Titan II and Mutually Assured Destruction
In Titan II and Mutually Assured Destruction, historian Lucy Worsley explores a bunker holding Titan II, an intercontinental ballistic missile. It was developed to defend or retaliate against Russian missiles. The U.S. had over 50 of these missiles. It was predicted that Russia had many more than this. A year later it was discovered that the Russians had only four. This video is excerpted from BBC's American History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley, in which Worsley reveals the myths and manipulations behind American history.
Lesson Express
Q: What building was the Titan II missile compared with in terms of size?
A: The Titan II missile was often compared with a very large skyscraper. [Discuss with the class some famous skyscrapers around the world to get a perspective of the size.]
Q: Why was the Titan II missile developed as a precaution?
A: The Titan II missile was developed due to concerns that the Soviet Union was advancing its missile technology. Many government officials believed that Russia had significantly more weapons than the United States. Reports eventually revealed that the Soviet Union's missile arsenal was not as large or advanced as initially believed.
Q: Why do you think the U.S. government decided to build missiles like the Titan II instead of relying on other forms of defense?
A: Student responses will vary. [This question can lead to a discussion about military strategy, the desire to keep up with the Soviet Union, and the importance of having multiple defense options.]