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US Creates and Tests the Hydrogen Bomb
The US created the first thermonuclear weapon (uses energy from a primary nuclear fission reaction to compress and ignite a secondary nuclear fusion reaction.) On this date, the US tested it in the Pacific Ocean on Eniwetok atoll. After the Soviets demonstrated they're atomic power in September of ‘49, this was the time for the US to demonstrate their might and advance further in the nuclear arms race. Some may wonder what’s the big deal with hydrogen bombs anyways; well, they are 1,000 times -
US Creates and Tests the Hydrogen Bomb Part 2
more powerful than a regular atomic bomb. Some argued testing the hydrogen bomb would speed up the arms race, and indeed it did; by the late 970s, several nations including the Soviet Union had constructed hydrogen bombs.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-tests-first-hydrogen-bomb -
Societs launch Sputnik
On this day, the Soviets launched the world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a beach ball. That launch brought new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. The Sputnik launch marked the start of the space age and the U.S.-U.S.S.R space race. Sputnik caught the world's attention and the American public off-guard. This was because the White House announced plans to launch a satellite into orbit 2 years earlier however, the Soviets beat them to it and with -
Soviets Launch Sputnik Part 2
a more impressively sized satellite (compared to the small one the US planned on). The public feared the Soviets ability to launch a satellite was a sign of the increased ability to launch missiles from Europe to the US. Nearly a month later, the Soviets launched Sputnik II into orbit.
http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/ -
US Sends a Man to the Moon
On May 25, 1961, JFK announces United States plans to send a man to the moon in a special joint session of Congress. This gave inspiration to Americans after feeling defeated by the launch of Sputnik. On this day, as part of the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong became the very first to accomplish that dream, followed only minutes later by Buzz Aldrin. Their accomplishment placed the United States ahead of the Soviets in the Space Race and gave people around the world the hope of future space -
US Sends a Man to the Moon
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Nixon Visits China
On this day, President Nixon visited China on an official visit. He was the first U.S. president to visit the People's Republic of China since 1949. This was an important event because the U.S. was seeking to improve relations with a Communist country during the Cold War. He met with Chinese leaders who agreed to expand cultural contacts between the two nations. In the following years, the US established the Open Door Policy, which ensured all nations had equal trading privileges with China. -
Olympic Rivalry: 1972 Basketball Game
In 1972, the Cold War was at its height. And now, the Soviet’s and the United States’ olympic basketball teams were going to go head to head in a championship game- for the gold medal. The US was favored to win as they dominated basketball as an olympic sport since 1936. The pressure was on to win the 8th straight gold medal. With three seconds left, the US was up 50 to 49. The Soviets turned over the ball and the game was over, or so they thought. On a controversial call, three seconds were put -
Olympic Rivalry: 1972 Basketball Game
back on the clock. This time the Soviets got lucky; they passed the ball in and made a crazy shot; the game was over. The US had to settle for silver after almost 40 years of domination. Frustration took over the players and the team refused to take the medals, leaving the silver medallions deserted. Considering the significance of sports to American lives, this rival game increased the tension of the Cold War.
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/nov/16/usa-ussr-olympic-basketball-1972 -
US Invades Grenada
In 1983, President Reagan had the Marines invade Grenada after the threat posed to American nationals on the Caribbean nation of Grenada by that nation’s Marxist regime. Because the President thought the U.S. citizens in Grenada were in danger, he ordered the troops in to protect them. Soon they faced the Grenada government’s brute force. After the invasion, their government collapsed and the U.S. set up a new government. The Reagan administration claimed a great victory, calling it the first -
US Invades Grenada
“rollback” of communist influence since the beginning of the Cold War. This created tension as the Soviets felt threatened by the fact that the United States democracy had demolished a communist government. “Operation Urgent Fury” successfully overthrew the communist government which ultimately increased the anger of Soviet Union.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-invades-grenada
