Final answer:
During the Cold War, fallout shelters were built as a precautionary measure against nuclear attacks. The rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States led both nations to adopt a 'mutually assured destruction' defense strategy. This period of historical tension meant that civilians were educated on how to seek shelter in the event of a nuclear attack.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fallout shelters were built during the Cold War as part of the preparation strategies in case of a nuclear attack. These shelters were intended as a method of protection for citizens, in both the United States and countries of the Eastern Bloc, under the threat of nuclear warfare. The underlying defense policy of the United States during this period was known as "mutually assured destruction" (MAD), based on the concept that both warring parties would prevent initiating an attack due to the potential devastating counterattack.
This measure was put in place to prepare for possibilities of a nuclear war that could result from the escalating tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States. The rivalry was not only ideological but also revolved around technological supremacy, with both nations stockpiling nuclear weapons. The cultivation of such vast arsenals of nuclear weapons underscored the cold, rather than 'hot', nature — a lack of actual combat — of the Cold War.
In reinforcing readiness amongst the civilian population for potential nuclear attacks, the government would provide instructions on how to build and equip these shelters in basements or backyards. Schools taught students what to do in case of such attacks, further exemplifying the extent of fear and tension during the Cold War.
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