The 1950s

Nuclear Arms Race

 

In the 1950's, nuclear weapons were very popular to use in the Cold War. The United States became the first country to use nuclear weapons. They used these when boming Hiroshima and Nagaski in World War II. Later on, the United States used plance to drop bombs, but soon it came clear that rockets were the way to go. Rockets were cheaper and more efffectivem along with being faster and more difficult to destroy while in the air. The Soviet Union was perceived to be the United States main target during the Cold War. The USSR needed missiles that could go long distance to try and hit the United States. President Truman announced on January 31st of 1950 that the desicions was made to proceed with the development of the hydrogen bomb. These hydrogen bombs gave large explosions with lighter warheads. The Soviet Union and the United States were in a state of competition during the 1950's. Each country wanted to see who can have the best and most dangerous weapons. The U.S. and the USSR stockpile weapons in case of an attack. They wanted to have a balance of power which would lead to a balance of terror. On January 27th of 1950, Klaus Fuchs, who had worked with both British and American nuclear scientists, confessed that he passed atomic secrets to the Soviet while working at the Manhattan Project. His testimony to the British and American intelligence agencies lead to the trails of Daivd Greenglass and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in the United States. In the year 1957, the United States had created Atlas missiles traveling far more distances that the average missile could travel. Towards the end of the 1950's, the U.S. created the Minuteman missile. Furthermore, the development of Polaris, a U.S. nuclear missile-capable submarine, enters into service in 1959. By the protect of  sea, submarines could then inch closer to the Soviet Union and increase the accuracy by hitting directly on target. As part of the nuclear weapons increase, U-2 planes were developed and these planes were used in the U-2 Incident in 1960. By planting cameras beneath the aircraft, it takes 4000 photographs covering the areas to search for missiles in other countries. During the 1950's, the Soviet Union had been producing MRBM's and IRBM's to use against the United States for defense. By the creation of nuclear arms, it became the center of the Cold War. Many believed that the more nuclear weapons a country had equals more power for the country. Changes had occurred when the U.S. dropped the H-bomb (Hydrogen bomb) in 1952. Eventually, the Arms Race becomes the Space Race and both the United States and the Soviet Union competed to have advances with technology and space. 

 

Sputnik 

 

On October 4th, 1957, the launch of the satellite Sputnik  shocks and frightens many Americans. There was fear that with their new space invention. The Soviets had the upper hand when the Arms Race had occurred. Democrats went agansit the Republic Adminstration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower for allowing the United States to fall behind the Communists. Eisenhower had made the decision to speed up the United States space's program to be able to compete with the Soviet Union. In response to this decision, this competition between the United States and the Soviet Union became known as the Space Race. Sputnik launch changed everything by catching the world's attention offguard and the world became surprised. With the launch of Sputnik, the United States public feared the Soviets action to launch the satellite. The public feared that the USSR was spying on the United States. On November 3rd, the second Sputnik was launched by the Soviet Union. The United States in reponse on January 31st, 1958, the U.S. launched Explorer I. The success of Sputnik had a major impact on the Cold War and the United States. Not only did the launch of Sputnik fueled the Space Race between the United Stated and the Soviet Union, but it also fueled the Arms Race. This started to increase tensions in the Cold War between the U.S. and USSR. Like said, Americans were caught off guard by the Soviets and their advancements in space technology. The advancements that were made by the United States it increased feelings of panic. Lastly, the Sputnik launched led to the creation of the NASA program. 

 

Korean War

 

On June 25th, 1950, the year that changed many lives, the Korean War had begun. Beginning with 75,000 soldiers from North the Korean Peoples Army across the 38th parallel. North Korean had decided to invaded South Korea. This invasion was the first of many military actions during the Cold War. By July of 1950, the American troops had entered the Korean War by joining forces with South Korea. American troops entered the war due to the division made at the 38th parallel in Korea. The Korean War saw communist North Korea invade its southern part creating a conflict between the two. By the support from the United Nations, and the troops from the United States, South Korea pulled back and fighting began to flow up and down the peninsula unitl North Korea of the 38th parallel was stablized. This conflict seen by the United States followed the policy of cantainment and not allowing communism to spread to South Korea and blocking aggression from the Soviet Union. Lasting unit an armistices was signed on July 27th, 1953, creating a Korean bemilitarized zone. And over the course of the three years, the country was a combining of North and South Korea with 2.5 million civilians were killed along with 1 million soldiers who have lost thier lived fighting in the war. With the help of the United Nations, the Korean War was brought to an end finally. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Douglas MacArthur and General Omar Bradely, three United States military legends were planning the counter attacks including the bombing on North Korea. Although this war was fought for three years, there was no real victory between the two sides. 

 

 

NATO and Warsaw Pact

 

NATO stood for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization that was creatd by the United States in 1949.The U.S. led an alliance to protect mutual defense of Western nations. NATO is an international organization composed of the US, Canada, Britain, and a number of European countries for purposes of collective security. In response to creating NATO, the Soviet Union and its satellites created the Warsaw Pact is a military treaty and association of Eastern European countries, formed in 1955 by the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. This allignment provided a military standoff continuing throughout the Cold War. The conflict between the Western Nations and communists began as soon as gun went silent at the end of World War II. The United States and Western Allies saught ways to prevent expansion of any communist influence. By being the backbone, NATO formed the West's military against the communists. In some ways, the Warsaw Pact was created in response to NATO. After World War I and World War II, the leaders of the Soviet Union felt as if Germany once agian was becoming a military power. Although, the United States worked with NATO in advocation of making West Germany a part of the alliance. West Germany finally joined NATO on May 5th, 1955. Then the Warsaw Pact was signed less than a few weeks later. The Warsaw Pact foused on creating a defense among its membering nations. Nearly every European nation, in one of the two pacts formed a political divison of the European continent taken place since World War II.