MAKING HISTORY Timeline of the nuclear arms race, 1945–62 USSR tested intercontinental
USSR tested its first atomic bomb
1949
ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to carry H-bombs to the USA
1957
USA developed ICBMs 1959
Cuban Missile Crisis 1962
1945
USA dropped first atomic bomb (A-bomb)
1952
USA tested its first hydrogen bomb (H-bomb)
2 Art and propaganda
The Cold War influenced books, movies and propaganda. Stories about capitalist and communist ways of life were used to spread propaganda. Books and movies took sides in the conflict. James Bond books and films, for example, showed the communists as ‘bad guys’.
3 The Space Race
The Cold War influenced the Space Race. The Soviets (Russians) led the Space Race by putting the first satellite and the first man into space. Khrushchev, the Soviet leader, claimed that ‘The Sputniks (Soviet space satellite) prove that communism has won the competition between communist and capitalist countries. The economy, science, culture and the creative genius of people in all areas of life develop better and faster under communism.’ ● The success of the Soviets forced the Americans to invest heavily in getting the first man on the Moon (see p. 385).
Timeline of Space Race
USA launched Explorer 1 1958
1962
How does this source show the rivalry between the USA and the USSR in the Space Race? Who won the Space Race? Explain your answers.
John Glenn – first American to orbit the Earth
Luna 9 (USSR) – first satellite to soft-land on the Moon
1966
1958
USA set up intermediate missiles in NATO countries within range of USSR
1960 USA launched first nuclear-powered submarine
1957
USSR launched Sputnik 1 – first satellite in space
354
USA Vanguard exploded on launch
1961
Yuri Gagarin (USSR) – first person in space
Alan Shepard – first American in space
1963 Cosmonaut Valentina
Tereshkova (USSR) – first woman in space
1969 Apollo 11 – Neil
Armstrong and ‘Buzz’ Aldrin – first men to walk on the Moon