chapter 5 cold war Flashcards
What was détente?
Détente refers to a period during the Cold War where tensions between the USA and the Soviet Union were eased. There was increased cooperation and several attempts were made to slow down the arms race.
When did détente happen?
Détente was between 1967 and 1979.
Why was the policy of détente introduced?
❖Both the USSR and the USA wanted to ease tensions after the Cuban Missile Crisis because they came so close to nuclear war.
❖The Sino-Soviet relationship had deteriorated and the USSR wanted to prevent the USA becoming closer to China. The Soviets were worried when President Nixon visited China in 1972.
❖Brezhnev, the leader of the USSR, wanted an improved relationship with the USA as he wanted access to US technology and grain.
❖Both sides wanted to slow down the arms race because it was very expensive and they needed the money for domestic issues.
❖The USA had domestic problems with anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, race riots and massive social inequality. It needed to cut defence spending so it could invest at home.
❖The USSR had economic problems and needed to cut defence spending so there was money to invest at home.
❖The USA needed the USSR’s help to end the Vietnam War as it was supplying the Vietnamese communists. To find a solution, the USA asked the USSR for help.
What were the key events of détente?
❖1968: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
❖1970: Relations between East Germany and West Germany improved with the policy of Ostpolitik.
❖1970: Ostpolitik resulted in the Treaty of Warsaw, which recognised the existing borders between the countries.
❖1972: SALT 1.
❖1972: President Nixon visited China to meet Chairman Mao and visited Brezhnev in Moscow.
❖1972: Ostpolitik continued with the signing of the Basic Treaty which established formal relations between the two German nations.
❖1973: Brezhnev, leader of the USSR, visited Washington to meet Nixon.
❖1975: Helsinki Accords and the Apollo-Soyuz Missions.
❖1979: SALT 2.
What role did Ostpolitik play in détente?
Ostpolitik was the policy of Chancellor Willy Brandt of West Germany which aimed to reduce tensions between the two German nations.
What was the importance of détente?
The move towards détente led to the signing of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties, or SALT. These treaties were intended to limit the arms race in strategic ballistic missiles armed with nuclear weapons.
Why did détente end?
The main reason détente ended was due to the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979.
What was the hotline?
The hotline was a teleprinter set up between Washington in the USA and Moscow in the USSR as a way of providing direct communication between the White House and the Kremlin.
When was the hotline set up?
The hotline was set up in June 1963.
Why was the hotline set up?
The hotline was set up as a result of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Leaders of the USA and the USSR had been unable to communicate directly during the crisis, relying on letters and messages.
Why was the hotline important?
❖It meant the USA and USSR could directly communicate with each other so in a crisis they would hopefully solve the issue more quickly.
❖It was a sign the two superpowers were attempting to improve their relationship.
What was the Limited Test Ban Treaty?
The Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty banned the testing of nuclear weapons underwater, in the atmosphere or in outer space.
When was the Limited Test Ban Treaty signed?
The Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed on 5th August, 1963.
Who signed the Limited Test Ban Treaty?
The USA, USSR and Great Britain signed the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
Why was the Limited Test Ban Treaty important?
The Limited Test Ban Treaty was seen as an important first step in slowing down the arms race by controlling the development of nuclear weapons.
What was the Outer Space Treaty?
The Outer Space Treaty was an agreement to not deploy nuclear weapons in space or on any other space body, or to station them in outer space. The moon would be used for peaceful purposes only.
When was the Outer Space Treaty signed?
27th January, 1967.
Who signed the Outer Space Treaty?
USA, USSR and Britain.
Why was the Outer Space Treaty important?
The Outer Space Treaty sets out the basic legal framework for international space law. It prevented the arms race from spreading to space.
What was the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty?
The countries that signed the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty agreed to stop the spread of nuclear weapons by not sharing their nuclear technology with other countries. The treaty is also known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT.
Who signed the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty?
Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
What was SALT 1?
The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, or SALT 1, was an agreement between the superpowers to limit the number of nuclear weapons they had.
When was SALT 1 signed?
26th May, 1972.
Who signed SALT 1?
The SALT 1 agreement was signed between Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev .
