The nuclear arms race
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can assess the key events and significance of the nuclear arms race.
Key learning points
- The development of the atomic bomb triggered a nuclear arms race.
- The USA and USSR competed to develop larger and more powerful nuclear weapons.
- By 1961, both superpowers had the ability to destroy the world many times over.
- Mutually Assured Destruction suggested nuclear weapons deterred war.
- The nuclear arms race became increasingly focused on deterrence.
Keywords
Monopoly - when only one person or country has control over something
Arms race - the situation in which two or more countries try to have more and stronger weapons than each other
Armageddon - a catastrophic conflict, especially one seen as likely to destroy the world or the human race
Missile gap - the fear of US government officials that Soviet development and production of missile technology had overtaken the USA's
Deterrence - an action or system intended to prevent or discourage someone from doing something
Common misconception
Everybody agreed the possession of nuclear weapons made the world more dangerous.
Many people argued that as the US and USSR both possessed nuclear weapons this deterred them from going to war with one another - otherwise they woudl afce mutually assured destruction.
Teacher tip
Encourage students to list or mind-map linking words and phrases that could be used as part of a narrative account. You may provide one (i.e. consequently) to help them begin. Instruct students to try use at least three or four of tehse in their accounts.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. An race is a situation in which two or more countries try to have more and stronger weapons than each other.
Q2.Who became US President in 1953?
Q3.When did the Korean War end?
Q4.Who promoted their belief in peaceful coexistence?
Q5.Which statement is most accurate?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word refers to when only one person or country has control over something?
Q2.Write the missing number. The hydrogen bomb (H-bomb) was times more powerful than the atomic bomb (A-bomb).
Q3.Who was the second country to develop nuclear weapons?
Q4.What was the name of the theory which suggested that nuclear weapons made war between the superpowers unlikely?
Q5.What prompted US fears about a missile gap?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chornological order.
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The nuclear arms race, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The nuclear arms race, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Wider Depth Study - Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.