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The Nuclear Arms Race began after WWII, with the US and Soviet Union vying for nuclear supremacy. Key developments included the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the creation of thermonuclear weapons, and the Cuban Missile Crisis, which nearly led to nuclear war. Efforts to de-escalate tensions resulted in treaties like the Limited Test Ban Treaty of 1963 and the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, culminating in the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1996.
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The United States and Soviet Union were the main rivals in the Nuclear Arms Race, with differing political and economic systems
Japan's surrender and end of World War II
The U.S. demonstrated its nuclear capabilities by dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II
The Soviet Union, caught off guard by the U.S.'s use of atomic bombs, quickly ramped up their own nuclear program
The superpowers continued to escalate the arms race by creating more powerful nuclear weapons and improving their means of delivery
Development of ICBMs by both nations
The U.S. and Soviet Union both developed Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, increasing the risk of nuclear confrontation
Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik satellite
The Soviet Union's launch of the Sputnik satellite in 1957 marked a significant moment in the Space Race
U.S. achievement of Apollo 11 moon landing
The U.S. achieved a major victory in the Space Race with the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969
Discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba
The Cuban Missile Crisis was sparked by the U.S.'s discovery of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba
President Kennedy's decision to implement a naval blockade
President Kennedy's decision to blockade Cuba was a crucial moment in the Cuban Missile Crisis
Diplomatic negotiations leading to resolution
The Cuban Missile Crisis was ultimately resolved through diplomatic negotiations, preventing a nuclear exchange
The Limited Test Ban Treaty prohibited nuclear testing in the atmosphere, underwater, and in space, but allowed for underground testing
Détente was a strategy aimed at reducing Cold War tensions and promoting disarmament
Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972
The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty restricted each nation to two ABM sites and halted the production of new ICBMs
SALT II of 1979
SALT II sought to further limit strategic arms and prevent nuclear superiority
The CTBT aimed to ban all nuclear explosions, but has yet to be ratified by key nuclear powers