The Dawn of the Atomic Age

1
The Dawn of the Atomic Age

• The Cold War and the Bomb

2
Early Regulation

• United Nations
• UN Atomic Energy Commission, 1946
• Soviets call for complete disarmament
• US rejects this
• US creates Baruch Plan
• Regulation and inspection of all nuclear
  activities
• Soviets reject this

3
US Policy

• McMahon Act (Atomic Energy Act of 1946)
• Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
• Takes nuclear control from military
• Robert Oppenheimer first head
• Nuclear cooperation with Britain halted
• But British continue anyway

4
Operation Crossroads, 1946

• US tests two atomic bombs at Bikini Atoll
• ABLE, July 1
• First post-war nuclear test
• Airborne
• BAKER, July 25
• Underwater
• Very destructive high radiation

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6
Russia Goes Nuclear

• Klaus Fuchs, Soviet Spy
• Worked on Manhattan Project with British
• Gave atomic secrets to Russia
• Joe-1
• First nuclear test
• August 29, 1949

7
Race for the Hydrogen Bomb

• The Super
• Atomic bomb is fission
• Hydrogen bomb is fusion
• Much more explosive and deadly
• Oppenheimer opposes development
• He is removed in 1953
• Falsely accused of having associations with
  communists

8
Race for the Hydrogen Bomb

• Edward Teller
• Father of the Hydrogen Bomb
• MIKE, November 1, 1952
• Enewetak Atoll
• BRAVO, March 1, 1954
• Bikini Atoll
• Much larger yield than expected, 14.8 megatons
• Largest US test ever
• Makes region uninhabitable for years

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10
Massive Retaliation

• Perception that US conventional forces lag behind
  USSR and China
• Eisenhower does not want massive troop buildup
• US Nuclear superiority is deterrent
• John Foster Dulles, Secretary of State
• Local defense must be reinforced by the further
  deterrent of massive retaliatory power. - 1954

11
Race for the Hydrogen Bomb

• Soviets develop Super
• August 12, 1953
• Central Siberia, not as powerful
• October 23, 1961
• 58 megaton H-Bomb
• By far the lagers nuclear blast ever
• Americans expected much longer lag

12
The War at Home

• Federal Civil Defense Act, 1950
• FCDA charged with creating plans in case of
  nuclear attack for
• Shelter
• Evacuation
• Training
• Funds distributed to local government agencies

13
The Nuclear Club Expands

• Britain, 1952
• Hurricane
• France 1960
• Blue Gerbil
• China, 1964

14
Mutually Assured Destruction

• From late 1950s-1960s
• Advent of second strike capabilities
• Inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)
• Nuclear submarines
• Each side has more than enough capacity and
  capability to decimate the other
• If Cold War gets too hot its the end of the
  Earth

15
US and Soviet Nuclear Strategic Forces, 1950-2000
US USSR/Russia Year Launchers Warhe
ads Launchers Warheads 1950 462 400 22 8
4 1960 1,559 3,127 144 354 1970 2,100
5,239 1,985 2,216 1980 2,022 10,608 2,545
7,480 1990 1,903 12,477 2,500 10,271 2000
1,407 7,519 1,266 6,094 2005 1,225 5,966 98
1 4,732
Source Arms Control Association, Fact Sheets
(2005)
1956 totals