Question

Which of these events accelerated the nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union?
the Vietnam War

the Berlin Blockade

the Cuban Missile Crisis

the launch of Sputnik

Answer 1

Sputnik was definitely the event that accelerated the arms race. The USSR being the first to launch a satellite was a blow to the national prestige of the United States. But the underlying technical achievement was also a shock showing how far they were ahead. It proved that the USSR could build rockets with the range to hit the continental US.

Answer 2

So The US was angry that they achieved something before them?

Answer 3

More like the US was afraid that if USSR could build something as massive with the traveling distance as the "Sputnik" program, then they could (and certainly would try to) build nuclear arms that could harm citizens and the welfare of even the continental US