Question

why did both the u.s. and the ussr continue to make more and more missiles and atomic weapons?

a. each side wanted enough weapons to withstand and outlast its attacker.
b. each side wanted to keep creating weapons to ensure its people had jobs.
c. each side wanted to keep their military strong so the other side would not attack.
d. each side knew if they stopped building these weapons then their people would revolt.

Explanation:

Analyze the Cold War dynamic

Using the Cold War Arms Race knowledge point

During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a massive buildup of nuclear arsenals. This competitive accumulation of weapons was driven by the strategic doctrine of deterrence.

Evaluate the concept of deterrence

Deterrence theory posits that an adversary will not launch a first strike if they know the other side possesses a strong enough military to survive the attack and retaliate with devastating force. This balance of terror, often referred to as Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), relied on maintaining a highly visible and powerful military capability.

Assess the given options

• Option a: Withstanding and outlasting an attacker in a nuclear war was not the primary strategic goal, as a full-scale nuclear exchange was understood to be unsurvivable for both sides.
• Option b: Job creation was a byproduct of defense spending, not the primary geopolitical motivation for the nuclear buildup.
• Option c: This directly describes the principle of deterrence—maintaining a strong military so the opponent is discouraged from attacking.
• Option d: There was no widespread belief that stopping weapon production would cause domestic revolutions.

Answer:

• a. Each side wanted enough weapons to withstand and outlast its attacker.
• b. Each side wanted to keep creating weapons to ensure its people had jobs.
• c. Each side wanted to keep their military strong so the other side would not attack. (Correct answer)
• d. Each side knew if they stopped building these weapons then their people would revolt.