With the bomb came advances in technology, the possibility to end millions of lives, and the beginnings of the Cold War. Behind Truman were three important factors that influenced his decision: the scientists who created the bomb, the geopolitics and politicians circling the bomb, and the general military outlook involving the bomb. From each of these key perspectives, the decision is shown to be influenced far more by politics and persons than the battle of Okinawa. To evaluate this claim, the scientists and their influence on the decision must first be examined. 1 Scientist Interventions The U.S’s introduction to the atomic bomb was through the renowned physicist Albert Einstein and
How far was the nuclear arms race a threat to world peace 1949-1963? The period of 1949 to 1963 saw increasing developments in nuclear technology by the Soviet Union and the Americans. The word ‘race’ meant that both superpowers aimed to match each other and gain the upper hand in terms of nuclear missile technology. Nuclear arms were seen as a form of scare tactic against the opposition as they both felt threatened by each other’s ideological capabilities. It was also used as a defence mechanism in case of future attack.
(Rodreyer, Smith) The creation of the bomb was considered by many scientists during the 1930’s and 1940’s. Mainly because It was thought that another force would be creating a mass destructive device similar to what the scientists had in mind. This whole project took a course of several years and much dedication. This project is known as, “The Manhattan Project.” The Manhattan Project was the code name for the U.S. creation of the atomic bomb during World War Two. An atomic bomb is a powerful explosive weapon that derives its force from the sudden release of energy in a nuclear reaction called fission, or splitting, of the nuclei of such heavy elements as plutonium and uranium.
In order to end the conflict of the World War II, a weapon that surpassed all other conventional weapons of that time would need to be created. In 1939, rumors of Nazi Germany pursuit to manufacture an atomic bomb and insure their victory in the war terrified the scientist that sought refuge in America. It also heightened the urgency for America to create the atomic bomb first. Albert Einstein was the one of those refugee scientists that was alerted to Germany's intent and wrote letters
Stalin was determined to make the Soviet Union a nuclear power, after the USA created the first atomic bombs during the Second World War, which were tested in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. In August 1949 the Soviet Union successfully tested an atomic device, thus bringing an end to the US nuclear monopoly and this subsequently led to the beginning of nuclear arms race where the two superpowers aimed to match each other. Indeed with both superpowers having nuclear capabilities a balance of terror was once again established. The fact that each of the super powers now had nuclear capacity was clearly a stabilising factor, because nuclear weapons meant that the destructive power of each was greatly increased and subsequently so was their vulnerability should we not have the balance of terror in place. In this way the nuclear arms race brought some stability to relations between the superpowers in the period 1949 – 1953 because the threat of nuclear attacks forced both superpowers to limit conflict.
It can be argued that the Manhattan project was first conceptualized by a group of physicist, which included Italian physicist Leo Szilard, who feared that atomic research performed by Germany could essentially materialize into a weapon of catastrophic power. With this in mind, the visionaries attempted to inform the United States’ President of the possible impending doom; unfortunately their warnings were not headed (Davidson 2010). It wasn’t until Leo Szilard spoke to Albert Einstein, a scientist with celebrity like status and political influence, that a letter was drafted which eventually informed Franklin Roosevelt of the possible threat (Gosling
Though this treat he was able to have his way at the Yalta conference. Truman thought of America as the World’s atomic power and was assured by Cabinet advisers; America would reign supreme in the arms race. However Joseph Stalin was also attempting to build Russia’s power in this arms race too. Truman began to get tough on Russia in 1946 when there were strong protests in the Iran against Russian Troops. The Soviets had denied sharing control of the Turkish Straits as they had claimed they would not have.
, highlighting that he believed without the use of atomic weapons, the Cold War was not an inevitability. Despite the pre-existing tensions between East and West, the use of atomic weaponry amplified the Soviet’s paranoia causing Stalin to authorise ‘a crash Soviet program to catch up’ , signifying the start of the Cold War which would shape the course of the twentieth century. A key significance of the use of atomic weapons in 1945 was the ethical implications that using such weaponry held. As Stalin stated ‘war is barbaric, but using the A-bomb is superbarbarity’ . Stalin’s view is supported by Admiral D Leahy, who in his memoirs writes ‘we had adopted an ethical standard common to the barbarians of the Dark Ages’ This quote holds a substantial amount of weight to my argument due to Admiral D Leahy’s position as Roosevelt and Truman’s chief of staff, it would be expected for a man of such status to hold a view in support of America’s actions.
THE NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN THE CONTEXT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOVIET UNION FROM 1917 TO 1980 I. The relation between the United States and the Soviet Union is what concluded the nuclear arms race. Development of technology, military capability, and weapons system are the physical manifestation of their highly intensified relationship. The spread of communism in Europe shaped the relationship of the United States and the Soviet Union. From 1917 to 1980, their relationship shifts from good relationship to bad relationship that almost led to nuclear war, which was fallowed again with a good relationship that led to arms control and détente, then to an intensified relationship until the end of the cold war.
The official reasons to enter the Iraq conflict were freeing Iraq people, planting democracy, and destroying the Iraq nuclear potential. The U.S intelligence got the data which said that Iraq has been increasing its nuclear potential through the past decade. American and British governments agreed that letting Iraq, which is a potentially aggressive state, possess nuclear weapon, it too dangerous. Iraq leaders stated they needed nuclear substances and technologies in order to create sources of nuclear energy that could be used for peaceful means. Nevertheless, the elements used for it can also be used for creating nuclear weapon.