U.S. Nuclear Influence after World War II
Atomic modeling approach to the use of nuclear war warnings to fulfill strategic aims. This was the tsunami that shortly following World War II engulfed the rest of the world. This form of warfare was quite uncommon, not until 1895's invention of the atomic principle. Guns were the most used weapons of war prior to this time. As Szasz states, "In 1895, German scientist William Roentgen stunned the nation by his official statement of the discovery of X-rays ("X" for unknown) that could penetrate solid matter " (22). The news of this specific discovery spread so quickly from Europe to the USA, with supporting evidence to back up the claims. This virtually changed the shape of war and interactions of nations. Nevertheless, it was just the beginning of the main subject. In the years to come, many developments began to give way in the advancement of atomic weapons. Szasz further puts it that "Years later Henry Becquerel French scientist discovered uranium rays in 1986 and two years later Marie Carle and Pierre isolated radium" (1). The height of it was when the US detonated atomic bombs on Japan's Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1939. Following this period, many atomic processes opened up and as a result, the world was split into varies blocs. This study analyzes on the development, the height, and use of nuclear weapon in the United States.
Introduction
In the pursuit of national security, nations mostly rely on the use of military force or threats to defend their interests and prevent challenges. Conversely, threat-based strategies are not always a good option for national interest. "In some cases, a state may be better off seeking to give others a greater sense of security, rather than by holding their security at risk. Efforts to alleviate insecurity can be important not only in dealing with potential adversaries, but in relations with allies as well" (Diehl and Moltz 64).
This has been the case for most nations in pursuing their national interests, US included. The goal of attaining atomic bomb has been to gain ultimate security since the end of World War II. "During the Second World War, Britain, Germany, the U.S.S.R and the United States were all engaged in scientific research to develop the atomic bomb. By mid-1945, however, only the United States had succeeded, and it used two atomic weapons on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to bring a rapid and conclusive end to the war with Japan" (Diehl and Moltz 67).
After the End of WWII
After the end of WWII, pressure began mounting among nations, with the US camping up on the western side and Russia on the eastern. After the bombing of Japan, western nations could now rely on the USA for their national security as opposed to Russia. Carpenter tells us that, "International fear and suspicion continued to grow during the 1950s. The Soviet Union, still burdened by the post-war exhaustion, had recovered sufficiently to impose the Berlin blockade from the mid 1948-to mid1949, leading to the US to impose the Berlin Airlift. The Soviet Union developed an Atomic bomb by 1949 and copied the B-29 Super fortress in 1953, becoming an international threat to the United States" (21).
The US, as the superpower, was at the center of the atomic struggle. The wave of atomic bombs was largely felt throughout the US than any other place. It was in the US that lots of people published more on atomic bombs and the events of the time. This's is because, right from the office of the president, down to the military personnel, and the common citizen, plans were to ensure that they were prepared for impending atomic attacks from countries like Russia. "But the atomic theme extended well beyond the limited circulation of the science-fiction magazines. In the late 1930s and 1940s, one of the most popular of all cartoon figures, Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse, also confronted the dilemmas of nuclear power...later reprinted in book form— the heroic mouse-everyman faced the dilemma of misused atomic power" (Szasz 33).
The Height of Atomic Pressure
In 1954, Russia achieved the hydrogen bomb and exerted political and military influence beyond their borders for the first time during Suez crisis in 1956. A clear and consistent Soviet aggression and expansion had been established. Further, Carpenter gives us the situation of the time, "Analysing the 1958 ATIC quantitative projections of Soviet strategic forces and nuclear weapons gave me great personal concerns. Various terrifying concerns came to seem more and more credible. A five megaton bomb being dropped in Binghamton from Soviet Badger (similar to our B-7 medium bomber) appeared to be the most probable threat in the i1960s" (45).
In response, it was clear that Russia had been engrossed in nuclear and the United States had to respond. The US responded to this threat, since, the possibility of this bomb would be so immense that it could dig a crater 3700 feet wide and produce fireball three times in diameter. "This blast would produce overpressure from a low altitude burst that would shutter the US houses from at least seven miles from the probable ground zero" (Carpenter 21).
Protective Measures
In return, US responded with protective measures by ordering the construction attached underground shelter with a family roof above. Families could enter the shelter through the use of a new doorway existing in the basement wall. Planning for this underground shelter was based on the Federal Civil Defense Administration Technical Bulletin T-B 5-3, published on May 1958. Threats the citizen's sort to protect themselves included the blast, the flash, prompt radiation, heat, firestorm, local anarchy, disease, thirst, and hunger.
The Nuclear Arms Race
The nuclear arsenal of the two great power blocks by early 1960s had become sophisticated and grown so large that neither power bloc could destroy the other's force of retaliation by launching first, not even a surprise attack could make it possible. This restrained the move of the power blocs in trying to resort to conflict resolution by the use of nuclear power. During this time, the height of atomic pressure was revealed in the use of attacker planes and detonating ships. The US industry heavily engaged in the construction of super-jets that would counter the rising suspicion.
As much as this event may now be viewed as ancient history indeed it is more meaningful in today's global situations. In about 50 years for the first time as MAD is almost coming to an end, the USA is patched on the edge of nuclear supremacy.
Nuclear Weapons and Global Politics
Nuclear weapons had taken center stage of global politics since 1995 when they were introduced into the world. The deployment of atomic weapons on Japanese territory by the USA in Hiroshima and Nagasaki is believed to have brought the World War II to an end making Japan surrender. The age of nuclear power had commenced with the first military use of a deadly atomic weapon. The development of the nuclear weapon has become a legendary story and a tale of all times disclosing the secret work of scientists in the many year Manhattan project to perfect a deadly nuclear weapon that would end World War II. In that morning of 6th August, Colonel Paul Tibet was in the cockpit of the B-29 bomber which he piloted from Tinian military base to Hiroshima unleashing a historical atomic weapon than destroyed hundreds of lives and property yet rendering many more homeless and dispersed.
The Quest for Nuclear Weapons
"Before the attack, three countries had decided to embark on a nuclear weapon manufacture project with each trying to outdo the others. They included the USA, the Soviet Union, and Britain. Britain abandoned its work and decided to back up the Manhattan project in 1943.The Russian project was not massive before the 1945 attack" (Carpenter 26). The American and the British project was fueled by the fears of a German atomic bomb, but in 1942 Germany decided to put its nuclear project aside. In a remarkable quest for industrial and scientific might, the USA had its two nuclear weapons ready for use by August 1946.
A lot of controversies erupted regarding Truman's decision to use the bombs. It was believed that the act was meant to end the World War II, but others took it as an act of intimidation against the Soviet Union. Whatever the motives of Truman might have been, Stalin took it as an anti-Soviet move meant to deter it from achieving its strategic plans in the Far East and more specifically to uplift the USA in the postwar settlement efforts sparking off the cold war.
Nuclear Arms Race and its Influence
Several debates emerged addressing the topic of nuclear weapon proliferation. Scholars have analyzed thoroughly the reasons as to why countries are in undying pursuit of nuclear weapons, but one critical thing that is missing in the debate is the analysis of the critical effects of possessing and deploying these weapons.
Influence of the Nuclear Arms Race
As much as atomic weapons were not used in war since 1945, the large nuclear arsenals still held, particularly by the United States and Russia, postpones to influence not only international relations but also human culture and psychology. Silverstein Suggests that "The frightening power of nuclear weapons holds out the lure of ultimate security and status to national leaders, but the presence of nuclear weapons brings with it the risk of possible nuclear accidents, terrorism, war, and annihilation"(13). Some of the negative influences nuclear war has had on the US basically were:
- Formation of Global Alliances and Power Blocs with the USA on One Side and Russia on the Other
USA formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) together with Western allies. The Soviets, on the other hand, formed the Warsaw Pact in the Eastern part of Europe. Equally, the USA adopted the containment policy which it committed itself in the prevention of the expansion of Soviet powers any further. The doctrine made America intervene with military influence the issues of the whole world. For instance, the Vietnam and the Korean wars were meant to deter communism from developing any further.
- Widening Gap of Economic Balance
Other impacts were reflected in the widening gap of economic balance due to diverse economic turns each side took. The US sided with Western Europe and Japan and formed economic blocs for recovery of war-torn states, Russia sided with the East and established other blocs for support of East. However, hatred intensified, and nations could fight the war through propaganda.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be asserted that end of WWII, and the beginning of Atomic race, just highlighted the significance and position of US in the war and in global affairs. "The world war affirmed the international political responsibilities of the United States; the world depression demonstrates the economic interdependence of the United States with other states. It cannot be a hermit nation" (Hoge and Zakaria 58).
In the US, atomic war broke out lots of revolution from scientists all the way to the military with far reaching consequences throughout the globe. The mode of the relationship among countries changed, and this was what gave way to Cold War period.
Works Cited
Carpenter, Lee. Memoirs of a Cold Warrior: The Struggle for Nuclear Parity. Algora Pub, 2009.
Diehl, Sarah J., and James Clay. Moltz. Nuclear Weapons and Nonproliferation: A Reference Handbook. ABC-CLIO, 2002.
Hoge, James F., and Fareed Zakaria. The American Encounter: The United States and the Making of the Modern World. Basic Books, 1997.
Silverstein, Ken. The Radioactive Boy Scout: The True Story of a Boy and His Backyard Nuclear. Random House, 2004. Print.
Szasz, Ferenc Morton. Atomic Comics. University of Nevada Press, 2012.
