The Arms Race: 1955-84
- Created by: Lizz2002
- Created on: 04-03-21 06:52
View mindmap
- The Arms Race: 1955-84
- The 2nd Arms Race: Missiles
- By 1957, the USSR had caught up and had developed an inter-continental ballistic missile
- A successful missile strike could neutralise the launch of an enemy counter-attack
- The USA overestimated the number and quality of Soviet missiles and began a missile race
- By 1957, the USSR had caught up and had developed an inter-continental ballistic missile
- Mutually Assured Destruction
- Both sides knew that attacks would lead to devastating retaliatory strikes
- The USSR created missiles that could target the USA's missile silos
- The USA created their own in response
- The arms race was focused on:
- developing more destructive warheads
- increasing the target accuracy
- developing systems to intercept missiles
- The SALT talks in the 1970s tried to control the arms race
- Star Wars
- The arms race restarted in 1980 with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the election of Reagan
- Reagan feared the power of the USSR's SS20 missiles
- He funded the development of missiles and a space laser defense programme
- This went against the 1972 agreements and pressured the USSR to compete even though they didn't have the funds
- The Unstoppable Arms race
- the arms race perpetuated the Cold War but also prevented it from turning hot due to MAD
- it lead to a dangerous environment
- e.g. 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
- Talks to end it didn't work due to the pressure from tech developments and mutual suspicion
- The 2nd Arms Race: Missiles
Comments
No comments have yet been made