The Arms and Space Race symbolised rivalry between East and West

Essay by krisworldHigh School, 12th gradeA-, August 2004

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HISTORY ARMS AND SPACE RACE ESSAY

That the Arms Race and Space Race were vital components in the rivalry between the USA and the USSR during the forty-five years between 1945 and 1990 is a comment and philosophy on the period which has and continues to produce much and far ranging debate which will continue for many years to come. In the efforts of simplicity however, it is clear that during that period the rivalry was rife and stronger than it had ever been and perhaps stronger than it will ever be. . The arms race and space race are fruits of that competition and, when looking back in 2003, the technological marvels of that period are more of a symbol of the prowess and pride of the individual nations. It was a race of competition to prove the might of each nation and also to act as a deterrent to each other given that they both had exceptionally powerful and high-tech resources at their disposal, albeit with perhaps differently weighted priorities in each race.

When on the 6th day of August 1945 the world's first atomic bomb was dropped on the Hiroshima, some 66,000 people died almost instantly after the explosion and the firestorm subsequently. That fateful day in 1945 gave birth to an entirely new era in worldwide arms and war practices that would forever change the world. 1945 brought about what is widely regarded as being the first time-frame in the Arms Race which would continue for a further 45 years. From 1945 onwards, and with a succession of Presidents, the United States remained confident of leading the nuclear arms race and took great pride in their achievements, the fruits of many billions of dollars of development. But that confidence was shattered in 1957 with the launch...