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The Cold War begins.

1948

WAR
MIL
BIOW

The ideology of "containment" provides the rationale for an unprecedented arms buildup in the United States.

In 1949, the Soviets will test an atom bomb, prompting President Truman to announce that the United States will build an even more destructive hydrogen bomb, or “superbomb.”

In 1950, a National Security Council report known as "NSC–68" will recommend that the country use military force to “contain” Communist expansionism anywhere it seems to be occurring, calling for a four-fold increase in defense spending.

Thus, begins a deadly “arms race.”