"after september 2, 1949, both the united states and the soviet union had atomic weapons that they could use in a war against each other. in a paragraph, analyze how this fact shaped the progress of the cold war and the relationship between the two countries. in your response, you may want to include the following terms: arms race, mutually assured destruction, massive retaliation, and brinkmanship."

Having atomic weapons meant that a country has the power to wipe out entire cities and this means that other countries will be intimated. This can result to the other countries offering alliance to it. For another country that wants the same position, it is an arms race to build their own weapon. The two countries can become enemies with the possibility of a massive retaliation and mutually assured destruction. Brinkmanship is a technique used by the two countries to force the other to make a decision.