Questions and Answers
Identify at least two effects of the arms race between the United States and the USSR.
Increased military spending and heightened tensions.
In which year was U.S. defense spending the lowest?
1984
When did U.S. defense spending increase the most?
Between 1950 and 1953
Which of the following best describes Eisenhower's position on the arms race?
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What key component of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War is Dulles describing?
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The most important goal of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was to achieve what?
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The launch of Sputnik I stunned Americans because?
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What NASA program had Neil Armstrong successfully completed when he took his first steps on the moon?
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The policy of containment involved what?
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President Eisenhower used domino theory to argue that what?
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The country shown on the map to the right is?
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During WWII, this country was a colony of?
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In 1958, Ho Chi Minh was the leader of?
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Why did the United States oppose Ho Chi Minh?
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Which statement(s) below are true?
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The purpose of SEATO was to prevent the spread of?
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Which country refused to grant independence to Vietnam?
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Which of the following correctly sequences the events in Vietnam?
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The United States became involved in Vietnam because Americans feared that?
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Brinkmanship was a bold, aggressive idea because it required what?
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Why did the United States suffer a loss of confidence following the launch of Sputnik I?
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What was the goal of President Truman's policy of containment?
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After the success of the Sputnik launch, the United States feared that?
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One goal of both the United States and the USSR during the arms race was to?
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How did the United States try to influence Vietnam's national elections in 1956?
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The theory that the threat of nuclear war is enough to prevent an attack is called?
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What was the major impact of the launch of Sputnik I on the United States?
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During the Cold War arms race, how did the hydrogen bomb differ from the atomic bomb?
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How did the concept of mutually assured destruction influence the Cold War?
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Study Notes
Cold War Arms Race
- Nuclear weapons developed by both the United States and the USSR led to heightened tensions and regional arms races.
- President Eisenhower advocated for an "open skies" agreement in 1955 to limit stockpiles of nuclear weapons.
U.S. Defense Spending
- The lowest U.S. defense spending occurred in 1984.
- The most significant increase in U.S. defense spending happened between 1950 and 1953.
Eisenhower's Arms Race Position
- Eisenhower believed that the use of nuclear weapons would result in mutual destruction for opposing nations, illustrating the precarious nature of the arms race.
Brinkmanship
- Brinkmanship was a key element of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War, emphasizing aggressive posturing to deter adversaries.
NASA and Space Race
- NASA’s primary objective was to achieve human space flight.
- The launch of Sputnik I by the USSR in 1957 shocked Americans, highlighting competition in space exploration.
Apollo Program
- Neil Armstrong’s historic moon landing was part of the Apollo Program.
Containment Policy
- Containment aimed to halt the spread of communism beyond its 1947 borders.
- President Eisenhower employed the domino theory to assert that U.S. efforts should focus on preventing communism in Vietnam, fearing it would lead to similar outcomes in neighboring countries like Laos and Cambodia.
Vietnam Context
- Vietnam's key players included Ho Chi Minh, leader of North Vietnam in 1958, who sought to reunite Vietnam under communist control.
- France, as Vietnam's colonial power during WWII, initially refused to grant Vietnam independence.
SEATO and U.S. Involvement
- The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was established to counter communism in Southeast Asia.
- U.S. involvement in Vietnam escalated due to worries that a communist victory would encourage neighboring countries to follow suit.
U.S. Responses to the Space Race
- Following the launch of Sputnik I, the U.S. felt a loss of confidence, believing that the Soviets had surpassed them in nuclear capabilities.
- In response, the U.S. took measures to advance its own space program to regain leadership.
Arms Race Weapons
- Both the U.S. and USSR aimed to build increasingly destructive weapons, with the hydrogen bomb being significantly more powerful than the atomic bomb.
Mutual Assured Destruction
- The concept of mutually assured destruction highlighted the devastating consequences of nuclear war, serving as a psychological deterrent in Cold War dynamics.
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Description
Explore the dynamics of the Cold War arms race, including the development of nuclear weapons by the U.S. and USSR and the implications of defense spending trends. Learn about President Eisenhower's strategies, the doctrine of brinkmanship, and the significance of the space race initiated by events like the launch of Sputnik I.
