Introduction
After World War 2, the US and the Soviet Union began the Arms Race. The Arms Race was a competition between the nations for superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons during the Cold War. The weapon that both countries aspired to create was the atomic bomb. This bomb was able to wipe out 13 square miles of people and buildings. The process of creating the bomb took some test runs that nearly destroyed part of our planet.
Task
Students will use the evidence provided to establish an understanding of the role testing atomic bombs played during the Cold War and its effects on us today. You will also see the testings from different points of views (different countries, government vs civilian, etc). This will help develop an idea of the risks each country was willing to take to beat the other.
Process
http://www.icanw.org/the-facts/catastrophic-harm/the-legacy-of-nuclear-testing/
1. Would the testing of nuclear weapons in the past eventually affect our future? How?
2. Do you think nuclear weapons should be banned or should they be used to defend your nation?
3. Based on the chart at the bottom of the article, which two countries did the most amount of tests? What does this tell us about those countries at the time?
https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/nucleartesttally
4. Do you think the damage being done to the atmosphere is reversible? If not, is it worth the testing?
5. Do you think the underground nuclear weapon testings can do the same effect as the testings that happen above?
6. How does this connect to the feud between the US and the Soviet Union at the time?
Watch the video:
7. What would you do if this had happened to you or a loved one?
8. Based on the fact that the five men volunteered to be at the ground zero, do you think they had a right to sue or demand something from the government?
9. Do you think the United States of America should risk peoples lives just to test their nuclear weapon? How would you react if you lived in one of the neighboring cities?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXg2P9dx-GM
10. If you hadn't known the effects of being exposed to a nuclear bomb test, would you go to Nevada to see it?
11. Why do you think the citizens who went to see it were not concerned about the effects? After all, no one knew much about the bombs so it was still a risk.
12. This video was shared in the UK. What do you think they thought of what our country was doing? Do you think they were scared, disgusted, etc...?
13. If you lived in a country other than the US or USSR, what would your opinion be of both countries based on this video and the effects of the test?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5XTFd495aE
14. These tests were just some of the few that negatively affected the environment for no point. In your eyes, was it worth it? Why or why not?
15. After all these effects on average citizens, why do you think the US didn't stop testing the bombs so many times? If you had control would you put an end to it? Why or why not?
Evaluation
Answers:
1. Yes, because it would lead to the creation of the bomb OR people would have side effects
2. OPINION
3. US and USSR; they were the ones competing to perfect it
4. OPINION (not reversible)
5. No; above is more direct/harmful to us
6. They were testing it to have leverage over one another
7-15. OPINION
Conclusion
Thank you!
Credits
Day, Science. “5 Nuclear Detonations That Went WRONG | Top 5 Countdown.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 Aug. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5XTFd495aE.
“Fact Sheets & Briefs.” The Nuclear Testing Tally | Arms Control Association, www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/nucleartesttally.
Fernholz, Tim. “US Nuclear Tests Killed Far More Civilians than We Knew.” Quartz, Quartz, 22 Dec. 2017, qz.com/1163140/us-nuclear-tests-killed-american-civilians-on-a-scale-comparable-to-hiroshima-and-nagasaki/.
Pathé, British. “Atomic Test In Nevada (1955).” YouTube, YouTube, 13 Apr. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXg2P9dx-GM.
“The Legacy of Nuclear Testing.” ICAN, www.icanw.org/the-facts/catastrophic-harm/the-legacy-of-nuclear-testing/.