68-79 Flashcards
68
In 1968, Czechoslovakia underwent a period of liberalization known as the Prague Spring, with reforms towards a more open society. This liberalization was seen as a threat by the Soviet Union, which used the Brezhnev Doctrine - a policy asserting the right to intervene in socialist countries - to justify the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. The invasion crushed the Prague Spring reforms and ushered in a new era of Soviet control over the Eastern Bloc.
72
The Cold War superpowers, the US and USSR, took a crucial step towards curbing nuclear anxieties with the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks I (SALT I) signed in 1972. This landmark agreement aimed to break the cycle of ever-increasing nuclear stockpiles. President Richard Nixon, acknowledging the dangers of both sides feeling pressured to overwhelm each other’s defenses, said, “An arms race can only lead to ruin.” SALT I achieved this through two main provisions: the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty limited development of defensive missile systems, and the Interim Agreement on Offensive Weapons froze the number of existing intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. While not eliminating nuclear weapons, SALT I marked a turning point towards a more stable nuclear balance during the Cold War.
1973
The Yom Kippur War, also known as the October War, took place from October 6 to October 25, 1973. Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel during Yom Kippur and Ramadan, aiming to regain territories lost in the 1967 Six-Day War. Initially successful, Arab forces made significant gains, but Israel eventually repelled them and regained control.
1974
SALT II was a major arms control treaty negotiated between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to limit strategic nuclear weapons. Signed on June 18, 1979, by President Jimmy Carter and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, it aimed to cap the number of missiles, bombers, and MIRVs each side could possess. Although never ratified by the U.S. Senate due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, both nations largely followed its terms until later agreements like START.
75
The Helsinki Accords, signed on August 1, 1975, by 35 countries including the U.S., Canada, and most European nations, aimed to improve East-West relations during the Cold War. The key points included respecting borders, promoting human rights, and encouraging economic, scientific, and environmental cooperation. Though not legally binding, the agreements had significant political impact, fostering human rights activism and easing Cold War tensions.
79
1979 saw the Soviets invade Afghanistan to bolster a shaky communist regime facing a mujahideen rebellion. They aimed for a swift takeover but got stuck in a protracted war. america joins and fights against the communists.
80
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The 1980 Moscow Olympics, held from July 19 to August 3, 1980, were overshadowed by the Cold War. Here’s a quick rundown:
Location: Moscow, Soviet Union (present-day Russia)
Significance: First Olympics in an Eastern Bloc country and the only Summer Olympics in a Slavic nation.
Controversy: The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan led to a major boycott by the United States and many of its allies. Around 65 countries didn’t participate.
Attendance: Despite the boycott, about 80 nations and 5,000 athletes competed.
81/82
Cold War tensions soar in 1980. Reagan, a tough-talking anti-communist, wins the White House, promising to confront the Soviet threat.
83
The Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) were negotiations between the US and USSR (later Russia) to reduce their stockpiles of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. Launched in the 1980s, START I, signed in 1991, achieved the first significant nuclear arms reduction. It led to the destruction of thousands of weapons by both sides.
83
The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), nicknamed “Star Wars” for its sci-fi feel, was a proposed missile defense system unveiled by President Reagan in 1983. Here’s the gist:
Goal: Protect the US from nuclear attack by ballistic missiles.
Technology: Envisioned a complex system using lasers and space-based defenses (though never fully developed).
Nickname: Critics dubbed it “Star Wars” due to its resemblance to science fiction weaponry.
Outcome: Considered impractical and expensive, SDI wasn’t fully realized. However, elements eventually evolved into current US missile defense programs.
84
1984 Olympics: Cold War chills. Soviets, bitter from the ‘80 boycott, strike back. They stay home, turning the Games into a propaganda battleground. The West marches on, a show of strength on the athletic field.
85
1985: New Soviet leader Gorbachev pushes reforms and meets with US leaders for talks on reducing nuclear weapons.
85
1985: New Soviet leader Gorbachev pushes reforms and meets with US leaders for talks on reducing nuclear weapons.
86
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Perestroika and glasnost were two policies implemented by Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union during the late 1980s, working together to reform the struggling nation.
Perestroika (“restructuring”) aimed to revitalize the stagnant Soviet economy. It introduced some market mechanisms and loosened central control over businesses.
Glasnost (“openness”) focused on increasing transparency and freedom of expression. This involved relaxing censorship and allowing more criticism of the government and society.
These policies were a significant break from the traditional Soviet system and ultimately contributed to its downfall.
87 - 89
1987-1989: Treaties (INF & CFE) and doctrines (Brezhnev & Sinatra) pave the way for reduced military presence in Europe and more independence for Soviet allies.
