Nuclear Weapons Timeline Evie Hjelm and Nora Shay by Nora Shay28

Cuban Missile Crisis - October 1962 (Evie)

eahjelm28_1 — 2023-11-07 01:23:56 UTC

In 1962 the Soviet Union planted missiles in Cuba, a threat to the United States. The US threatened a "full retaliatory response" if these missiles were used. Secretly, the US had also planted missiles in Turkey and agreed to take them out if the Soviet Union didn't attack. In the end, both countries came to an agreement, with the US also vowing not to invade Cuba. This is the closest the US has been to full Nuclear war. This is important because if this were to happen again, there could be chances of nuclear arms being used again, which would be very harmful to both countries.

North Korea and South Korea sign contract stating they are “not to test, manufacture, produce, receive, possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons.” 1992 (Nora)

nkshay28_1_1 — 2023-11-07 01:30:57 UTC

North Korea and South Korea have been very tense for a while and due to the nuclear threats and tense relations, both Koreas agreed to hold off on the production and testing of nuclear weapons to each other. Since then both countries have been accused of possibly breaking this agreement by gaining and welcoming nuclear weapons from countries such as the US and rumors of starting up production and testing of weapons. This is important today because it represents two very powerful countries, what their capable of and how they could affect the world and each other

Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - August 1945 (Evie)

eahjelm28_1 — 2023-11-07 01:55:44 UTC

The only times that Nuclear arms have been used were in 1945 during the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Attempting to stop World War Two, the US dropped two atomic bombs, the first on Hiroshima and the second on Nagasaki on August 6th, 1945. The Japanese surrendered, and World War ll came to an end, but these bombs caused endless destruction and many lives were lost. Many survivors also struggled with health issues as an effect of the bombing. This event caused Nuclear Arms to be feared, and as they became feared they also became a source of power for the countries that had them. This created the conflict of the arms race, Russia and the US fighting for power.

The Space Race Begins - October 1957 (Evie)

eahjelm28_1 — 2023-11-07 02:11:52 UTC

In October 1957, the Space Race began when the USSR launched the first man-made satellite into space. This sparked the US to found NASA, and for the space race to officially kick off. The space race was started because of the arms race and was another area of technology to conquer. The majority of the cold war was about having total power, and the race was between the US and Russia. Space was seen as the last frontier to explore, and exploring there, and making discoveries first, would be seen as another part of the many conflicts of the Cold War.

New START Treaty Signed April 8th 2010 (Nora)

nkshay28_1_1 — 2023-11-07 02:21:37 UTC

In 2010 President Barack Obama signed a treaty with Vladimir Putin called the New START treaty. The main purpose of this treaty was to scale back nuclear force and to disarm very powerful and possibly harmful nuclear weapons that both countries has/had. Another purpose of this treaty was to shrink nuclear threats that Russia and the US have stated in the past and to avoid those threats and conflicts in the future. The administration of the US also stated that they intend to not progress with manufacturing and creation of nuclear weapons in the future as well as the testing and prototyping of nuclear weapons that the US possesses. Now that this treaty and agreement were in place, many manufacturing companies were losing economic status and were financially struggling. When constructing new weapons the companies found loopholes in this agreement and created systematically changed weapons that would "fit" the agreement stated. This was needless to say, a very tedious thing as it could ruin a country's reputation and status. This is important today because the treaty was set to end in 2021, but it has been expended to 2026 as it seems to be helping the nuclear arms between countries cool down a little and shrink in size and threats.

South Korea Welcomes US submarine into country July 18th 2023 (Nora)

nkshay28_1_1 — 2023-11-07 02:42:02 UTC

The US has demonstrated and announced publicly multiple times its ally, South Korea, and very recently brought over a submarine that has nuclear capability in its power. The reason for this was for President Joe Biden to discuss with South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol, the reassurance that the US is willing and able to help South Korea with any of their needs in war or nuclear assistance. South Korea has announced publicly that they are interested in developing their own nuclear weapons in the future but after meeting with the US they've decided to hold off for a while knowing that if needed they have assistance and an ally who can lend a hand. Knowing that North and South Korea signed an agreement in 1992, South Korea has considered breaking this contract by accepting help from the US. This is important in nuclear weapons today because North and South Korea are two very powerful, and very opposing countries with high tensions and would be able to detonate weapons and destroy lots and lots of land, populations, cities, and more.

The Manhattan Project August 1942 - August 1945

eahjelm28_1 — 2023-11-07 15:26:33 UTC

The Manhattan Project was the government's secret operation to develop the atomic bomb. It was led by J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist behind the bomb, and Gen. Leslie Groves, an army leader. The US government set out to end World War ll with this powerful weapon. The development of it took place in Los Alamos, NM, and they were the first developers in the race to invent this Nuclear Weapon. Once the bombs were tested, and proven as working in the summer of 1945, they were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

North Korea Launches missiles late summer 2023 after US brings missile to South Korea (Nora)

nkshay28_1_1 — 2023-11-07 15:28:46 UTC

Shortly after the US traveled to South Korea, North Korea became tense and launched 2 missiles off of North Korea's east coast. Ever since the signed agreement in 1992, North Korea has been said to not follow this agreement and very publicly breached the agreement this past summer by flying these missiles. North Korea has stated that the US is raising these tensions and is threatening to go farther from nuclear threats to nuclear usage. This is important today because it showcases how powerful North Korea is and how nuclear threats can impact the whole world.