-
The United States Starts the "Nuclear Club"
On July 13, 1942, the United States started the Manhattan Project to develop an atomic bomb. On July 16, 1945, they performed their first nuclear test explosion, and kept it a secret from the Soviet Union, but once they bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear weapons were no longer a secret. This led to the nuclear race, and it led countries to try and develop their own nuclear weapons. The U.S. currently has 7,700 nuclear forces. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
On the day of August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Upon detonation, 50,000 Japanese were instantaneously killed by the massive amounts of radiation, thermal energy, and nuclear blast emitted. Many were blinded by the immensely bright atomic flash of thermal radiation composed of visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, and almost every aspect of the electromagnetic spectrum. Those further away from the blast received minor eye injuries. -
Effects of thermal energy
Immediately after blast, a burst of thermal energy was released, igniting any flammable object, including clothing, paper and skin. The thermal energy further diminished the demolished buildings as they too caught on fire and burned to ashes. The thousands of fires, across hundreds of city blocks quickly consumed the air, leaving many to suffocate or pass out from the fumes. Many who survived the heat rushed to nearby rivers or lakes in an effort to relive themselves from the temperatures. -
Blast and radiation
Although most of the radiation emitted from Fat Man was absorbed as it disintegrated anything near the epicenter, the remaining radiation fell as fallout. The blast blew vast amounts of debris onto the air and the remaining radiation attached itself to anything that came in contact. Fallout rained for days and contaminated all nearby water supplies and farms with radioactive isotopes. Many more inhaled the falling debris and developed serious effects such as thyroid problems and cancer. -
Immediate effects of the Hiroshima bombing
Less than one second after the atomic flash, large changes in air pressure near the explosion created a blast that radiated from the epicenter with an initial speed of more than 10,000 feet per second. As the blast traveled outward, a short vacuum was created that substantially lowed the surrounding pressure, making persons eyes pop out as gasses from the body were expelled in an attempt to fill the empty space The blast also diminished ninety percent of buildings in Hiroshima to rubble. -
Period: to
One week after Hiroshima bombing
Within two to three hours most persons near the epicenter were dead due to the radiation, serious burns, and poor air quality. Within a week, most of the nearby population was either deceased or sick due to radioactive fallout that continued to rain for miles on end. Many called the years that followed, the Leukemia period because thousands of survivors developed cancerous tumors, most commonly leukemia. Some were luck enough to only lose their hair, but others developed cardiovascular problems. -
Russia Detonates Their First Bomb
Russia was the second country to obtain nuclear weapons, after World War II. They detonated their first bomb on August 29, 1949, which has contributed to the growing number of nations acquiring nuclear weapons. Russia's current stockpile of nuclear forces is 8,500.
-1,740 operational strategic
-2,700 reserved/non-deployed
-4,500 military stockpile -
United Kingdom Joins the Club
The United Kingdom was the third country to test and obtain nuclear powers. They had started a program for developing the nuclear wepaons in 1947. On October 3, 1952, they tested their first bomb in Montebello Islands in Western Australia. The United Kingdom currently has about 225 nuclear forces, which hasn't brought us closer to world disarmament.
-160 operational strategic
-65 non-deployed/reserved
-225 military stockpile -
International Atomic Energy Agencies (IAEA)
International Atomic EnergyAgencies (IAEA), created by the United Nations, is an established program of on-site insepections, audits, and inventory controls, for the purpose of deterring the use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances. To achieve the admirable goal, the agency monitors the flow of material into and out of nuclear installations in various countires. The IAEA audits plant records and conducts inventories. When IAEA personnel are not present, cameras are used for vigilance. -
France Becomes A Nuclear Nation
France took longer to join the "nuclear club." In the 1950s, France began researching nuclear weapons. They detonated their first bomb on February 13, 1960, and continued testing. This is yet another set back in reaching a world without nuclear weapons. France's current stockpile is about 300 nuclear forces.
-290 operational strategic
-300 military stockpile -
China
On October 6, 1964, China successfully exploded their first bomb, thus entering the "nuclear club." China's reason for developing was for self-defense and safeguarding national security. Their total inventory today is approximately 240.
- 240 military stockpile
-180 reserve/non-deployed -
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
The Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) came into force in 1970. The treaty includes a legally binding non-proiferation commitement over an international span to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The treaty called for existing nuclear powers to deny assistance to any nation in the process of creating nuclear weapons. The treaty also obliged non-nuclear member nations to pledge to use peaceful nuclear technology and to refrain from acquiring nuclear weapons. -
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I)
SALT I began being discussed between the Soviet Union and the United States on November 17, 1969. These discussions were a result of both countries wanting to reduce their offensive and defensive nuclear arsenals. Eventually, both countries reached an agreement, which was signed on May 26, 1972. The terms of the document included an interim agreement, which limited the amount of weaponry to 1972 standings. Also included was an ABM treaty, which only allowed each country to have 200 launchers. -
Israel (1975, no specific month or date)
Over the years since countries began obtaining nuclear weapons, Israel also did their part to obtain weapons. Israel's possession of nuclear weapons is a "public secret." They won't admit to possessing them, but in 1975 the U.S. was convinced that they did have them due to investigations. Israel has produced enough plutonium for 100-200 warheads, but their stockpile is estimated to be at about 80 nuclear forces, which are on reserve and the military stockpile. -
SALT II
SALT II began in November 1972, and was a discussion to further reduce the amount of nuclear weaponry that the United States and Soviet Union had in their arsenal. After several years of discussion, the two countries came to a conclusion in November 1974. The terms of the treaty included: a limitation on strategic nuclear delivery vehicles (includes ICBMs and SLBMs) and a reduction on multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). The treaty was signed, but never ratified. -
Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material
In 1979 at Vienna, Australia, 145 countries came together to discuss the problems with nuclear material. Their overall plan was to make arrangements and meet defined standards of physical protection for international shipment of nuclear material. Also they wanted to promote the cooperation between those countries to recover and protect nuclear material, which includes the sharing of information on stolen nuclear material. -
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
The INF treaty was signed on December 8, 1987 between the United States and Soviet Union. It was designed to reduce nuclear arms in total, rather than establishing a new quota. The terms of the treaty require the members to eliminate all ground-based ballistic and cruise missiles with a range of 500-5,500 km. Also, they could no longer produce intermediate or short-range weapons. As of now, it currrently has an unlimited duration, but might prove to be ineffective if no other countries join. -
South Africa gives up their nuclear weapons
South Africa is the world’s first representative to voluntarily abandon their nuclear program, despite develpoment of over 20 years.The decision to dismantle and destroy all nuclear weapons was made as early as 1990, when new government went elected. On February 2, 1990 newly elected president, Frefreik W. de Klerk addressed a speech to parliament confirming the process of disarmament. Then later in F.W Klerk’s term he signed the NPT revealing to the world they were rid of nuclear wepons. -
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I)
START I was a bilateral treaty involving the United States and the Soviet Union. Negotiations first began in November 1983, when the United States began moving intermediate-range missiles into Europe, which compelled the Soviet Union to request new arms limits. The terms of the treaty included a reduction the number of strategic nuclear vehicles to 1,600 and the amount of warheads to 6,000.Despite being signed in 1991, it was not adopted until 1994. It lasted until December 5, 2009. -
START II
START II was signed on January 3, 1993, and continued to add to the previously created START I. Similar to START I, it was negotiated between the Russian Federation and the United States. Also, it further limited the amount of warheads each country could possess to a range of 3,000-3,500, and required the elimination of all non-single firing ICBM launchers (Heavy ICBMs). The treaty lasted ended in 2002, as a result of the Russian federation withdrawing from the treaty. -
Fissile Material (Cut-Off) Treaty (FMCT)
The FMCT has been in discussion since December 16, 1993, and has yet to be accepted. It is often associated with the CTBT, as both treaties lay the foundation for eventual disamament of nuclear weapons. If the treaty were to be ratified, it would issue a ban on the production of fissile material (material which creates fission, used to create the explosion in a bomb). -
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
The CTBT hopes to eliminate all forms of nuclear explosion, in any environment. It was opened for signature on September 24, 1996, and currently has 183 signatures; of those 183, only 157 countries have ratified the treaty. Despite this amount of signatures, it stil awaits to be implemented, as three of the required 44 countries have yet to ratify the treaty. Similar to the FMCT, it would lead to the eventual disarmament of nuclear arms, if it is ratified. -
India and Pakistan
In 1998, India and Pakistan started nuclear tests. On April 6, 1998, Pakistan had announced their first successful fire. India followed up in May of 1998 conducting a series of underground nuclear tests. These nations have hindered the effort of world disarmament.
Pakistan's stockpile - about 90-110 (on reserve and military stockpile)
India's stockpile- about 80-100 (on reserve and military stockpile) -
North Korea
North Korea's efforts to have nuclear weapons still continues. Their current stockpile is less than 10, which are non-deployed and in the military stockpile. North Korea's membership in the "nuclear club" has struck the efforts of achieving world nuclear disarmament. The most recent test North Korea conducted was an underground nuclear test on February 12, 2013, which was their third in seven years. -
New START Treaty
the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) is a treaty between the United Staes and Russia. Similar to the original START and START2, the New START Treaty Increases limits of the amount of nuclear weapory that can be permitted in Russia and the United Staes. under the Treaty the U.S. and Russia must meet the set limits by February 5, 2018 over a ten year period. These limits are monitored by means of onsite inspections, exhibitions and data exchanges between the two countires -
Belarus
After years of failed attempts Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, chose to met with Foreign Minister Sergey Martynov to discuss concerns of exportation of uranium. Belarus at the time was widely known for contacting stocks of highly enriched uranium, a critical component in making hazardous nuclear weapons. After Hillary Clinton’s meeting with Belarusians and agreement was reached and the government of Belarus proclaimed the region would give up it’s uranium. -
North Korea's Pre-emptive Strike
North Korea expels the armistice of 1953 reigniting war.
On March 7th, an unidentified spokesman for Pyongyang's Foregin Ministry announced that the communist nation vowed to luanch a pre-emptive stike aimed towards the United States. In most recent months dictator Kim Jong Un has defied sanctions placed by the U.N and the rouge regime's nuclear program has continued to conduct it's testing although no signs of constructing a missile with the capability of reaching the U.S. has been reported.
