1. Arms Race
Harry and Jen

2. Why did an arms race develop?
National vulnerabilities of the superpowers
Political and personal insecurities of the leaders.
There came a point when a “response that required an additional increase in arms became unavoidable.
The weapons acted as an insurance against the actions of enemies.
Clausewitz states war is, “a continuation of political activity by other means.”
Eisenhower asks what you would do if you had won the war in such a catastrophic way.

3. Causes
The growth of national tension: there was growing hostility between superpowers after Arms were viewed as necessary, by increasing the destructive power of each country by developing the nuclear bomb it left each side feeling more vulnerable. The US used technological advances to scare the Soviets and the USSR boasted about their nuclear capability. Each wanted nuclear superiority.
National and personal considerations: It became a matter of national pride, each side wanted to show the benefits of capitalism/communism to the third world. Khrushchev’s boasting was a reflection of his own insecurities as the Soviet leader. Democracy in the US often pushed presidents to increase military spending because of public fear.
Domestic Factors: for both countries those who were in the armament business were able to gain considerable power. The USSRs armed forces had political input and resisted any threat to attempts to cut military spending. And in the US “military industrial complex” was able to have a lot of control over American politics.

4. Development Bombs: US test atom bomb 16th July 1945.
US was reluctant to share nuclear knowledge but USSR spies were able to provide the knowledge so that the US monopoly only lasted till 1949.
USSR test atom bomb 29th august 1949.
US test hydrogen bomb in 1952
USSR test lithium bomb 9 months later.
US test lithium bomb 1954.
Delivery systems:
US first bomber with intercontinental range 1955.
USSR then developed TU20 Bear 1956 (slow and vulnerable)
USSR create first ICBM to carry thermo nuclear bomb 1957
USSR launch sputnik space satellite 1957
US fail to replicate sputnik
USSR only had 4 ICBMs in 1960
US develop first submarine launched ballistic missile Polaris 1960.
US increase in weapons led to the ability to produce mutually assured destruction. This led to the cuban missile crisis.

5. The Cuban Missile Crisis

6. Why did the Cuban Missile Crisis occur?
The island of Cuba had been under US influence since the end of Spanish rule in 1898.
This relationship was shattered when the fascist regime of Fulgencio Batista was overthrown in 1959 by Fidel Castro and chums.
Castro was a nationalist and desired to make Cuba independent of foreign control.
By early 1961 most American economic interests on the island were seized and Castro converted to communism.
The American government attempted to overthrow Castro in the CIA led Bay of Pigs invasion. This failed.
The USA stopped trade, the USSR stepped in to fill the gap.
Castro appealed for arms and Khrushchev obliged him.

7. The Crisis develops October 1962
In October 1962 American spy planes brought back photos of missile bases under construction in Cuba.
Soviet ships were identified as transporting the nuclear missiles.
The executive committee of the US National Security Council was called and presented JFK with three options.

8. The options
Option 1- Dean Rusk (Secretary of State) urged an immediate air strike followed up by an invasion of Cuba.
Option 2-Bobby Kennedy suggested a blockade of Soviet ships going to Cuba.
Option 3- Do nothing.
On the 22nd of October Kennedy chose to enforce a blockade around the island.
At the soviet ships stopped and turned away.

9. The negotiations
On the 26th of October Khrushchev sent a long rambling telegram to Kennedy. The Soviets agreed to remove all missiles from Cuba is the US agreed to never invade.
On the 27th Khrushchev sent a second telegram which demanded the removal of US missiles from Turkey.
Kennedy chose to publicly accept the first letter and in secret agreed to withdraw the weapons from Turkey.

10. Exam questions
To what extent did the nuclear arms race make the world a more dangerous place in the years ?
How far would you agree with the view that the Cuban missile crisis was a hinge that produced the possibility of a change of direction in the arms race?