Cold War rivalries: the extension of the arms race including ICBMs; the space race; sputnik and space flight; the Berlin Crisis and the U2 affair; the significance and impact of the Berlin Wall
Between 1957 and 1961, the USA and USSR competed furiously in weapons technology and space exploration. Each breakthrough raised tensions and pushed the Cold War closer to open conflict.
Real World
When the USSR launched Sputnik in October 1957 — the first satellite to orbit Earth — American schools scrambled to reform science curricula overnight, showing how a single technological event could reshape domestic policy and public fear simultaneously.
Exam Focus
Distinguish between causes and consequences: the U-2 affair caused the Paris summit collapse, not the Berlin Wall — examiners penalise conflation.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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