After september 22, 1949, both the united states and the soviet union had atomic weapons that they could use in a war against each other. in a paragraph, analyze how this fact shapes the progress of the cold war and the relationship between the two countries. in your response, you may want to include the following terms: arms race, mutually assured destruction, massive retaliation, and brinkmanship.

1949 tension was raised between the two countries when the Soviets tested an Atomic bomb and increased again in 1952 because America tested the Hydrogen bomb which was much more powerful. [ Then in 1957 the USSR launched Sputnik etc... and explain how these events changed the relationship. You could also mention why tension between these two countries could have escalated the cold war because they each wanted to better the other making them go to more extremes. Eventually tension decreased because of MAD; no country was willing to risk their own lives to try and destroy the other therefore nuclear war was less likely.