🇺🇸ap us history review

Nuclear deterrence

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 examWritten by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

A Cold War strategy in which the United States maintained a large nuclear weapons stockpile to prevent Soviet attack through the threat of mutually assured destruction.

AP course connection

Topic 8.2: 8.2 The Cold War from 1945 to 1980

Unit 8