starter activity Watch this famous US public information film about the perils of a nuclear attack on America. What does it tell us about the way the government responded to the threat of nuclear war in the 1950s and 60s? Extension. How would this film differ today?
Extension task Read Raymond Briggs’ story or watch the film adaptation of ‘When the wind blows’ and note down what it tells us about the state of readiness of the UK for an all-out nuclear war.
Why did an arms race develop? To identify the causes of the arms race To compile a timeline of the development of nuclear weapons Aims
Your task Read p of Phillips and list the reasons why an arms race developed between the super powers. Read p of Phillips and list the reasons why an arms race developed between the super powers.
Causes of arms race Growth of international tensions – keeping ahead in the technology race helped safeguard the interests of the nation Growth of international tensions – keeping ahead in the technology race helped safeguard the interests of the nation National pride – way of measuring the achievements of East or West National pride – way of measuring the achievements of East or West Political insecurities of leaders – e.g. Eisenhower & Kennedy increased defence spending in reaction to public demands Political insecurities of leaders – e.g. Eisenhower & Kennedy increased defence spending in reaction to public demands Insurance policy– use of nuclear weapons was so unimaginable war could be avoided Insurance policy– use of nuclear weapons was so unimaginable war could be avoided Military-industrial complex – arms race provided jobs Military-industrial complex – arms race provided jobs New technology – hydrogen, lithium, ICBM etc. New technology – hydrogen, lithium, ICBM etc.
Role play Divide the class in two. Appoint someone to be the US president. One half of the class has to argue a case for continuing the arms race. The other half must explain why the arms race is so futile and needlessly expensive. The US president will decide who wins the argument on the basis of the evidence put forward. Divide the class in two. Appoint someone to be the US president. One half of the class has to argue a case for continuing the arms race. The other half must explain why the arms race is so futile and needlessly expensive. The US president will decide who wins the argument on the basis of the evidence put forward.
Your task Read p carefully. Close your books. See if you can sequence the events on the cards chronologically. Read p carefully. Close your books. See if you can sequence the events on the cards chronologically. On a sheet of flip chart paper draw a line from across the centre and label it On the line in a red pen chart the achievements of the Soviets and the US in blue. Plot major achievements higher above the line. Who appears to have won the arms race? On a sheet of flip chart paper draw a line from across the centre and label it On the line in a red pen chart the achievements of the Soviets and the US in blue. Plot major achievements higher above the line. Who appears to have won the arms race?
“I am become death – the destroyer of worlds” (Robert Oppenheimer)
Eniwetok, 1 st hydrogen bomb, 1952
Secret image of testing of lithium bomb, Semipalatinsk
B52 Stratofortess bomber
TU20 ‘Bear’
Konstantin Tsiolkovsky ( )
Sputnik
Laika, 1957
Yuri Gagarin, 1961
Polaris, 1960
This house believes that nuclear weapons made war less likely during the Cold War?
Extension Read and supplement your timeline with notes from Isaacs, p Read and supplement your timeline with notes from Isaacs, p Explore the IWM website ‘What lies beneath’ and note down the reactions of the British government and civilians to the arms race as well as the threat of nuclear war. Explore the IWM website ‘What lies beneath’ and note down the reactions of the British government and civilians to the arms race as well as the threat of nuclear war.
Plenary Plenary Key stages in the arms race? Key stages in the arms race? Who won the arms race? Who won the arms race? Discuss the following idea: “By the beginning of 1962 the arms race had made nuclear war unlikely” Discuss the following idea: “By the beginning of 1962 the arms race had made nuclear war unlikely”