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U.S. Creates and Tests Hydrogen Bomb
In 1952, the U.S. finally became the first country to create the first thermonuclear weapon, known as the hydrogen bomb. The bomb was 1,000 times more powerful than most nuclear devices. The U.S. tested the bomb in the Pacific Ocean. Many argued that by creating this bomb we were not exactly winning the arms race, because the Soviets or other countries would soon create the same weapons. Which proved true, as the Soviets created a hydrogen bomb the following year. -
U.S. Creates and Tests Hydrogen Bomb (pt. 2)
This event was a key example of the arms race taking place between the U.S. and Soviet Union. The United States seemed to be winning when the constructed the hydrogen bomb, but their success was short-lived as the Soviets created one soon after. -
Bay of Pigs
After Fidel Castro, a supporter of communism who had relations with the Soviet Union, overthrew the Cuban President, U.S. government officials became very nervous. Castro started getting rid of American influence all over Cuba and because of the Soviet Union's support of Castro, President Truman organized for the CIA to gather 1,400 Cuban rebels and train them. We were first going to bomb Cuba's air force, but that did not go as planned because Castro knew we were coming and moved his planes. -
Bay of Pigs (pt. 2)
The Bay of pigs was an example of containment by the United States, as they tried to get communism out of Cuba. It was also an example of a proxy war, as the United States trained a group of Cuban exiles to fight for them, and the Soviet Union basically had Castro and the Cuban army fighting their battle versus the U.S. for them. Also, this was an example of brinksmanship as it left the U.S. and Soviet Union on the brink of nuclear war. -
U.S. sends man to moon
In 1961 President Kennedy announced to Congress that the United State's new goal was to have a man walk on the moon. Kennedy came up with the goal to compete with the Soviet Union, after they had a astronaut become the first human in space. The goal became reality in 1969, when Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon's surface along with Buzz Aldrin.The Soviet government and public were astonished that they had officially lost the space race to the moon. -
U.S. sends man to moon (pt. 2)
The U.S. sending a man to the moon was kind of an example of an arms race, as it was a competition between the U.S. and Soviet Union for who could come up with the best technology the quickest to land a man on the moon. -
Olympic Basketball Game
A basketball game played for a gold medal in the summer Olympics between the United States and the Soviet Union ended up being one of the most controversial games ever. After United State's guard Doug Collins made the go-ahead basket with 3 seconds left, the Soviet's team got 3 chances to inbound the ball thanks to human error on the clock and referee confusion. The Soviets finally converted on their third try and won the game 51-50. -
Olympic Basketball Game (pt. 2)
Believing that they are the true winners, the US Olympic team decided to protest the game and never accept their silver medals, even to this day they still did not accept the medals. This game was basically a battle for pride between the democratic U.S. and the communist Soviet Union. The U.S. desperately wanted to win to show the world that their country was the best out there, but instead the world saw the Soviet Union emerge victorious. -
1980 Olympic Hockey Game
In the gold medal match of the 1980 winter Olympic games, the two teams playing each other were the United States and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was notorious for their hockey teams, as they were the reigning champions for hockey even. The game was tied 2-2 after the first quarter, and the Soviets were up 3-2 at the end of the second. With about 8 minutes left in the third, the U.S. got two quick goals to put them up 4-3, which was their first lead of the game. -
1980 Olympic Hockey Game (pt. 2)
The Soviets never recovered from that lead, as they lost 4-3. That U.S. hockey team pulled off what many thought was impossible, and the game is now known as "The Miracle on Ice". This game showed the huge rivalry between the U.S. and Soviet Union, as the game meant more to these countries than just the gold medal they would win, but also the extreme pride over their biggest rival in the world. -
U.S. invades Grenada
In 1979 a man named Maurice Bishop seized power in Grenada which greatly worried the U.S. government since he had close relations with Cuba. Then in 1983, a man named Coard had Bishop assassinated then took over the government. Many protesters clashing with the government caused violence throughout Grenada. There was over 1,000 U.S. citizens living on the island of Grenada. So President Reagan ordered 2,000 U.S. troops to Grenada where they faught Grenadian military armed forces. -
U.S. invades Grenada (pt. 2)
There was minimal casualties between the two sides as the U.S. forces quickly took over the government in Grenada, and made their government system similar to the United State's. This event was a great example of containment, as it was a huge victory to push the communist and Marxists out of the nearby island of Grenada, and give them a government approved by the U.S.
