1. Cuban Missile Crisis

2. Impact of the Arms Race on the Cold War
Brrrrrrrrr.

3. Impact of Nuclear Weapons
Truman’s decision to use the bomb:
Started an arms race, helping to maintain hostility
Caused both sides to rethink military strategy and the way conflicts were handled
Put huge economic strains on both countries and thus played a role in the ending of the Cold War

4. How Did It Develop?
Atomic bomb the counter to the larger conventional forces of the USSR
USSR gets the bomb in 1949, years before the US thought possible
US began developing hydrogen bomb, 1000 times more powerful, 1952
1950s saw the development of ICMBs
Missile gap after Sputnik in 1957
Only perceived
Still caused the buildup of ICBMs

5. Why Was It So Intense? Stockpiling necessary to safeguarding interests
Continuing advances meant insecurity, constant rearmament
“Can they do it? … if so, how can we not?”
Both sides developed weapons into the 80s
Bernard Brodie explained purpose was not to win wars, but to avert them
Total war no longer possible
All leaders appalled at their use
So what strategies did they create?

6. Eisenhower and Massive Retaliation
Eisenhower: US would fight with every weapon if attacked, despite consequences
Really trying to ensure no conflict would occur
Limited nuclear war problematic

7. McNamara and Counterforce
Sec. of Defense under Kennedy: destroy military targets, not cities or populations
Issues with successfully hitting so many facilities
Not affecting a city
Ensuring the Soviets followed along
Soviets thought it brought up possibility of pre-emptive strikes
Public opinion not favorable

8. Mutually Assured Destruction
Cuban Missile Crisis changed strategy
Should aim to target cities with objective of maximum casualties
If no one could survive, there will be no attack
Both sides accepted it, also saw the need for management
Test-Ban Treaty
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
SALT Talks in 1972
Satellites allowed for recon
ABM Treaty

9. Reagan and Gorbachev Reagan moved away from this stability
Biggest arms buildup in history
Stealth bomber and neutron bomb
Cruise missiles shipped to Europe
Strategic Defense Initiative to intercept all missiles before reaching US
Undermined MAD, gave first- strike capabilities
Soviets on the verge of collapse, could not compete
Gorbachev wanted security though political means, negotiation and cooperation

10. Create outlines for the following Paper 2 questions.
For what reasons, and to what extent, did the Yalta Conference of February 1945 contribute to the origins of the Cold War?
Compare and contrast the roles of Truman and Stalin in the breakdown of East–West relations.
How did the concept of deterrence influence the development of Soviet-American nuclear strategy from the early 1960s?