Transcript The Cold War and Nuclear Power

The Rise of Nuclear
Power during the
Cold War
The Rise of Nuclear Power during
the Cold War
2
Social Science Disciplines
 Political impacts
 Social impacts
Historical Overview

The Rise of Nuclear Power
 During WWII the United States feared
Germany would be first to achieve nuclear
power.
 Sparked a race to obtain nuclear power 1st
 1942 U.S. began Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project
Initial intent was to defeat Germany and
end WWII
 Took 3 years to complete the first atomic
weapon
 Involved 100,000 men and cost $2 billion
 1st successful test July 16th 1945

War in the Pacific
Very high casualty rates
 Japanese refused terms of surrender
 Americans occupied small islands
surrounding Japan, but had not yet
invaded main island.

War in the Pacific
Nuclear weapons and War
President Truman
used 2 nuclear
weapons
 1st – Hiroshima
(August 6 1945)
 2nd – Nagasaki
(August 9 1945)

Effects of the Nuclear weapon
WWII ended on August 14th 1945
 Post-war hopes and peace quickly
disappeared
 U.S. and Soviet Union relationship
damaged
 Atomic bomb use marked the start of the
Cold war and atomic arms race

Political impacts of Nuclear power
1939 Leo Szilard predicted Germans were
working on nuclear power and urged
President Roosevelt to catch up.
 Roosevelt realized the full potential of the
bomb
 In 1943 the Soviets were aware the U.S.
was developing nuclear power and began
a program of their own.

Political Impacts of Nuclear Power
Roosevelt made no attempt to involve the
Soviets on the Manhattan Project.
 It appears by strengthening bond with Great
Britain, Roosevelt wanted a post-war atomic
monopoly to ensure and enforce world peace.
 On April 12, 1945 President Roosevelt died and
Vice President Harry Truman was finally
informed about the Manhattan Project.

Political Impacts of Nuclear Power

President Truman’s political strategy also
followed the use of the atomic bomb.
– Potsdam Conference July 16 1945
 Truman made several comments indicating the
bomb would allow the U.S. to overpower the
Soviets in the post-war world
 Truman no longer concerned with a Soviet invasion
of Japan; wanted to use the atomic bomb
 Truman’s demeanor toward the Soviets changed
Political Impacts of Nuclear Power
Truman stated he never doubted that the
bomb should be used
 Other U.S. officials believed it was
unnecessary to use the bomb to end the
war and believe the real motive to use the
weapon was the Russians.
 Franck Report- advised President about
the potential problems resulting from the
bomb’s use

Political Impacts Post-WWII

McMahon Legislation passed
– Truman proposed the weapon’s preparations
would remain a secret
Truman insured people the U.S. would use
the weapon to maintain peace and
prevent its misuse.
 Truman stated the U.S. was “well
prepared” to enforce peace.

Political Impacts Post-WWII

Sec. of State, James F. Byrnes, at
September 1945 Conference “wore bomb
on his hip”
– Implied threats to Soviets, opposed all efforts
of international control, and urged scientists
to build more powerful weapons.
Political Impacts Post-WWII
1946 President Stalin announced 5 year
plan to prepare Soviet Union for war with
West
 Soviets desperately wanted to make an
atomic bomb and demanded scientists
provide weapons ASAP
 Soviets believed war with U.S. would
definitely include nuclear weapons

Political Impacts Post-WWII
1946 Truman introduced “Containment
Policy”
 1948 Soviets blockaded Berlin, U.S.
threatened with nuclear war
 1949 Soviets successfully tested 1st atomic
bomb
 To counteract U.S. decided to build Hbomb

Political Impacts Post-WWII

NATO- North Atlantic
Treaty Organization
– Formed in 1949
– Gave all free states
protection thru united
forces
– Encouraged stockpiles
of nuclear weapons in
Europe

NSC-68
– Created in 1950
– Suggested massive
buildup of weapons
– Encouraged stockpiles
to insure future safety
Political Impacts Post-WWII

Eisenhower, 1952,
began “New Look”
policy
– Called for Massive
Retaliation
– Began overseas
deployment

1962, Cuban Missile
Crisis
– Very close call
– Resulted in withdrawal
of weapons
– Leaders agreed
weapons pose threat
to all mankind, but
arms race continued
Social Impacts of Nuclear Power

Initially public opinion was in favor of the
atomic weapon because…
– Saved American lives
– Rationalized use

As U.S. public learned of radiation effects
they regarded using the bomb with regret
Social Impacts of Nuclear Power

War time friendship between US and USSR
quickly ended
– Friendship turned to fear
– Society regarded as war of “good and evil”
– By 1948, 73% of US felt war with Soviets was
inevitable
Social Impacts of Nuclear Power

1949 Soviets announced their completion
of atomic weapon
– Public was stripped of any security
– U.S. public now feared an atomic attack
– Fear and paranoia caused leaders to buildup
more weapons
Social Impacts of Nuclear Power
U.S. public stereotyped Soviets, and
Soviets viewed Americans the same
 U.S. Gov. added to hysteria by producing
propaganda about nuclear attacks

– Propaganda came in forms of films, famous
people’s speeches, television, books, and
watch dog groups.
Social Impacts of Nuclear Power
People were urged to prepare for an
attack by building fallout shelters and
stocking supplies
 Drills were enforced to test how ready
society was
 Everyday life of society was transformed
with constant fear of an attack

Social Impacts of Nuclear Power

Children participated in atomic drills at
school
– Included a pretend siren, huddling under their
desks, covering their heads with hands and
closing their eyes
– Drills deeply disturbed some children, created
a strong fear and uneasiness among them in
regards to the future and nuclear weapons
Social Impacts of Nuclear Power
Society eventually became outraged and
distrusted the government about nuclear
power
 Society felt betrayed and disappointed
 Public sentiment turned against nuclear
proliferation and advocated for
disarmament, demanding a nuclear
weapons freeze

Conclusion

The creation and rise of nuclear power set
the political scene before and during the
Cold War. Nuclear power also had an
effect on many social aspects of life,
people lived everyday with a present fear
of a nuclear attack.
Resources
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Alperovitz, G. (1970). Cold War Essays. New York: Anchor Books, Doubleday and Co.
Inc.
Offered theories and supporting evidence that the Americans used the bomb on
Japan to threaten the Soviets and dictate the peace post-WWII.
American Psychiatric Association. (1982). Psychosocial aspects of nuclear disarmament.
Washington, D.C.: Task Force Report 20.
This report identified the major sociological impacts of nuclear weapons and their
Threats on society. It stressed the fear and paranoia now contended with
Everyday because of the imminent threat of nuclear power.
Baker, P. R., (Ed.). (1968). The Atomic Bomb, the Great Decision. New York: Holt,
Coordinator). (1963). Problems of world Rinehart, Winston, Inc.
This book expressed many theories regarding the atomic bomb being used on
Japan as a primary decision of atomic diplomacy. Offers an in-depth look at
The political scene directly before and after WWII.
Barker, C.A.,( disarmament: a series of
Lectures delivered at John Hopkins University. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Discussed how superpowers viewed each other as enemies and how this affected
Bernstein, B.J., (1976). The Atomic Bomb: the critical issues. Boston: Little.
Offered an explanation of the decision to use the bomb in WWII and an aftermath
Bottome, E.M., (1971). The Balance of Terror: a guide to the arms race. Boston:
Beacon Press.
Book illustrated main themes of Cold War, focusing on nuclear weapons, and
Describes the impact of the fear on political leaders and in society.
Colbenz, C.G., Kaplan, M.A., Reitzel, W., (1956). U.S. Foreign Policy 1945-1955.
Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institute.
Coney, G. (1999). Protect and Survive. (1980-1st ed.). Prepared for the Home office by
Central Office of Info, 1976. Printed in England for her Majesty’s Stationary
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Epstein, W. (1984). The prevention of nuclear war: a United Nations perspective.
Cambridge, Mass.: Oelgeschlager, Gunn, Hain, Publishers, Inc.
Ferencz, B.B., (1988). Planethood: the key to your survival and prosperity. (K. Keyes Jr.,
Coordination), Coos Bay, OR: Vision Books.
Goldman, E.F. (1961). The crucial decade and after, 1945-1960. New York: Vintage
Books.
Greenpeace-About Us.
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/about
Accessed on 8/31/2006
Kurtz, L.R. (1988). Benford, R.D., Turpin, J.E. (assisted with book). The Nuclear Cage:
Sociology of the arms race. NJ: Prentice Hall.
Leffler, M.P. (1992). A preponderance of power: national security, the Truman
Administration, and the Cold War. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
This book was extremely large and very resourceful, it gave all important significant facts about the rise of nuclear power during the Cold
War and much
Facts regarding the political scene, such as who called the shots and their
Reasoning for them.
Manhattan Project: Committee on Political and Social Problems. (1945). The Franck
Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives, Record Group 77.
Copyright by Gene Dannen.
http://www.dannen.com/decision/franck.html
Accessed on 11/8/2006
Actual report advising political leaders to be cautious in using the nuclear bomb.
Specified certain ways to introduce the bomb to the world, how to move toward
International control, and warned an arms race was inevitable.
Margolis, B. (Filmed by)., Jackson, A. (Narrator). (1986). Are we winning, mommy?
Film addressed the rise of mistrust, fear, and paranoia among Americans.
Highlighted popular movies that focused on the issue of Communism and
Showed the various drills and preparations Americans did to prepare for a
Nuclear attack.
McNamara, R. (1986). Blundering into disaster: Surviving the 1st century of the Nuclear
Age. New York: Pantheon Books.
One of my favorite books to read while researching, described the entire Cold
War from before WWII ended until the early 1980’s. Especially thorough on the