Technology's Hold on Civilization

Technology is an application of tools and methods in which the study, development, and application of devices, machines, and techniques for manufacturing more and better products is used by people to constantly make their lives easier and increase their ability to do work more efficiently. The progression of technology over the past century has greatly influenced the course of American society on an economical, social, and political level. Throughout the history of the United States, …

…Cold War--renewed military interest in radar improvements. After the Soviets detonated their first atomic bomb in 1949, interest in radar development, especially for air defense, surged. Major programs included the installation of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) network of long-range radar across the northern reaches of North America to warn against bomber attacks. As the potential threat of attack by ICBMs increased, the United Kingdom, Greenland, and Alaska installed the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS).