The dropping of the nuclear bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima by the United States directly contributed to the initiation of the Cold War. This was primarily due to the tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, especially regarding advances in the sciences, military advantages, and political intent.
The utilization of the bombs led the Soviet Union to see the capabilities of the U.S. as a threat (Pruitt, 2022). Following this, the production of nuclear weaponry in order to match the strength of the United States through political, economic, and military options. Following this, a nuclear arms race would become prominent between the nations.
Opinions were not uniform within the U.S., as certain ideologies argued for cooperation with the Soviet Union in order to reduce the chances of an arms race. Politically, the U.S. provided a resolution by which the Soviet Union would be required to reveal all their plans related to atomic energy prior to being allowed to see the work of the United States. This ultimatum was rejected and chances of cooperation greatly diminished. Similarly, the two nations were diverse in their approaches to economics with the United States furthering a capitalist model while the Soviet Union adopted communist economics.
Both the atomic bombs and the Cold War continue to affect the present world. The development of nuclear weapons has not seen a reduction and is still seen as a military advantage that is necessary. The tension between Russia and the United States is similarly driven by politics, economics, and the threat of military events. As such, the effects can be seen within the industry of weapons in the current day which is substantial within the U.S.
Work Cited
Pruitt, Sarah. “The Hiroshima Bombing Didn’t Just End WWII—It Kick-Started the Cold War.” History, Web.