Arms & Space Race The Cold War At Home Eisenhower Presidency

The Arms & Space Race 1945: America was the Sole Atomic power Americans refused to share atomic secrets 1949: The Soviet Union developed its own atomic bomb – Leading to a nuclear “arms race” between the two Superpowers 1952: US developed Hydrogen Bomb (immensely more powerful than the original atomic bomb. Less than a year later the Soviets successfully tested their own hydrogen bomb

The Arms & Space Race 1950s American leaders decided to rely on nuclear weapons for defense than on a large military force These were a deterrent for the Soviets to attack the United States American leaders soon realized that in most situations, nuclear weapons simply could not be used unless the nation’s survival was at stake.

The Arms & Space Race Soviets launch the first man-made satellite into space in 1957 Sputnik was just over the size of a basketball and weighed 184 lbs Orbited Earth once every 98 minutes.. Sputnik ushered in a new age of space exploration and started our “space race” Raised fear that the Soviet Union might use missiles to send nuclear bombs to the United States

The Cold War At Home Americans feared a possible Communist take over Truman orders Loyalty Review Boards (investigates un-American activities) Congress will conduct its loyalty checks. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Question actors, directors, writers, and others about Communist sympathies Many were then blacklisted and lost their jobs.

Julius & Ethel Rosenberg Charged with selling national secrets to the Soviet Union Found guilty and executed for spying Many Americans doubted their guilt 1997: The NSA (National Security Agency) released the Venona Papers. Secret effort by the US to gather and decode messages sent in the 1940s by Soviet military intelligence agents. Venona Papers revealed the identities of several Americans who spied for the Soviets (including the Rosenbergs)

Mccarthyism Fall of China will increase fears of Communism Senator, Joseph McCarthy, shocked Americans by claiming he knew the names of hundreds of Communists 3 years of hearings, McCarthy will give NO evidence to prove anything. McCarthyism has become identified with making harsh accusations without any evidence