9 - Detente Flashcards
Reasons for detente - USA
- Vietnam war cost USA billions of dollars + resulted in 60,000 American deaths
- Social tensions meant that the government needed to concentrate on other issues
DETENTE MEANT THAT USA COULD STOP SPENDING MONEY ON WEAPONS AND TAKE TIME TO SOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN AMERICA
Reasons for detente - USSR
- facing serious economic problems so wanted to cut spending on weapons and devote more resources to improving living standards and updating the economy
- Arms Race was too expensive = was having a damaging effect on the economy
IMPROVING RELATIONS AND SPENDING LESS ON WEAPONS WOULD BE A ‘SAFE’ POLICY FOR THE USSR
Who were the leaders at SALT I?
President Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev
What was agreed at SALT I?
- ABM Treaty
- Interim Agreement on Offensive Arms
- Checks
What was the ABM Treaty?
Anti Ballistic Missiles only allowed at 2 sites and each one could have a max of 100 missiles. Designed to destroy attacking ICBMs.
What was the Interim Agreement on Offensive Arms?
Imposed a 5 year freeze on total number of ICBMs and SLBMs allowed.
What were checks?
Each side allowed to use satellites to check the other was not breaking the arms limit.
What were the 3 baskets of the Helsinki Accords?
Basket 1: Security and European borders - recognising all existing ones
Basket 2: International co-operation - called for closer economic, scientific and cultural links
Basket 3: Human rights - respect human rights and freedom of thought and speech
3 key agreements from the Helsinki Accords
1 - Apollo - Soyuz space link up
2 - The West recognised (accepted) the existing borders of Europe
3 - All countries (including USSR) agreed to respect human rights
Apollo - Soyuz link up date
1975
Why were US politicians unhappy about the West recognising the existing borders in Europe
Demonstrated an acceptance of communism in Europe
Why were Soviets unhappy about everyone agreeing to respect human rights?
Worried it would undermine communist authority and weaken the power of the Soviet Union
Consequences of the Helsinki Accords (3)
1 - Apollo-Soyuz link up
2 - West recognised East Germany as a country
3 - USSR agreed to respect human rights
Consequences of the Helsinki Accords - Apollo-Soyuz link up - evidence
- outcome of Basket 2 - International co-operation
- 1975, US astronauts + USSR cosmonauts worked on joint project
- symbolic handshake in space
Consequences of the Helsinki Accords - West recognising East Germany as a country - evidence
- West + East Germany could work together
- accepted communism in Germany
Consequences of the Helsinki Accords - USSR agreed to respect human rights - evidence
- outcome of Basket 3 - Human Rights Agreement
- agreed to freedom of speech
Impact of the Helsinki Accords on the Cold War - Apollo-Soyuz link up
IMPROVE RELATIONS: sign of international co-operation. A symbol that USA + USSR would work together
Impact of the Helsinki Accords on the Cold War - West recognised East Germany as a country
IMPROVE RELATIONS: decrease tensions in Germany
GROWING TENSIONS: people in USA angry that they had to accept communism in Germany
Impact of the Helsinki Accords on the Cold War - USSR agreed to respect human rights
GROWING TENSIONS: people in USSR angry with Brezhnev. Worried that it would reduce USSR’s influence in satellite states.
Why did President Ford and Brezhnev face criticism because of the Helsinki Accords?
Ford: Thought he was being too soft. Led to Carter and Reagan adopting much tougher stances with the USSR.
Brezhnev: Thought he was being too soft. Criticised for agreeing to uphold human rights in all satellite states because people were worried it would weaken USSR control.
Why was SALT II never ratified? (3 points)
1 - growing belief that Soviet government could not be trusted
2 - 1979 - Iranian hostage crisis: US wanted to show strength to the world again
3 - 1979 - USSR invasion of Afghanistan - brought detente to an end
What happened in consequence to SALT II not being ratified?
NATO: placed long range missiles in Europe
USSR: sent 2,000 Soviet troops to Cuba
Consequences of SALT I (1972)
1 - ABM Treaty
2 - Interim Agreement on Offensive Arms
3 - Checks
When was SALT I?
1972
Impact of SALT I on the Cold War - ABM Treaty
IMPROVED RELATIONS: made was less likely on both sides. Weakened their defences. Sign of so-operation between USA and USSR.
Impact of SALT I on the Cold War- Interim Agreement on Offensive Arms
IMPROVE RELATIONS: slowed the Arms Race which made war less likely
Impact of SALT I on the Cold War - Checks
IMPROVE RELATIONS: increased trust and communication between both sides
