Science and technology as part of the Cold War Arms race, espionage, space race
USA drop first atom bomb at Hiroshima , Second World War in 1945 - clear advantage
Arms race A competition to build up armaments (enormous quantities of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles)
USSR first Soviet atom bomb was produced in 1949
hydrogen bomb Even more deadly form of weapon, much more destructive
MAD each hoped that knowing this would be enough to stop the other side from attacking first (or Mutually Assured Destruction)
SALT talks about reducing the arms race - or Strategic Arms Limitations Talks SALT1: agreement, signed in 1972, first step in slowing down the arms race
Espionage
Espionage: USA CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) U2 spy plane satellites
Espionage: USSR KGB (Soviet Committee for State Security) satellites
Space race A competition to develop best space technology
USSR 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first satellite into space called 'sputnik' (which means 'fellow traveler'). Seemed USSR was ahead in science and technology 1961 Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to orbit the earth and return safely. First to send woman into space
USA Americans began to question the work of their scientists and the quality of their education. President ordered scientists to speed up work on America's own space program US concentrated on being the first to land a human on the moon (1969)
Contrast in lifestyles
USA consumer goods, material wealth, leisure time, prosperous living standards
USSR poor living standards
How did the superpowers make their citizens follow Cold War ideologies?
Citizens to be loyal, not only to their country but to an ideology
Both sides were taught to believe the other side was evil
Politicians, government propaganda, the education system and popular culture all reinforced this message
popular culture forms of popular entertainment, such as music, radio, and films also reflected the Cold War