Areas Of Conflict+Competition Between Superpowers In The Cold War Flashcards
(35 cards)
What was the Arms race during the Cold War?
The competition between the USA and the Soviet Union to develop more powerful and destructive weapons, including nuclear weapons.
What was the state of weapon development by the 1950s?
Both the USA and the Soviets had developed the power and weapons to obliterate one another and the rest of the world.
What was the central feature of the Cold War?
The Arms race became a central feature, with the threat of nuclear arms leading to the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).
What does Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) mean?
The understanding that launching nuclear weapons would result in the destruction of both the attacker and the defender.
What were civil defences during the Cold War?
Large radar arrays built by both superpowers to detect bombers and missiles.
What were the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks?
Meetings held between the superpowers in 1973 and 1979 known as SALT I and SALT II.
What was the outcome of the period of détente?
Both sides were able to reduce their spending on weapons.
What was the Arms Race about?
The Arms Race was not only about nuclear power but also about developing bigger and better technology.
What was a prominent feature of the Cold War?
The US - Soviet Space Race.
When did the Space Race last?
The Space Race lasted from 1957 to 1975.
What were the main goals of the Space Race?
To explore outer space with satellite technology, send humans into space, and land people on the moon.
What event marked the beginning of the Space Race?
The launch of Sputnik 1 by Russia on 4 October 1957.
How did the Russians feel about Sputnik 1?
The Russians were very proud of Sputnik.
How did the Americans react to Sputnik 1?
The Americans were very worried about it.
What organization did the USA establish in 1958?
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Is NASA still active today?
Yes, NASA is still sending spacecraft into space today.
What significant event occurred in 1957 during the Space Race?
The Russians sent the first animal into space and launched the first satellite into space called Sputnik.
Who was the first human to orbit Earth?
The Russian Yuri Gagarin is the first human to orbit Earth in April 1961.
Who was the first American to orbit the Earth?
John Glenn is the first American to orbit the Earth in February 1962.
Who was the first woman in space?
The Russian Valentina Tereshkova is the first woman in space in June 1963.
What was the first spacewalk and who performed it?
The first spacewalk was performed by the Russian Aleksei Leonov in March 1965.
What significant achievement did Neil Armstrong accomplish?
On 21 July 1969, American Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon.
How did the Americans and Russians view the moon landing?
The Americans felt that the moon landing put them ahead in the Space Race, but the Russians claimed they had no interest in putting man on the moon and focused on different space programmes.
What are space probes?
Space probes are spacecraft without people, sent into space to collect information.
