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The Atomic Bomb
The first nuclear bomb weapon, now called the atomic bomb, was made by the USA and released onto Japan's cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombs were nicknamed 'Little Boy' and 'Fat Man'. When the rest of the country noticed this new power, people stared to take action and defend themselves. -
Another Atomic Bomb?
The information on how to create an atomic bomb was leaked and the USSR started testing their new nuclear weapon. On August 29, 1929 the USSR had their first success at replicating the atomic bomb at the test site Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan. -
Keeping Up
By this point the United States had 369 atomic bombs that were ready to use, while the USSR only had 5. -
The Hydrogen Bomb
In effort to create the bigger and better weapon, the US scientist Edward Teller (with the help of others) invented the hydrogen bomb. This was the world's first thermonuclear weapon. -
The USSR Hydrogen Bomb
Trying not to waste any time in being the best, it didn't take too long for the USSR to build a hydrogen bomb of their own. This bomb was used at the Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan. -
The Launch of Sputnik
The USSR became the first ever to successfully deliver an object into space. This spread fear to the US, when they thought that the USSR could now send nuclear weapons to them through space. -
The Explorer
Not long after the launch of Sputnik, the US compensates by putting the first satalite into orbit. The Explorer lauched of from a place called Cape Canaveral, now called Cape Kennedy. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
The USSR attempted to bring missiles into Cuba for them to use. The US intervined and set up a blockade around Cuba. The US was successful in talking the USSR out of giving Cuba the missiles. -
Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
On this date the United States, USSR, and Great Britain agreed to stop the use of nuclear weapons. The treaty stated that nuclear weapons could not be used under water, in the atmosphere, or in outer space. It also stated that nuclear weapons could be used underground as long as no radioactive destruction falls outside the boundaries of the country preforming the test. -
And the Winner is...
The Nuclear Arms Race is still continuing today, as every country wishes to be better than the next.
