Ss310-02__Exploring_the_1960’s_-the_Cold_War_Era

The Cold War Era was a period of hostile rivalry and political conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted from the late 1940s until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It was called the Cold War Era because there weren’t actual any military action; no bombs, tanks or guns drawn between the Soviet Union and the United States at that time. Just talk. The two never actually fought because both sides were afraid of the nuclear weapons each side held and decided instead to do battle indirectly through their allies. It was basically a war to see which dictatorship, communism (Soviet Union) and democracy (United States) would prevail. It all started because The Soviet Union was trying to gain total power and take over all of Europe and encouraged communism. The U.S. was against this and that was part of the reason for the high level of tension. Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union at the time. He promised President FDR he would allow democratic elections in Eastern Europe, however after FDR died, he reneged on that promise to Harry Truman and that brought about great conflict between the two countries for many decades. Although there were no immediate threats, The US was afraid there might be a WW3 or a Nuclear War if future confrontations were not immediately contained and things got out of hand. Both sides had constructed nuclear bombs around the mid 1950s. These bombs were more powerful that the first two dropped in 1945. If there were a nuclear exchange, it was feared there maybe mass destruction, with no survivors. For preparing my family against nuclear war I would initially make sure that we are not in the danger zone and if possible hurriedly get a good distance from that area and find substantial shelter against the radioactive fallout. I would make sure that we stay indoors until we’re sure that it’s safe to venture out without being exposed to radiation. I would take along the survival kit that I had previously prepared for this type of emergency purpose. It would include a water supply, perishables, blankets, toiletries, a first aid kit, a change of clothes and accessories such as matches, batteries, can opener etc. and any and all medications. Will there ever be a world free of nuclear weapons' I don’t believe so. Because of constant threat from countries against one another there would be no way they would agree to dispose of them. Knowing that a country holds such weapons of mass destruction could be a determining factor as to whether an attack on that country would be wise. Just having these weapons, even if there’s no plans to put them to use could be a deterrent. For something like this to be able to happen, it would have to be a joint agreement between all countries that hold such weapons. How could you believe that they would be telling the truth that they’ve rid themselves of all weapons' References 1. Sage, Henry J (2005-2007), American and The Cold War:The Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy Years. Retrieved from http://www.academicamerican.com/postww2/coldwar 2. Burt, Richard (2012). The Risk that Nuclear Weapons will be used is growing. Retrieved from http://www.spiegel.de/international/world 3. Cold War (2000). Retrieved from http://global security.org 4. Farber, David (1994), The Age of Great Dreams: America in the 1960s, “The World as Seen from the White House 1960-1963” chap 2, p25-48.