold_war_competition_crisis/arms_race_space_race/ revision/1/ _war/cold_war_competition_crisis/arms_race_space_race/ revision/1/ _war/cold_war_competition_crisis/arms_race_space_race/ revision/1/ Ducksters “The Cold War: Arms Race” Ducksters “The Cold War: Arms Race” Ducksters “The Cold War: Arms Race” < php>Ducksters “The Cold War: Arms Race” < php> "The Nuclear Arms Race". HistoryLearningSite.co.uk Web. "The Nuclear Arms Race". HistoryLearningSite.co.uk Web. The American Natural History Museum “Nuclear Arms Race: The Cold War” The American Natural History Museum “Nuclear Arms Race: The Cold War” The American Natural History Museum “Nuclear Arms Race: The Cold War” < exhibitions/einstein/peace-and-war/nuclear-arms-race>The American Natural History Museum “Nuclear Arms Race: The Cold War” < exhibitions/einstein/peace-and-war/nuclear-arms-race>