The Arms Race

Andrew AbrahamsNick ShafferAnna ThorntonLlosh Gêrmet

The Cold War

• Era of tension between West and USSR• Arms Race was central in trying to gain an edge

Early Race• Race started after WW II • US were ahead of the

Russians• Both based missile

designs off of wartime German V2 rockets

• US developed first Hydrogen bomb in 1953 to be delivered by aircraft

Late 50’s – Early 60’s

• By end of 50’s, it was estimated 20 million Americans would die, 22 million injured in a Soviet missile attack

• JFK starts program to build shelters and educate the population on survival in 1961

Negotiations

• Non-Proliferation Treaty – US agreement to go into negotiation with Soviets

• SALT - Strategic Arms Limitation Talksfrom 1969 to 1972

• SALT 1 mostly unsuccessful • SALT 2 capped the maximum number of

nuclear weapons and delivery vehicles