Origins of the Cold War · World History

Which major event in 1949 ended the American monopoly on nuclear weapons?

The bombing of Hiroshima
The first successful Soviet atomic bomb test
The signing of the SALT I arms control agreement
The Cuban Missile Crisis

Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: The first successful Soviet atomic bomb test

The Soviet Union successfully detonated an atomic device years earlier than Western intelligence had predicted. This achievement signaled the start of a multi-decade nuclear arms race and the era of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).

Difficulty: Medium Question 20 of 20

Practice all 20 Origins of the Cold War questions

Keep practicing

Which major event in 1949 ended the American monopoly on nuclear weapons?

More Origins of the Cold War questions