The document discusses the development of nuclear weapons by the United States and Russia during the Cold War. It notes that the US was the first to develop nuclear weapons and used them against Japan, shocking the world. Russia then began developing its own nuclear weapons to compete with the US in the arms race. Both countries massively increased their nuclear stockpiles throughout the 1950s and developed more powerful weapons like the hydrogen bomb. This arms buildup continued into the 1960s and led to a theory of mutual assured destruction if either country initiated a nuclear attack.

1. Vibeesh palani

2. Nuclear definitions
 ICBM: Intercontinental ballistic missiles.
 MRBM: Medium rang ballistic missiles.
 IRBM: Intermediate ballistic missiles.
 The main problem was developing a
missile that was accurate. They often
did not hit their intended target. Although
mainly aimed at the target they often
landed many miles away. The further the
V-2 rocket had to travel, the more
inaccurate it became.

3. Nuclear weapons
The first country in the world to create a
nuclear weapon was the U.S, it first
used its weapon on Japan. The whole
world was shocked by the bombing of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Russia seeing
this wanted to compete the U.S as
Russia was the other superpower. So
there and then it begun, the battle for
the development of the best and better
nuclear weapons.

4. Russia develops its own
nuclear bomb
Russia who is already an superpower also
wanted to develop a nuclear bomb
because America was winning them in
the arms race. So then Russia creates
one shocking America. America now
was shocked to see Russia having its
own nuclear bomb because they thought
it would take many years for Russia to
create an nuclear bomb.

5. The danger that the world faces
 Both America and Russia massively built
up their stockpiles of nuclear weapons.
 The world greatly changed when USA
exploded the H-bomb in 1952. This one
bomb was smaller in size than the
Hiroshima atomic bomb but 2500 times
more powerful.
 The Russians produced an H-bomb in
1953 and the world became a much
more dangerous place.

6. The H-Bomb
 This one bomb was smaller in size than
the Hiroshima atomic bomb but 2500
times more powerful.

7. The Mighty superpower
weapons
 However, it is possible that the sheer power of
these weapons and the fear that they evoked, may
have stopped a nuclear war.
 In October 1957, the world was introduced to the
fear of a missile attack when Sputnik was
launched. This was to lead to ICBM’s : Inter-
continental ballistic missiles. As a result, America
built the DEW line around the Artic - Defense and
Early Warning system.

8. How they made it
 During the 1960’s, the Russians put their money into
producing more missiles regardless of quality while
America built fewer but better quality missiles - the
Atlas could go 5,000 miles at a speed of 16,000 mph.
By 1961, there were enough bombs to destroy the
world.
 Despite this, great emphasis was put on new weapon
systems - mobile missile launchers were built, missiles
were housed underground in silos and in 1960 the first
Polaris submarine was launched carrying 16 nuclear
missiles. Each missile carried four warheads which
could targeted on different cities; hence one submarine
effectively carried 64 nuclear warheads.

9. Theory of hope
 During the 1960’s the theory of MAD developed -
Mutually Assured Destruction. This meant that if
Russia attacked the west, the west would make
sure that they would suitably retaliate i.e. there
would be no winners.
 The people and the countries lived with fear
through out this time as they could be attacked
any moment by any country. Fear was one thing
that people could not defeat.

10. Facts
 British Intelligence estimated that just one medium
sized H-bomb on London would essentially
destroy anything living up to 30 miles away.
 By 1981, USA had 8,000 ICBM’s and USSR 7,000
ICBM’s.
 By 1981, USA had 4,000 planes capable of
delivering a nuclear bomb. Russia had 5000.
 By 1986, it is estimated that throughout the world
there were 40,000 nuclear warheads - the
equivalent of one million Hiroshima bombs.