1. RAP RAP: The Butter Battle Book Think about what you know about the Cold War. What parallels can you draw between the Cold War and The Butter Battle Book? What major conflict of the Cold War do you think this story is a symbol of?

2. Superpower Chess The Arms Race

3. In many ways, the competitive/cooperative actions of the United States and the Soviet Union occurred in the framework of a superpower chess game. There were moves and counter moves, attempts to outdo the other side, attempts to wear down and deplete the forces of the opponent, and attempts to outthink, outplan, and outmaneuver the other side.

4. Key Terms Arms Race: The most visible part of the Cold War was the arms race. It describes a competition between the US and the Soviet Union for military supremacy. Each party competes to produce larger numbers of weapons, greater armies, and superior military technology.

5. Deterrence: The policy of trying to ward off a potential attack of a nuclear weapon from another country by threatening nuclear retaliation. Goal: to always have capability to respond to a nuclear attack with one of its own. Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD): each side knew that the other side would itself be destroyed if it launched its weapons This discouraged nuclear war, yet people still lived in constant fear!