Events Leading to the Space and Nuclear Arms Race

• World War II ended in 1945 and the Cold War begins

• The Cold War was a competition between the United States and the U.S.S.R. in which the two countries fought for military dominance.

The Soviet’s Get The Atomic Bomb

• The next, each nation competed to be the first to create the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). – ICBM could deliver a nuclear

weapon from the nation's soil to its enemy's cities and military bases.

– Is this important?

The Effects of the Nuclear Arms Race at Home

• An example of this propaganda is “Bert the turtle,” – cartoon turtle that was

created to stress the need to take cover from flying glass and debris in case of a raid

– Would this really work?

Sputnik

• On October 4, 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, into orbit around the earth.

Sputnik

• Sputnik weighed 184 pounds and was 23 inches in diameter.– Sent out a "beep-beep" radio signal through its that

scientists and human radio operators throughout the world could hear.

Sputnik

• Sputnik remained in orbit until January 4th , 1958– burned up when re-entering earth’s atmosphere

• The USSR launched a series of Sputniks after the successful launch of Sputnik I.

Sputnik

• Sputnik II, launched on November 3, 1957, carried a dog named Laika on board.

• Laika was the first living organism in space.

The United State’s Reaction to Sputnik

• Many Americans felt Sputnik was a step closer to a nuclear attack by the Russians.

• There was an overhwhelming feeling that the USSR was winning the space race. – NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is

created to encourage space technology in the United States.

Military Industrial Complex

• Eisenhower used his farewell address to inform Americans of a new danger

• He warned of the potential misuse of power by the arms industry. – Close connections to the government and an

industry that profits from war.

– Careful to support one industry too much

John Fitzgerald Kenndey • Runs for President of the United States in

1960

• Kennedy Argues that a "missile gap" favoring the Soviet Union makes an increase in defense spending necessary

• His opponent, Richard Nixon, Asserts that the U.S. has maintained military standing with the Soviet Union, and that military spending should be watched carefully for excess

Results

• Hotly contested: very close– Kennedy wins by 113,000 out of 68 million cast

• Nixon publicly claims that he will not contest for “good of nation”

The First Man To Orbit The Earth

• On April 12, 1961, Yuri A. Gagarin was launched into space aboard the Soviet vessel Vostok I, making him the first human to orbit the earth.

The First Man To Orbit The Earth

• The ship made a single orbit around the earth, and the flight only lasted about 1 hour 28 minutes.

• This was another great victory for the Soviet Union and a big step towards defeating the U.S. in the space race.